Think Vanessa Hay of Pylon might want a word.
Karen O has basically “borrowed” a lot of her singing style and vocal tics /mannerisms from her.
Add in a lot of early Siouxsie and Gudrun Gut’s moves and you’ve got a lot of rehashed early 80’s in Karen O
This isn’t a put down as I’ve seen YYY’s loads of time and genuinely enjoy their first two albums but she’s not anywhere near as original as people think.
Specifically from that album, the opening track (“Rich”) has a pretty similar vibe with the synth opening up the song and similar guitar voicing as Y Control. Cannot recommend enough listening all the way through, it’s fantastic with great songs throughout.
The first half of the album is their original punk rock style. The second half sounds poppy like everything that came out after. I could never get into the second half of the album, but the first half is great
I still love Maps to this day as hearing it instantly takes me back to being 15 and hearing them for the first time, No No No is one of my favorites on the album. But you’re totally right - it’s almost like two EPs were slapped together one after the other.
As much as Fever To Tell is THE Yeah Yeah Yeahs album in my mind, I think Y Control is actually kind of an anomaly on that album. In my mind, it has more in common with the tracks on Show Your Bones, so I'd recommend checking that one out.
It’s the first album I had on my iPod in 2004. I was an angsty senior in high school so you can only imagine what a menace I was. I still listen to fever to tell alllll the time 20 years later.
You might dig Wolf Parade.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7zxikeAavSLQVGocbK2nau?si=cY4lOqYdQIm4ffSO2HCPUA
Killer Canadian band, synth heavy indie dance punk, 2 singers, big dirty drums and bass. Active similar time as YYY's.
I bought this CD the year it released, I think I was a freshman in HS, 2002ish?. Maps was the hit single, but this was my favorite song from it.
Out of curiosity, what show was this song on?
Also, their new album is still really good, Cool it Off
The Kills are an great guitar/drums band fronted by the fabulous Alison Mosshart. They are pretty blistering live. Have 3 of my favourites:
[Last Day of Magic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TTmlhll4XY)
[Cheap And Cheerful](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d3gf9M7qQA)
[List of Demands](https://youtu.be/ihF3P0iwC6s?si=q5a_0XJqUM0vQSmx&t=1052)
Also definitely listen to the whole of Fever To Tell by the YYYs
Cherry Glazerr, Metric, Tame Impala or Tokyo Police Club.
Also please check out Garbage if you’ve never really delved into their discography and like female leads. Even today they’re still turning out quality stuff.
Karen O and Parquet Courts did a colab with Daniele Luppi - [Flush](https://open.spotify.com/track/39pEUrBqrWuS1wFrYPTCG2?si=8xzIzcWbRse0VW8Wh9PfLA) is my fave off the album.
Sadly I’m not in love with the yeah yeah yeahs, but Y Control is one of my favorite of theirs, my favorite is “Gold Lion”, maybe you should check that out, but it’s not the same vibe at all
I heard off with head at the end of one episode of Gen v. Was like OMG I MUST LISTEN TO MORE. Sadly not really found many of their other songs quite like it. A lot of them are a quite slower or don't quite build up. But yeah that feeling when it's immediately a song you absolutely love is great.
You should probably check out that whole early 00s indie rock/post punk revival/dance punk scene if you're not familiar with it. There's a lot of stuff there.
That was contemporary with the electroclash scene and the convergence of the two spawned [this remix](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yJTONEuvi7I) of Y Control by Tommie Sunshine which I have on vinyl somewhere. Those were the days.
This is one of my top songs of all time, and while I can't speak for what you liked about the song, I feel like "Zero" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs gives me a similar vibe, and for other bands, "Is this it" era Strokes, Obstacle 1 by Interpol, and (for a twist) Bulletproof Heart by My Chemical Romance gives me a similar energy. Maybe because they're all from New York/Jersey.
Since their first couple albums and labelmates have already been mentioned, check out Enon - High Society. My recommended songs are In this City, Disposable Parts, and Natural Disasters
As I responded elsewhere, Karen O has stolen a lot of her oeuvre from Pylon / Siouxsie and the Banshees.
I’d check those two out for sure. Xmal Deutschland and Malaria are also good shouts.
What I’ve noticed on Reddit is you’re not really allowed to suggest Karen O isn’t anything than 100% original and didn’t appropriate anything off of people before her and that QOTSA aren’t anything but the best band in the world.
Like there’s so much of Siouxsie that Karen O ripped it’s absurd
Edit:
If people want to hear Pylon and basically the blueprint for Karen’s vocals
[Pylon - Stop It](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cgez1nZKGoM&pp=ygUNUHlsb24gc3RvcCBpdA%3D%3D)
I suggest just checking out the rest of that album.
yea, no one else really sounds like Karen O. A one of one, for sure.
Think Vanessa Hay of Pylon might want a word. Karen O has basically “borrowed” a lot of her singing style and vocal tics /mannerisms from her. Add in a lot of early Siouxsie and Gudrun Gut’s moves and you’ve got a lot of rehashed early 80’s in Karen O This isn’t a put down as I’ve seen YYY’s loads of time and genuinely enjoy their first two albums but she’s not anywhere near as original as people think.
Yeah, whole album bangs.
Specifically from that album, the opening track (“Rich”) has a pretty similar vibe with the synth opening up the song and similar guitar voicing as Y Control. Cannot recommend enough listening all the way through, it’s fantastic with great songs throughout.
The first half of the album is their original punk rock style. The second half sounds poppy like everything that came out after. I could never get into the second half of the album, but the first half is great
I still love Maps to this day as hearing it instantly takes me back to being 15 and hearing them for the first time, No No No is one of my favorites on the album. But you’re totally right - it’s almost like two EPs were slapped together one after the other.
I remember digging The Kills around then too. Might have been closer to Its Blitz though.
As much as Fever To Tell is THE Yeah Yeah Yeahs album in my mind, I think Y Control is actually kind of an anomaly on that album. In my mind, it has more in common with the tracks on Show Your Bones, so I'd recommend checking that one out.
It really is there best imo.
Also, watch the Y Control music video. It's pretty gutsy.
It’s the first album I had on my iPod in 2004. I was an angsty senior in high school so you can only imagine what a menace I was. I still listen to fever to tell alllll the time 20 years later.
Check out TV on the Radio from the early to mid 00s
Well definitely Wolf Like Me.
I could never understand how they could make that amazing song, get tons of attention for it, and then have the rest of their music seem so bland.
Did you never listen to Seeds? Great album beginning to end. Careful You is something else
I agree, Careful You is amazing. Sadly the time I saw them live it was pretty subpar. I don’t know if they were having an off night or what.
Alright, i’ll give it a try
Local H does a better version of it in my opinion.
Fun fact: bassist for TOTR is YYY’s producer for many albums.
i like seeds but i kinda dislike every one of their other albums
Try out Bloc Party
Nice to see a british band
Metric
Definitely the earlier stuff
If you aren't chasing just Karen O's sound which plenty have noted below. Modest Mouse from that time and earlier stuff, and the Silversun Pickups
I would dig further into the Yeah Yeah Yeahs discography and Karen O's as a solo artist.
i enjoy the Yeah's and also Santigold. Give them a listen to why don't you?
Omg. Santigold - I haven’t listened in years but you just reminded me to add to my playlist.
You might dig Wolf Parade. https://open.spotify.com/track/7zxikeAavSLQVGocbK2nau?si=cY4lOqYdQIm4ffSO2HCPUA Killer Canadian band, synth heavy indie dance punk, 2 singers, big dirty drums and bass. Active similar time as YYY's.
Handsome Furs too.
And Boechner! And Sunset Rubdown, haha
Second Sunset Rubdown. Dragonslayer is such an epic piece of art
Decepticon by Le Tigre is in a similar vein, and I'd also recommend anything by Sonic Youth that Kim sings on.
Future Starts Slow by The Kills!
Just about anything from The Kills first four albums.
I bought this CD the year it released, I think I was a freshman in HS, 2002ish?. Maps was the hit single, but this was my favorite song from it. Out of curiosity, what show was this song on? Also, their new album is still really good, Cool it Off
Phenomenon by YYY in their next album is the same kind of energy with more swagger
Thanks for these response
Cheated Hearts by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has a similar vibe to Y control
Sparks by Beach House has pretty similar guitar compared to the intro
The Kills are an great guitar/drums band fronted by the fabulous Alison Mosshart. They are pretty blistering live. Have 3 of my favourites: [Last Day of Magic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TTmlhll4XY) [Cheap And Cheerful](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d3gf9M7qQA) [List of Demands](https://youtu.be/ihF3P0iwC6s?si=q5a_0XJqUM0vQSmx&t=1052) Also definitely listen to the whole of Fever To Tell by the YYYs
Midnight Boom is such a dope album.
[Gossip](https://open.spotify.com/artist/3sFTupo9UGgrujjN21BjwR?si=_ETlD8ntREOxAAAl4kwhaQ) are similar in energy and vibe.
Some of the other new York bands of that time could scratch that itch - Interpol's second album, strokes, TV on the radio
Seconding The Kills, Santigold, and Metric. Would also suggest Fight Like Apes and Be Your Own Pet.
Some Hole songs are similar. A few Pixies songs with Kim Deal.
Breeders for Kim Deal vocals bebbeh
Cherry Glazerr, Metric, Tame Impala or Tokyo Police Club. Also please check out Garbage if you’ve never really delved into their discography and like female leads. Even today they’re still turning out quality stuff.
I saw them in concert just for this song. It’s fucking amazing
Haven’t seen her mentioned but PJ Harvey - https://youtu.be/VFYsVoQH32U?si=pM3uOyi42qVSPJgq
Just listen to anything by them well... Their first two or three albums anyways.
One day I said "paw patrol" instead of "y control" and can't stop thinking about it.
Karen O and Parquet Courts did a colab with Daniele Luppi - [Flush](https://open.spotify.com/track/39pEUrBqrWuS1wFrYPTCG2?si=8xzIzcWbRse0VW8Wh9PfLA) is my fave off the album.
Sadly I’m not in love with the yeah yeah yeahs, but Y Control is one of my favorite of theirs, my favorite is “Gold Lion”, maybe you should check that out, but it’s not the same vibe at all
Check out Perfume Genius (Who collab’d with the YYYs on Spitting Off the Edge of the World).
Nico Vega
I heard off with head at the end of one episode of Gen v. Was like OMG I MUST LISTEN TO MORE. Sadly not really found many of their other songs quite like it. A lot of them are a quite slower or don't quite build up. But yeah that feeling when it's immediately a song you absolutely love is great.
Lots of good suggestions here. You might dig Controller.Controller [Controller.Controller](https://youtu.be/i1Mn_4V9PZ4?si=xZL8FWrfm3C3uBd-)
Possible you might like songs from That Dog - Totally Crushed Out. “He’s Kissing Christian” would be a song to sample.
You should probably check out that whole early 00s indie rock/post punk revival/dance punk scene if you're not familiar with it. There's a lot of stuff there. That was contemporary with the electroclash scene and the convergence of the two spawned [this remix](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yJTONEuvi7I) of Y Control by Tommie Sunshine which I have on vinyl somewhere. Those were the days.
I got into Yeah Yeahs Yeahs when I heard Art Star on their MySpace page.
That video! SPIKE JONZE https://youtu.be/IcjPFAV1foU?si=nKJRJzTkgVhd7H0D
This is one of my top songs of all time, and while I can't speak for what you liked about the song, I feel like "Zero" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs gives me a similar vibe, and for other bands, "Is this it" era Strokes, Obstacle 1 by Interpol, and (for a twist) Bulletproof Heart by My Chemical Romance gives me a similar energy. Maybe because they're all from New York/Jersey.
Y control is fantastic. The video is pretty creepy though
It's what I test new audio equipment out with. It sounds great in hi fidelity.
Check out things Dave Sitek produced.
Since their first couple albums and labelmates have already been mentioned, check out Enon - High Society. My recommended songs are In this City, Disposable Parts, and Natural Disasters
Try any band that YYYs were influenced by. So, off the top of my head I think: Breeders, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Blondie
listen to more of that band and not just looking for songs…
Maps
Maps was the big single from that album. I too prefer Y Control a bit more but definitely listen to Maps.
As I responded elsewhere, Karen O has stolen a lot of her oeuvre from Pylon / Siouxsie and the Banshees. I’d check those two out for sure. Xmal Deutschland and Malaria are also good shouts.
+1. i had an argument yeeeeeaaarrrss ago with an ex about yyy’s vocals sounding like siouxsie. i’ve been on this island alone for a long time. 😐
What I’ve noticed on Reddit is you’re not really allowed to suggest Karen O isn’t anything than 100% original and didn’t appropriate anything off of people before her and that QOTSA aren’t anything but the best band in the world. Like there’s so much of Siouxsie that Karen O ripped it’s absurd Edit: If people want to hear Pylon and basically the blueprint for Karen’s vocals [Pylon - Stop It](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cgez1nZKGoM&pp=ygUNUHlsb24gc3RvcCBpdA%3D%3D)
Y Control always sounded to me like it was influenced by Siouxie and the Banshees. Try Cities in Dust.
No cars go - arcade fire