Interscope

At a certain point in any rock band’s career, the sound that brought you to the dance floor getsleft for dead. In the case of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the transition was deliberate and crafty. 2009’s It’s Blitz! announced their intention to move beyond the buzz-saw power trio onslaught that made them the toast of Brooklyn, in favor of something a little more epic and experimental – a direction that continues with the help of producers Nick Launay and Dave Sitek – on Mosquito. Nick Zinner leans a little less on his guitars and more on vintage synths; meanwhile Karen O embraces an ever-widening vocal range, and Brian Chase continues to stretch the drum kit into trance and dub territory. “Sacrilege” is the semi-infectious leadoff single – a discofied piece of ear candy further sweetened by a backing gospel choir – but “Under The Earth,” with its warped effects processing, and the cavernous and disturbing Kool Keith vehicle “Buried Alive” are the real nuggets of invention. Punk rock has never really had a playbook (see: The Clash’s Sandinista!), and YYY are furthering the notion that the music is much more than just the sum total of its attitude.