“Indie rock” is a rather strange term: no one really seems to have an exact definition for it. Generally, the moniker refers simply to bands that are on an independent record label but it also seems to be an umbrella term for a great variety of genres such as post-rock, garage rock, post-punk, and alt-country, to name just a very few.

But what happens when a band that would generally be considered “indie” releases an album on a major label? TV on the Radio has done just that, by moving up to Interscope Records for their second release, Return to Cookie Mountain. Although the band made the move-up due to their recognized talents on their previous album, 2004’s Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes, they still have a ways to go before they gain the universal recognition they so richly deserve. That previous album won the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize, a coveted award for lesser known bands. But even on this newer record their sound seems a bit too complex at the time for the masses; this is still a niche group.

The band embraces a very expansive sound. When listening to this record you get the sense that the band is standing in a huge studio playing these songs—as if there is a huge space literally and figuratively between the members of the band. This is possibly attributed to their extensive use of samples, loops, and keyboards in order to hone their sound. There is a lot of “noise” on this album, but at no point in listening to this disc does it seem like there is too much going on. It would be recommended that you listen to this album with headphones, however. It’s one of those types of albums.

It is true they can be considered “art rock,” due to their avant-garde musical experimentation and arrangements, but on previous releases it seemed that they really focused more on the art than the rock. On Cookie Mountain, however, they have toned down a bit of the more experimental stuff and focused on making a more listenable album. This is helped in great part to the vocals of Tunde Adepimbe, who at times evokes David Bowie during some of his more experimental years. Perhaps this comparison is most apt when Adepimbe finds himself harmonizing with Bowie, who guests on the song “Province.”

Bowie has in fact professed himself as a fan-boy of the group, having this to say in a Rolling Stone Magazine article about their newest album: "They have a strong link with the great body of American poetry, especially beat poetry. I love the new record. I play it about three times a week, which is, like, saturation level for me."

TV on the Radio has done a lot to try and improve their sound over the years. They have moved from being a band that experimented with turntables and hip hop beats to a rock band with heavy electronica influence. Combining a soaring, atmospheric sound with the gorgeous vocal chops of Adepimbe, Return to Cookie Mountain is one of the strongest releases of 2006 and deserves to be on the playlists of more people.