Grade: A
Acclaimed producer and TV on the Radio multi-instrumentalist Dave Sitek’s side project, Maximum Balloon, is a lighter take on his day band’s brooding urban rock. For a solo effort, Sitek surprisingly lays low, as guest vocalists, including David Byrne and Karen O, sing on every track of the self-titled effort over Sitek’s dance-oriented productions. Throughout the record, Sitek uses glitchy electronics, horn blasts and vibrant synths to make his version of pop songs. While some of the guest vocalists underwhelm and nothing truly surprises anyone familiar with Sitek’s production work, “Maximum Balloon” is a welcome interlude between TV on the Radio albums.javascript:void(0)