When you really love a band, new albums are always anticipated with equal amounts of excitement and anxiety. Will it continue their awesome legacy or be an absolute bummer?

With nearly a decade of time off, Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ return, Cool It Down, resonates with a vibrancy that thrills like a debut. Clocking in a little over a half hour, it’s full of urgent moments, but it never feels rushed.

It’s a timely album that looks at climate change disasters and the effect of isolation during the pandemic. It’s thoughtful and reflective without ever being saccharin. Listen along all week to Cool It Down from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, our Album of the Week.