The Strokes - Classic or Duds?

1 album/fake debates in Brit-press on the future of RAWK&ROLL/"Man, if you don't like The Strokes you don't like rock, man"/disappointing sales/2030: remember these guys?

We'll see.

You can't really ask classic or dud before the debut album though, surely?!

Who — completely by bad luck and unlucky timing — your first posts somewhat reminded some of us of, hence the mean-ass whirlwind you inadvertently walked into, Nick. i.e. We thought you were someone else in new disguise and were goading him out of hiding. Our instant disgreements would have been a lot more polite and friendly (or anyway less sneery) had DP not been buggering abt so assiduously up till a week ago.

Unfortunately a talk-board this big and diverse tends to acquire a hate figure to unify it: he left, you arrived, and you Got Elected. I would like to propose you are hereby UNELECTED (DG? Robin? Cool it!) as Top Hate Figure, because you have no more deserved it than I have. (Esp. as your outburst at OBJECTIVITY vs SUBJECTIVITY wasn't a meeeeeeellion miles from my own feelings abt some of it: ie that it was a bit ponderous and up itself..., tho some of it was somewhat more sarcastic than first meets the eye)

Your degree was in Popular Culture and Cultural Studies, wan't it? (Sorry, I read it in Introduce Yourself and have now forgotten the exact wording.) So a. You surely have intellectual interests in common with lots of us. b. You're probably a bit bored with the more dreary or inadequate reaches of same (jeezus GOD fair enough). We seem at this moment to be having a mini-season of replication of grad-school discussion of Lit Theory. Which ius getting nowehere because it is too REPECKFUL of FAMOUS-NAME cliches, and BOUGHT-IN READYMADE MEMES. (I won't say names NOW, because I am preparing devasting hilarious war oh yes...) (Is it a meme if it's rubbish?)

I think in its scrappy wayward dilettante way this board in 11 months has contributed FAR more to CultStud than several of the bigwigs on your booklist for your postmodernism essay ever have or ever will. Seriously. Better ideas anyway. Not followed through: this is the internet and instant hedonism rules.

This is a sort of apology/friendly gesture/welcome-to-the-board-after-a-v.hairy-start type thing.

Now: LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Um, thanks. Yeah.

The same 13 year-olds who bought into Oasis all those years ago (myself included).

I wish I was still 13, I could run forever and I was wicked a football.

Anyone who starts a track the way The Strokes start NYC Cops deserves a medal, because it's just got verve and spunk to it, and that's ace.

But I'm genetically pre-disposed to anyone who sounds like the Velvets and The Stooges anywa, especially if they chuck in some glorious pop hooks and some suggestion of melancholy.

I actually don't like anyting that's remotely retro now because I really like music that appears to me to be more original/experimental but that doesn't matter in the world of pop. As long as they have a bit of charisma, they could be huge (even that might not matter- look at Travis?)

I'd much rather listen to The Strokes than Travis. Why? More up my street. Plus the second track on the debut EP has the best drum beat ever...

ehehehehehehe...

There are a million bands like the uninspiring Strokes, at least one of which is playing in a pub or bar near you tonight. If I was in a band as workaday as them, I'd be fucking *staggered* if we got two lines in the local freesheet.

Still, they're upper middle class and I understand daddy is a big cheese in the fashion industry. Probably explains a lot.

If you're going to focus on a New York rock group, go check out the Joyous Nu Order stylings of Interpol, or freaky-deaky Providence transplants like Les Savy Fav, or the posh new-wave poetry of My Favorite. And might I add that I'm terribly disappointed that the No- Depression types in the UK press STILL haven't picked up on the greatness that is Ida? (Or are you folks strictly looking at those folks that are only a few spiritual steps away from Nashville, like Laura Cantrell or Ryan Adams? They're all fine and good, mind you, but, for the luvva Loretta Lynn, open your bloody ears!)

And I think there's a definite Can-via-the-Fall garage rock thing happening with Clinic (especially on stuff like "The Return of Evil Bill").

Why see a band? Stay home with a video of Kurt Cobain’s belches, if that’s your speed. You like the band who remind you of the time that you once had when the world didn’t matter. Personally, I like a band who can play to 30 people and make it seem like 31. A band who realise that rock shows are mundane, pointless. A passing diversion. Capes don’t do it for me. Neither do hair-slides. You think a band’s going to win me over through the sheer brilliance of their invention or musicianship? Get real. The last time I saw someone original, I was being belted on the back by a midwife. “Thank you. If you cheer loud enough, we will not return.” Music is the great comforter, the pacifier. Here’s the reason I like angular NYC quintet Les Savy Fav. They don’t remind me of any of the above bands. No. They remind me of explosive, obstreperous Dutch insurrectionists The Ex. (Hah!) Also, songs like “Wake Up!” , ‘This Incentive” and “Titan” (from new album “The Cat And The Cobra”) know when to start and when to stop. Frankly, though, neither of those are reasons at all - however frantically Mr Harrison Haynes bangs on his drums, or Mr Seth Jabour labours to invent slightly different sounds on his battered guitar. No. Les Savy Fav charm all 30 of us tonight in the UK’s Smallest Venue Offical - and believe me, it really does feel like there are 31 present - because they try. An event isn’t an event unless the people there treat it as such. So the deceptively normal-looking singer Mr Tim Harrington goes on walkabout. He examines an array of different objects - lights, fans, beer glasses, an audience member’s hand, turntables, the front door, every audience member’s back, the ceiling - while sing/shouting. He jumps up. He jumps down. He’s polite, yet intense. He makes us feel privileged to be in Brighton, England.

Sorry, but I thought someone might be interested. I have no idea what these Strokes are you people seem so interested in. But I do know what "Diff'rent Strokes" are.

(Oh, yeah - the obvious gag. Har-de-har-har-har.)

Supposedly, at a show I attended, Mr. Harrington attempted to mount the face of an audience member. How the hell did I miss THAT?!? (Jerry - get that LSF bitch published somewhere, yo - they could use the press. And their latest release, actually, is the _Rome_ EP on Southern Records. New album coming soon, too!)

In the US, I doubt The Strokes would be able to sell water to dehydrated camels, no matter how good they are. Andy speaketh the truth - it's all about boobies (or, in Fred's case, boobs).

You want rock & melon-farmin' roll, you want some Ted Leo (who just so happens to have an album out on Lookout!, which seems to be quite the hot ticket nowadays, though I still need to get my own copy to judge for myself, but I liked Ted's 1st solo effort, along with Chisel's later efforts, so my endorsement for Ted is justified). (Thank you.)

Fuck the Strokes - name some other fresh-n-new rock bands, maaaaan.

I saw the end of Les Savy Fav when they opened for the Ex at the Knitting Factory. Eh.

But as a little bit of dressing on the salad of my musical intake, I find them very much acceptable.

I prefer Rooms on Fire -- it's funnier, more assured, songs about getting fucked up and their scene that are sharper musically and lyrically than the debut ("So many fish here in the sea/she wanted him, he wanted me"), but I'm not gonna argue about it. Minor band.

Not culturally

I'm gay, we don't affect culture

Visage and Ultravox are minor bands too. They affect culture more than greater ones.

love Fischerspooner. lol i love the Wire cover too, i prefer it over the original.

― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau)

The second Fischerspooner album is secretly really brilliant, especially A Kick In The Teeth which was even better than Emerge.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs were fanrastic up until Mosquito, and It's Blitz! is easily one of my favourite albums of that decade without question.

I always thought Fischerspooner were crap.

Visage and Ultravox are minor bands too. They affect culture more than greater ones.

― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, May 17, 2017 12:44 AM (twenty-three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Island-era Ultravox were a very influential cult band.

Agreed!

I will also defend the s/t - they got unfairly slated for how depressing and bleak it was...for some reason?

― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.)

lol

sonically were closer to the Cars and Tom Petty

back to back "American Girl" and "Last Night" is a great DJ move.

the inevitable Rick Rubin comeback album!!!

http://pitchfork.com/news/the-strokes-recording-new-album-with-rick-rubin-says-albert-hammond-jrs-dad/?mbid=homepage-more-latest-and-video

the inevitable hyperbole-laden retrospective -
"it was a bomb in the middle of a plastic pool"? sounded to me like just another bunch of guys with guitars.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/27/that-was-it-how-the-strokes-and-new-york-rock-ripped-up-british-music

i see this has been largely covered upthread, carry on.

Comedown Machine should really be considered on par w/the first two imo

otm

Completely agree. One of the most underrated albums of the decade.

damn ok i should revisit it.
love the first two.

The new single is good but the video is...stunning? What in the hell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CAz_vvsK9M

i'm excited for this and i hope the like five others here who also adore comedown machine are too

"at the door" is a bit of a left-turn and sounds like a very stripped down phrazes for the young track but it's not bad. there's shitty footage of them playing another new song "bad decisions" yesterday which sounds very good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3ZoII-w3GY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fbZTnZDvPA

yeah i love this one

Count me in as one of the five who loved Comedown Machine. Really like both of these singles. I especially ove the guitar sound on Bad Decisions and the not-so subtle nod to Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself.

listening to Comedown Machine now, this sounds great

three previous posts otm

There’s a Billy Idol writing credit. Either he did help write it or it was a pre-emptive move to not get sued for it.

Almost certainly the latter.

Sounds more like "I Melt With You" imo than anything by Billy Idol.

Oh yeah, wait... the chorus definitely bites "Dancing."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jna3dWEnzo

this one sounds like a phrazes for the young track but doesn't quite do it for me

love it

i think the individual sections are decent enough but they don't quite fit together?

Well I liked the Strokes and the Libertines and the Stone Roses [cowers in corner, awaiting rain of ILM boots]

i feel like rick helped julian find his way with vocal delivery again or something. he was stuck in that weird drawling thing for years. he sounds noticeably better on all of these to me compared with last few strokes and voidz albums.

Ah, this is so great. Really can't wait for this album now.

album is pretty good on first listen. it's closer to comedown machine than any of their other albums, though not quite as good. really like "the adults are talking" and "eternal summer" and "why are sundays so depressing" is the most phoenix song they've ever written lol

Solid album but definitely doesn't excite me the same way Comedown Machine did. I'm surprised how downbeat and subtle it is, especially the second half. The production reminds me of Angles but the songwriting is much stronger this time round. Julian sounds great throughout.

I’ll def listen to this.

I did get around to Comedown Machine. Love “happy ending”!

went back to Comedown Machine to compare and that's still such a great album

Opening track is such a welcome surprise. I still need to listen to the rest but Julian’s voice sounds the best it has ever sounded on this one. Not sure if he sobered up, took some singing lessons or this is all Rick Rubin pulling wizard tricks.

Yes - opening track seems strong. The Strokes are so drenched in nostalgia for me: very strong memories of 2001 when they were ubiquitous.

sounds great

Eternal Summer is the only one I'm not totally sold on right now.

this is the best julian's voice has ever sounded

lol whoops didn't read moka's post. otm

lol I don't think Rick Rubin does much except sit on a couch

need to hear this, big Comedown Machine fan

I feel kinda bad I feel like these guys can't win, no matter what they do it's going to be compared unfavorably to the first two

i like this record a lot but the tempo is generally pretty sleepy, whereas comedown machine has that mania i crave

this album and the last one should switch titles

completely baffled that RYM has decided this is their long-awaited return-to-form, not Comedown Machine

like this album is solid enough with a few real highlights but it's got nothing on Comedown Machine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX-_yLyU1fU