Yeasayer — Odd Blood

Remember that scene in Total Recall when Arnold walks into that futuristic bar with the triple-breasted woman? Well, Yeasayer's sophomore album Odd Blood is the music that would be blaring in the background in such an establishment, in such an era.

Odd Blood is a futuristic album filled with retro rock, which turns out to be a deliriously great thing and a godawful one all at once. There are songs that ride the line of new-retro so closely that it's hard to tell if the band are making fun of '80s pop (think Phil Collins-meets-Dire Straits) or just taking the era's greatest musical elements and living them.

"Madder Red" is a big reverbing-drum ballad that could have come fresh of the Who's That Girl soundtrack. Then there are songs like the frantic "Love Me Girl" and "O.N.E." that sound like explosive anthems of joy from another planet.

At times, Odd Blood is so frenzied there are no touchstones, and you can't do anything except get lost in it. And what's wrong with that?

I really can't decide if I completely hate this album or think it's already one of 2010's best. I'm going to have a drink beside that girl with all the boobs and get back to you.

Get it from