Half performance art, and half actual rock music, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been accused of posturing rather than actually creating any music. Based on their output before "Fever To Tell", this might be a legitimate criticism, all of the hype surrounding them was built on a measly half dozen songs. So actually putting out a full album must have been a daunting proposition for them, because it would let everybody see if they could come up with the goods, or if they were really just a gimmicky trio that relied more on sex appeal than musical ability to get their fame and fortune.

Luckily for the band, they've come up trumps with this album. Sure, it's brimming with sexual tension and innuendos, but that's as much a part of their style as anything. You wouldn't criticise The Beatles for using lots of happy singalong choruses on their album, or Pink Floyd for using pomp and overblown guitar solos, because that was just their style. Likewise, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Karen O in particular utilise barely restrained sexual insinuations to carve a distinctive style for themselves.

Right from the outset of this album, with the siren-like intro to the first song Rich, the band displays considerable song writing ability and an ability to come up with something just a little bit different. Rich is a splendid three-and-a-half minute slab of art-punk, incorporating constant tempo changes and vocal styles ranging from soft whispers to faux-orgasmic screams. Date With The Night manages to continue the breakneck pace, before Karen O tears things apart with yet another very sexual breakdown where she just screams her way through the music. It's unsubtle, but it's very effective. A similar tactic is employed in Tick, with Karen O screaming the word "tick" over and over, in a voice that absolutely oozes sex.

This album does have a failing in that it runs out of steam about halfway through. The band lets the pace slow down, and they're nowhere near as good at singing slower ballad-like numbers as they are at constructing fractured art-punk pieces. This is a bit of a letdown, but the first half of the album does at least prove to their critics that they're able to write and perform a decent song as well as acting out the rock and roll lifestyle for the cameras.