I've never really been able to get into TV on the Radio. I liked the first album, Desperate Youth etc, alright, but it just got old on me. Eventually "Staring At The Sun" would come on and I couldn't help but skip it. I think the general problem I have with TVOTR is that they're always right on the precipice of something you can feel good moving to, but then they draw back and throw in something weird, something emotionally discordant, so you never really settle into a comfortable place with them.

Maybe I'm wrong. You should tell me if I am.

Maximum Balloon is basically TV on the Radio in full dance mode. It's not even just dance mode, it's "We're going to move together, baby, and either it's going to be via dance, or via fucking like crazy. It's your choice. Whatever you want. I'll just stand here making eyes at you until you choose one" mode.

Every song on this album slinks and slithers, bounces and grooves. It's a celebration of movement, of love, of life! How's that for hyperbole? I'm actually drawing a blank on this one. Sometimes something is just good, and there are no words for it beyond that: this is a good collection of dance music. It's not thin---the synthesizers, the beats, they're all meticulous---and it's not insincere: it's one of those albums that feels like it was willed into existence exactly as it stands, like you couldn't fit a playing card in between the beats because there's just no need or room for anything else.

This is good stuff.