A Justification

So much of Dear Science's brilliance hangs on a single song.

Family Tree guts me. Listen to Adebimpe the first time that faltering, flickering piano falls out of the mix. How many layers are there? One syllable behind himself with each layer, it sounds so insecure, so vulnerable. It sounds genuine. Maybe he was reluctant about such a seemingly personal, wrenching song appearing on a plastic disc so many would buy, so many would "identify with". How did he force himself to sing the words in front of friends in a studio, let alone live.

That it sticks out like dogs balls on an album so obviously filled with funk, soul and jazz grooves makes it even better, even more bald. And beyond the centrepiece there is almost too much to digest.

I initially thought there was plenty to support the idea that Golden Age was the obvious core of Dear Science. Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliant song and here's why.

A) Lyrics like this: "Some light being pulled you up from night's part/said, clap your hands of you think your soul is free/and the silence was astounding."

B) It's a dance song that makes you dance. In a time when so much dance music does nothing more than bore the shit of you this music revitalises, it captivates the heart, the mind and the feet.

Folk of theory and prediction like the idea of being able to see around the corner. That is what TV on the Radio does so well. They seemingly capture tomorrow's zeitgeist.

A List

Ten albums, in order, from 2008.

10: Fucked Up - THE CHEMISTRY OF COMMON LIFE

9: Hercules and Love Affair - HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR

8: Willard Grant Conspiracy - PILGRIM ROAD

7: The Mountain Goats - HERETIC PRIDE

6: Death Cab for Cutie - NARROW STAIRS

5: No Age - NOUNS

4: The Hold Steady - STAY POSITIVE

3: Portishead - THIRD

2: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - GURRUMUL

1: TV on the Radio - DEAR SCIENCE