Music: Taking On the Naysayers

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The apparent joylessness that went into Show Your Bones is blessedly absent from the final product. Instead, the album sounds like a tight band making a small but confident pop move. The chorus of the first single, Gold Lion, has the catchy, repetitive meaninglessness of all good radio hits but is defined by the power of O's voice hooting in delight as it fades out. O's lyrics are intentionally vague--"Lyrics age poorly, especially if they're specific," she says--but she sings like an actress, with elastic trills and meaningful pauses, so there's a story in a line as small as, "My dear you've been used/ I'm breaking the news." Musically, Zinner darts through and around melody unpredictably, creating an impression of a tune rather than a tune itself. He's not always clean, but he's always compelling, particularly on Cheated Hearts, a sizzling breakup song that turns into a musical competition when O sings, "Sometimes I think that I'm bigger than the sound," and Zinner responds with a screeching guitar to remind her who's boss. It's dueling banshees until a final verse in which they yawp together in harmony.

Is it a parable for the making of Show Your Bones? The new Yeah Yeah Yeahs' rumor is that they might break up. Their publicist swears it's not true, and here's hoping she's right. This band is just getting started.