Just after I finished listening to this album, it became global news that Gerard Smith, the groups bass player had died following his battle with lung cancer. Diagnosed following the completion of Nine Types of Light only a few months earlier.
 
"We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and band mate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer. Gerard passed away the morning of April 20th, 2011. We will miss him terribly." - TV on the Radio.
 
Nine Types of Light marks the longest period the band have had between releases, their most thought out and planned album and their most consistent lineup to date. With Gerard's passing this album marks the end to the line up that produced the classic albums 'Dear Science' and 'Return to Cookie Mountain. So is Nine Types of Light worthy of the bands past releases and Gerard's last contribution to the world of music…
 
Upon first listen, Nine Types is interesting but at the same time it also sounds as if the band has played it safe in comparison to 2008's 'Dear Science'. 'Dear Science' marked a huge departure in comparison to TV's earlier stuff with tracks like 'Golden Age' and 'Red Dress'. Nine Types sounds as if it is heading down the same road that 'Dear Science' directed it.
 
It's on the second listen however that Nine Types really sinks in and you start to notice little things within it that make it unique. Opener 'Second Song' starts as if it was a lifted preachers speech with organs and ascending drum beats but then an indie rock guitar line drops and hip hop beats flourish into a horn filled falsetto based chorus underneath a 'Golden Age' sounding synth. Following on 'Keep Your Heart' takes a hip hop sounding drum loop and puts it over a almost blues sounding guitar and vocal delivery and takes the similar song writing approach as opener 'Second Song'. It evolves into a heavenly chorus with the bands vocalists Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone delivering some classic TV on the Radio vocal harmonies and also take it into new territory with some impressive falsetto work.
 
'You' sees some further blues lines with the introduction of slide guitar (played rather well over an ice cream truck/day at the park sounding synth line). 'No Future Shock' sounds as if it could be a big single for the band and it is the real first up tempo attention grabbing song displayed on the album. It is reminiscent of 'Wolf Like Me' if it was on 'Dear Science'. With lyrics inciting a new dance craze ("Dance! Don't stop. Do the no future, do the do future… Shock!")  You cant go wrong and shows this song to be a true highlight within the album and you will notice it.
 
The six-minute 'Killer Crane' focuses a lot more on atmosphere and shows an emphasis on its poetic based lyrics. To be honest I didn't think much of Nine Types first single 'Will Do' when it surfaced about a month ago. But with a few good listens this song is rather good and rather pretty to boot. With lyrics about that old bug-a-boo love/loss, It showcases really good poetry and a much more sensitive side to Tunde's lyricism with lines like 'I think we're compatible, I see that you think I'm wrong' and the chorus's vocal hook 'anytime will do, what choice of words will take me back to you'. A fitting choice to represent the album as a whole and if you give it a chance it can be damn catchy. (The drums sound surprisingly kick-arse through loud speakers too!).
 
The up-tempo 'New Cannonball Blues' and 'Repetition' that follow 'Will Do' take the second half of the album into an indie-rock album territory synonymous with TV on the Radio's previous work. With 'New Cannonball Blues' starting off with a prominent drum section reminiscent of 'Young Liars' and the whole song building in a ascending fashion of aforementioned song. While 'Repetition' sounding a lot like 'Dancing Choose' delivered in a more spaced/thought out method. 'Forgotten' displays an imagery of the bands home town 'Brooklyn' with hip hop drum beats and string sections similar to a scaled down version of Sufjan Stevens' BQE project.
 
The real surprise and true highlight of this album comes in the form of its last track, 'Caffeinated Consciousness'. A three and a half minute attack upon the senses with a stadium sized main riff and a waste-no-time vocal delivery. The fact this song is last on the album is bewildering but as with the rest of the album, kind of makes sense and fits in well with the rest of the album in a true art-rock format similar to Toro Y Moi's album finishing with attention grabber 'Elise'. Caffeinated will no doubt become a staple in the TV on the Radio live show and probably one of your more played tracks within the TV on the radio section on your computer/mp3 player etc.
 
Nine Types of Light is a great album that requires repeated listens to become truly great. If you are after 'Wolf Like Me' or 'Staring at the Sun' instant head banging recognition/appeal… (Apart from 'Caffeinated Consciousness'), look elsewhere.
 
This album would be great showcased within the live arena and fits in well within the TV on the Radio back catalogue. While it is not as drastic of a move as 'Dear Science' its an album that is definitely worth a few good listens and after those listens it could go either way for you depending on what kind of TV on the Radio kind of fan you are. It is also an album that can appeal to the softer side of indie music fans with a number of songs on it showing potential appeal to someone who may be into say, Sigur Ros or the 'And Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out' Yo La Tengo.   
 
With Gerard's passing, TV on the Radio have made a good record for him to go out on. Gerard's contributions and aesthetic to the band will be surely missed and from a busker who was nearly sent to jail from playing flamenco guitar on a subway, he has done well in his career and life.
 
8.25 / 10

Bradley Armstrong