Well before the release of this solid but slender debut, the Brooklyn-based Yeah Yeah Yeahs were the subject of so much international press hype that the White Stripes were probably taking quick, nervous peeks over their shoulders. But while Fever to Tell captures a lot of what's good about the trio--mostly the caterwauling energy of their club shows--it also exposes the band's limitations. Singer Karen O is the undeniable star here, contorting her voice from a primal P.J. Harvey growl to the pre-orgasmic purr of Chrissie Hynde. Nick Zinner chops, slashes, and torpedoes his guitar around, across, and straight at O's voice, while drummer Brian Chase delivers a suitably raw trash-can thump. There are a lot of cool sounds on this 11-song, 37-minuute disc, and enough metallic-KO attitude to make a bare-chested grandpa like Iggy Pop proud. What's missing is a more varied set of fully fleshed-out songs, the kind it took the White Stripes four albums to write. Hype too early in a career can be terrible burden--ask Liz Phair or, soon enough, the Vines. Better to enjoy Fever to Tell for what it is--an uninhibited blast of garage-rock fury--without swallowing extravagant claims for a potentially great band still under construction. --Keith Moerer

uuid:	46B83EBB-16A5-40C1-89AA-CED6CCCD849C
upc:	0600445098022
tracklisting:	Rich Date With the Night Man Tick Black Tongue Pin Cold Light No No No Maps Y Control Modern Romance
title:	Fever To Tell
rating:	4
purchase date:	09-05-2005
published:	29-04-2003
price:	$13.98
net Rating:	3.5
last lookup time:	137383376
genre:	Garage Punk Indie Rock
fullTitle:	Fever To Tell
currentValue:	$6.10
created:	137383360
country:	us
aspect:	Audio CD Explicit Lyrics
asin:	B00008VOQM
artist:	Yeah Yeah Yeahs