(POLYDOR)
As I write this, the YYY�s front-nutter Karen O has just been wheeled on stage (yes, in a wheelchair) at one of their madcap gigs after having a bad fall a night or three before at another of this trio�s high octane shows.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have taken the world by storm in 2003 and their �Fever To Tell� LP - coupled with their energy-overloaded live performances - is the prime reason why, as the cool Alt.-rock vibes of opening track �Rich,� with its heavy guitar chug and punkish rock �n� roll vibes, hear Nick Zimmer squeezing raw riffs from his guitar and Brian Chase brainily chasing some smug drum beats.
Singer Karen O is the star of the show, being the zany stage-centre focus of this trio�s brand of lusty, dirty rawk. Their �Date with The Night� shares much in common with The Kills� rough and ready sound, as the intense madness of �Man� and the funkily cool �Tick� lead upto the sublime masterpiece that is �Maps,� Karen sexily wheezing �They don�t love you like I love you.� And the how the nu-rock �n� roll world has reciprocated the feeling and adores Karen O.
As on �Rich,� �Y Control� turns ears with an astoundingly original sound. �Modern Romance� meanwhile could have appeared on The Jesus and Mary Chain�s under-rated masterpiece of bittersweetness in their chilled-out �Stoned And Dethroned� album, all the while weeping the sex appeal and style of PJ Harvey�s incredible talents.
Yeah Yeah Yeah! These guys are so worth the hype. And their weight in gig-induced injuries.
8/10 Steve Rudd