The Yeah Yeah Yeahs :: "Is Is" :: Fontana Interscope Records 

One year after they released "Show Your Bones," the Yeah Yeah Yeahs keep themselves in the spotlight by sticking together another dose of rock with their "Is Is" EP.  The last time they threw out an EP it met with a solid amount of critical disgust (2002's "Machine"), so the band appears to not have given up on the shorter medium.  For fans, this five song release kicks them back to the raw edginess of the self-titled debut EP and "Fever to Tell" years that drew them in early on.  There's no sign of "Art Star" on this new disc, but "Rockers to Swallow" comes close with Karen O screaming and growling out somewhat intelligible lyrics while Nick Zinner careens his gritty guitar riffs throughout.  "Down Boy" follows with a gentle keyboard and drum intro, only to trash the place during the chorus, then suddenly calming down again.  The tune certainly recalls some similarity to the old "Miles Away" tune from their first disc with its approach.  "Kiss Kiss" completes a strong trifecta in signature YYY sound by gunning through another rocker, which is then followed by a slightly quieter "Isis" that revisits some more of Zinner's keyboard work.  The last track, "10x10," might be the best one on the disc with its subtle intro and chugging rhythm.  At only about 20 minutes in length the EP is not one to keep you entertained for long, but for a few bucks it can be worth quite a few repeats given its strength of material.