Album Anniversaries: A Decade Later, TV On The Radio’s ‘Seeds’ Still Stands as an Inventive Leap Forward

After the death of a close friend and core bandmate, indie-rock outfit TV On The Radio took a few years off and forged on with a refreshed approach. A theme of rebirth and lightness persists throughout its 2014 album Seeds, a release that continued its reputation of subverting expectations.

Written by Sebastien Frank

Photo courtesy of South China Morning Post

Ten years ago, TV On The Radio released Seeds, a bold and passionate sonic journey that still deeply resonates with listeners. This record not only stood out among the alternative music of the time, but it reflected a change of direction for the band as well. The band members entered a creative refocus for their fifth album driven by the loss of their longtime friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith. This profound tragedy occurred shortly after the release of TV On The Radio’s 2011 studio album, Nine Types of Light. Smith’s remaining bandmates mourned the loss of not only a talented bassist and keyboardist, but a cherished companion who had been central to their journey. The group considered disbanding after the late bandmate’s death due to significant grief and uncertainty for them all. After taking a few years off, the band returned in 2014 to recording with a new mindset centered on regaining its passion through a creative rebirth.

Over the years, TV On The Radio has built a reputation for its discography’s dark and apocalyptic sound. Starting with its 2004 debut, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, the group instantly became one of the most sonically adventurous indie bands of the time. In November of this year, the indie rockers released a 20th anniversary edition of their debut shortly after announcing a band reunion. It has been five years since they last performed live as a band and a decade since Seeds entered the scene. In light of the recent news, it is important to remember what TV On The Radio accomplished on its 2014 record, and how the band has continued to break new musical ground. 

Seeds represents the band’s impressive path of development to more lucid exercises in musical innovation. During the release of Seeds, founding member Dave Sitek expressed his interpretation of it in comparison to the group’s 2006 sophomore album, Return to Cookie Mountain. “For me, Return to Cookie Mountain was like the world and how we're going to react to it. [Seeds] for me feels like the self and how we're going to react to it.” According to Sitek, TV On The Radio’s past work possessed a more outward-looking perspective that processed worldly pains, while Seeds emerged from a much more personal and introspective place. After playing with the depths of the world’s darkness for more than a decade beforehand, Sitek and his bandmates looked inward to forge a new kind of light.

Image courtesy of Julian Gross

TV On The Radio unlocked a newfound musical clarity with Seeds. In a Vice interview, lead singer Tunde Adebimpe mused, “I guess I feel like this is the most direct one.” His bandmates took pride in this fact, as some listeners felt that it led to more catchy and danceable melodies across the tracklist. This directness enhances the record’s unique nature, bringing the elements of lightness and openness to the group’s consistently cathartic sound. Therefore, the record balances between straightforward and uplifting elements. Moreover, Seeds uses cleaner production techniques and more smoothed out instrumental passages in order to add to this sense of clarity. It delves into new territory by fusing texturally rich electronics with the group’s trademark rock instrumentation. They use guitars and drums sparingly throughout, making the moments that they kick in shift the tone with intent. Overall, the group pivoted to being increasingly atmospheric with an eclectic mixture of diverse electronic and organic sounds. This makes for a kaleidoscopic musical landscape throughout Seeds. 

Although still not quite in the style of modern pop music, this approach shocked some longtime fans initially upon its release. There was an assumption that the group’s once raw indie-rock instrumentation had been muted in favor of a more pristine sound. Adebimpe expressed an awareness of these concerns ahead of time: “Some who know our whole body of work will take it differently to people who’d never heard of the band.” While this record undeniably adopts a more accessible approach, it still stays true to the band’s experimental nature. Even the sleeker production is progressive, as it allows for satisfying layers of vocal harmonies with the combination of varying instrumental approaches. This is apparent from the very start of the album on “Quartz”, where wordless chants build in the background to amplify Adebimpe’s fervent delivery. These instances of sonic redirection serve as a testament to the band’s willingness to evolve.

The songs on Seeds capture an immersive array of emotional atmospheres. “Right Now” encompasses the album’s liberating and soul-searching aspects. The song begins with the line, “I see you praying on the dancefloor,” alluding to a combination of danceable melodies with deeper, more spiritual observations. Moreover, the lyrics explore the idea of tapping into your inner light for a creative resurgence: “There's a golden light that's right here / There's no bottom to this well / Wealth of loving, wealth of ideas / Peace of mind beyond the self.” This omnipresent sense of spirituality takes hold of “Right Now,” showing how the band members overcame their grief. Relating this sense of solace to mindfulness and deep affection, the song slows down for a characteristically haunting and passionate bridge. “Breathe in the moment and it magnifies our love / Healing the soul / Healing the soul.” The interwoven vocals of Adebimpe and Kyp Malone make this moment especially ethereal. “Right Now” sets the tone for the album’s themes of looking within and embracing the present moment.

The band’s lyrical transparency continues to come through in its songs’ clear meanings. On “Test Pilot,” the song reaches clear messaging through an explanation of its title: “We are going to need the strength it takes to pave the way and be the first test pilot.” This outlook on ambition ties back to the band's exploration of new musical ground and emotional territory throughout the album. On the sonically expansive  “Ride,” poignant lyrics once again reflect the universal theme of moving past grief: “Like a resolution / Crying in confusion / There’s one sure solution / Leave it behind, it’s time to ride.” Additionally, the song’s articulate use of airy and spacious electronic sounds makes for a moving journey, matching the ever-changing sound of “Ride” to its title. The lyrical themes in “Test Pilot” and “Ride” reflect universals applicable to anyone’s individual journeys. The songs allow listeners to go through any situations and resulting emotions that come their way in a clear headspace.

Image courtesy of Julian Gross

Some of the songs on Seeds stray from the woozy and breathable sonics present on the previously mentioned tracks. Instead, others command attention with intensity and a more standout energy. The lead single, “Happy Idiot,” carries a relatable theme of dissociation, brought on by either a breakup or a tragic loss. The song immediately delves into a darker sound reminiscent of the band’s earlier albums, but done within this album’s stylistic devices. “Happy Idiot” pulsates with switching intensities to reflect these tumultuous emotions. Similarly, “Lazerray” is an invigorated rock song that encourages movement and singing along. It is energetic, direct, and filled with plenty of hooks. These songs show how diverse the album’s range is tonally, fitting different moods that still blend in well as a cohesive album listening experience.

On Seeds, TV On The Radio shows its capacity for resilient renewal within an emotionally straining world. By blending introspective lyrics and bold sonic transformation, the band proves that it can continue to break musical boundaries. The band delves into its collective intuition for wide-ranging sonic experiments and forays into more self-observing lyrics. Filled with stratified instrumentation and melodically sincere vocals, the impressively innovative album still sounds fresh 10 years later. Regardless if TV On The Radio ever releases another album, Seeds helps present the daring group in its own unique way. By not releasing another record since, the indie-rock mainstays let Seeds properly settle itself into the alternative music landscape, allowing it to reveal itself as a triumphant evolution.