TV on the Radio are one of indie rock’s most revered and critically respected bands of the last decade. Following now classic releases like 2003’s “Young Liars EP”, 2006’s “Return to Cookie Mountain”, and 2008’s “Dear Science”, the band have insurmountable potential to live up to this time in the studio. Returning after a year long hiatus that has only exponentially increased expectations, “Nine Types of Light” continues their blending of experimental tendencies with rock songwriting, and the immediate results are sure to impress those new to the band.

Dave Sitek, main songwriter and producer for TV on the Radio, continues the band’s signature ability to layer dense walls of sound on top of each other in the confines of such accessible and catchy songs. “Nine Types of Light” is obviously very labored over, and it shows in the production of these 10 tracks.

“Will Do”, the album’s first single, is going to be a returning point here for many longtime fans, and is sure to bring a brand new audience to the band. ‘Anytime will do my love/Anytime will do/What choice of words will take me back to you?’ is delivered assuringly by singer Tunde Adebimpe. Lyrically, the album carries similar themes of love in less romanticized and more mature terms, as opposed to previous songs like “Staring at the Sun”.

Sitek’s fascination with electronic music spills onto this album once again, baring resemblance at times to some of the songs from his 2010 solo project, Maximum Balloon. Much of the album utilizes electronic samples and synths as the band continues to pursue and develop their brand of electrofunk that found its way onto many of the songs on “Dear Science”.

However, there is something missing here on “Nine Types of Light” that isn’t easy to pin down. Whether the songs themselves have become less adventurous is up to debate, but the album undoubtedly lacks the cohesiveness of their previous landmark releases.

That doesn’t mean that “Nine Types of Light” isn’t a great pop album. It accomplishes exactly what it set out to be, and that’s a fine collection of 10 songs you’ll find yourself humming through out the day. But is it a decade defining classic like their previous output? Probably not.