Artistic restlessness is not a quality normally associated with rookie rock bands. It applies more to established groups who've outgrown their signature sound. TV on the Radio, a Brooklyn quintet whose second album, "Return to Cookie Mountain," was already being touted by tastemakers as the year's best long before it was released in Europe and Japan last month, is restless on principle.
Their shape-shifting songs defy categorization, even description. Vocalist Tunde Adebimpe melds upper-register gospel-soul singing with the band's raucous guitar rock -- on stage he thrashes about as if being attacked by a swarm of bees.
Fierce originality doesn't guarantee a big audience, much less a sympathetic ear in the biz, but earlier this year TVOTR signed with major label Interscope, who will release the group's recordings in the United States. Indie stalwarts have looked askance at the deal, and may have a point since "Cookie Monster" has yet to be released in the U.S.