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Album Details

• Artist: Radio 4
• Album: Gotham
• Label: Gern Blandsten
• Year of Release: 2002
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-03-31

Radio 4's sophomore album is bound to get them on the map. This 5 piece from New York City put out an early demo for Gern Blandsten in 1999 and subsequently secured a deal with the eclectic label. Their New Song and Dance album started a buzz for these guys but it wasn't until Gotham came out would their fans (onlookers and peers alike) realize just what Radio 4 had in mind. The band mixes a total indie rock esthetic with an almost dancy beat. You may remember the way Gang Of Four blurred the lines between dance and rock. That's one of Radio 4's main influences. The production team that goes by the name DFA (James Murphy and Time Goldsworthy) was brought in and an impecable job was done on that side of things. 13 tracks in and you remained surprised at some of the things these guys do. Anthony Roman's vocals would have been a perfect fit to replace Ian Curtis in Joy Division. He is emotional and fun at the same time. Radio 4 just might be one of the grooviest indie rock bands since Spoon hit the scene. I predict that we haven't seen the last of this band let alone the post-punk revivalist ideals of bands like this and Interpol. It's a fresh look at something that was never really perfected.

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