Mosquito (Deluxe Version)

In 2013, few rock 'n' roll bands sound both in tune with rock tradition and intent on smashing through its boundaries, but Yeah Yeah Yeahs are one of them. Singer Karen O has proven to be the frontwoman everyone thought she could be after the group debuted 10 years ago. And Mosquito, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' fourth album, answers any questions of how "for real" this clanging trio of kids (now adults) actually is. The opener "Sacrilege" is key, unleashing all the group's firepower in one dose. But rather than follow that with another epic blowout, Yeah Yeah Yeahs opt for atmosphere on the lengthy and beautiful "Subway." With production chores handled by TV on the Radio's David Andrew Sitek and longtime co-conspirator Nick Launay (fresh off producing Nick Cave), Mosquito never forgets the importance of a soul-piercing sound. The dance grooves don't change the YYYs but add to their arsenal of ways of getting under your skin. The title track moves with urgency. "Under the Earth" turns modern tribal. "Despair" is a ballad for Karen O to slice apart. The deluxe edition adds four tracks of acoustic demos and radio performances.