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Is Is

by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

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At a mere 17 minutes, Is Is packages Yeah Yeah Yeahs' decibel-heavy mood swings in an ideal serving size. Written primarily between the band's debut full-length, 2003's Fever to Tell, and the 2006 follow-up, Show Your Bones, the five songs here boast the best of YYY's pounding bravado, lyrical raunchiness, and–-yes–-sometime vulnerability. Like PJ Harvey fronting Liars ("Rockers to Swallow"), or the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde sitting in on a White Stripes session ("Isis"), singer Karen O moves from the sonic blitzkrieg of "Kiss Kiss" to the almost tender verses of "Down Boy" with elastic facility. Guitarist Nick Zinner and drummer Brian Chase remain the serviceable, occasionally inspired rhythm section they've always been, but as usual, Yeah Yeah Yeahs could be called "The Karen O Show," and no one would know the difference. Released at a stage in YYY's career when many young, ubiquitously hyped bands round the bend and head for obscurity, Is Is signals a drum-tight trio standing on the cusp of lasting stardom. --Jason Kirk