Tag Archives: New Releases

The first sign that something is awry: the outsider “u” in the British-spelled “colour” from a quintessentially American band. The second sign? Their opening track and first single off the album is named “WTF?” Aptly named, as the first 10 seconds encompass more random sound and heavy distortion than their entire debut album.

OK Go’s third album (and the third to start with the letter “o”), “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky,” is an appropriate aberration from their successful sound of peppy, snarky, guitar-driven rock. This album, as compared to previous ones with big hitters like “Here We Go Again” and “You’re So Damn Hot” holds equal parts of expected (the sharp rhythm of “White Knuckles,” with a jammin’ lick in the middle of the song) and unexpected (the acoustic venture “Last Leaf” and the swingin’ rock and muted vocals of “Back From Kathmandu”).

Experimentation? In a way. The voices are more muted, the songs a bit more raw. It’s not an album that you would necessarily blast on a road trip, and certainly not something to accompany a coordinated treadmill routine, but every band deserves a little leeway when they try something new.

- Ellen

OK Go – WTF? (download)

OK Go – White Knuckles (download)

OK Go – Last Leaf (download)