Yes, what it didn't have (on the whole) was nearly as strong hooks and actual songs, which in the end are actually what matter to everybody aside from hyper-analytical critics and music geeks.

Aside from that, Return To Cookie Mountain, good as it was, ultimately rested on the quality of the production rather than that of the raw music. "Dear Science," has that little bit extra going for it.

I've been a pretty big TVOTR up to now, but this was pretty unimpressive really dissapointing compared to the other albums.

is it just me or do TVOTR's albums get more and more poppy each time.

I like this album because it's pretty different than the other two.
More upbeat.
Therefore, it seems slightly hard to judge this album compared to the other ones.
Overall, I really enjoyed this album.

It's a good album. That said, it has been massively overhyped. It isn't even the best TV on the Radio album, in my opinion. It gets off to a very good start but it definitely doesn't maintain the momentum all the way through. Return to Cookie Mountain was more difficult at first, but ultimately more rewarding.

i like alot loved new health rock off last album

who the hell said it was?

??? There's no slump period in the record. I don't understand what anybody means by this. There is a consistent standard from start to end. Whether or not one likes that standard is another matter.

Certainly "Dear Science," is more accessible than RtCM, but I wouldn't describe the latter in terms of being a "difficult" record. Far from.

To address the first part, Dear Science was almost universally (from what I've read) hailed as the best CD of 2008. While RtCM was a critical success, I didn't see anywhere near this kind of hype for it.

The second part is merely your opinion. I happen to disagree. The best tracks are in the first half of the album. I'm generally ready to throw something different on before I get to the end of the album. As I said, this doesn't make it a bad album. There's a lot of good stuff here. But for an album often called the best of 2009, I'd have to say I believe it to be overhyped. I'll stand by that.

this doesnt happen

it doesn't, but even in terms of majority, it is not true.

though to be fair it is not FAR from true.

I'd say for the critics' choice best album of 2008 it was a tie between Dear Science and Fleet Foxes, on the basis of statistics gathered by compendium sites like Metacritic. So no, Dear Science was no runaway winner. I believe both albums respectively made the number one spot on five separate lists.

But the thing is, it wasn't a question of whether or not it was hailed as the best album of 2008. The statement, and I quote, was:

"It isn't even the best TV on the Radio album, in my opinion."

And I say, it is not commonly held to be the best TVotR album. I think most critics and even fans ultimately tended to prefer Return to Cookie Mountain.

I happen to be of the few who really do think Dear Science, is the better record.