When the NYC post-punk band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their sophomore album Show Your Bones in 2006, the album marked a departure from the raw, post-punk sound of their 2003 debut Fever to Tell. While fans enjoyed some of the acoustic, melodic sensibilities of Show Your Bones, other fans preferred the band's less-polished sound despite that the YYYs retained their indie-rock cred. In 2007, the band released a five-song, 18-minute EP consisting of tracks written during the band's 2003-2004 tour that is entitled Is Is.

The Is Is EP is a record that is a return of sorts of the band's early sound from the Fever to Tell era. Produced by Nick Luanay, famous for his work with Public Image Limited, the EP is a more aggressive record from the YYYs. Since some of the songs might be more familiar to hardcore fans, the material isn't necessarily new yet the new take the band does shows that there's still bite to the post-punk trio.

The first track first appeared in the band's 2004 DVD Tell Me What Rockers to Swallow entitled Rockers To Swallow that is a snarling track featuring breaking, mid-tempo beats from Brian Chase to accompany the confrontational vocals of Karen O. Nick Zinner then appears with his even more scratchy, growling guitar as O sings lyrics that are purely confrontational and punk driven. Down Boy is a slower, funkier track that starts off with a shimmering keyboard track by Zinner and tap-like rhythms from Chase as O goes for a more softer, seductive vocal range that is also sexy with its swoon-like lyrics. While more polished than the raw version that appeared in the split 7" with the Liars, it's still an amazing track thanks to Nick Luanay's production.

Kiss Kiss is a faster yet more rocking track led by Zinner's speedy guitar work and Chase's stuttering rhythm as O sings lyrics filled with cosmic wonder while the chorus is wonderfully catching and rhythmic showing the band’s knack for their complex take on melody and post-punk conventions. The title track Is Is is the longest track at over four-minutes with its mid-tempo, bombastic rhythm and Zinner's shimmering, dirge-like guitars as O revels into some darker territory with the lyrics and her snarling vocals. The rest of the track is dominated by O's growling vocals as well as Zinner's siren-like guitar solos. The final track 10x10 that mixes the band's knack for funk, post-punk, and pop with Zinner's funky guitar, O's snarling vocals and eerie lyrics, and Chase's breaking beats. The track is one of the band's more complex songs as it's accompanied by Zinner's shimmering guitar and Chase's electro-like cymbal crashes.

The EP is also accompanied by videos shot during the band's Brooklyn show on May 7, 2007 that featured 100 different audiences, one mixed and a second all-female, in night vision. Directed by Lance Bangs and ex-Screamers drummer/film art director K.K. Barrett, the videos showing the band performing several songs with fans wearing black makeup around their eyes and such. Several of the videos appear on the band's Youtube channel.

While fans will definitely appreciate the band's new take on these rare tracks, Is Is is an EP that is really the band in transition as what might happen for their next album. Early fans will definitely appreciate the rawness of some of the tracks while fans from the Show Your Bones era will also appreciate the production of these tracks. In the end, Is Is is a very strong EP from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

YYYs Reviews:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP - Machine - Fever to Tell - Maps - (Tell Me What Rockers to Swallow DVD) - Gold Lion - Show Your Bones - (Turn Into) - It's Blitz! - Atlanta, GA-Echo Lounge 11/10/03 - Atlanta, GA-Tabernacle 10/14/06

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends