The Strokes - Classic or Duds?

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.

Why does the most unassuming, faceless representative of a certain musical sect / region get the greatest amount of hoopla or press?

It's not bad, no, but, damn, Superchunk would go quadruple platinum with the amount of buzz these guys have garnered.

Again - an interesting group, from what I've heard, outside of the all the damn hype. But it's the DAMN HYPE (copyright) that's sabotaging the whole enterprise. Never mind the atavistic anti-NYC / hipster gag reflex.

There are moments of rock splendour: a few of the lyrics, the bass line of the title track; but these moments are far too fleeting and far too few. My first thought on listening to this album was “Cake meets Iggy Pop”. They have taken a back-to-basics approach, sounding as though they have recorded the album on an 8-track, with 3 tracks to spare: perhaps intentional, but definitely unimpressive all the same.

They desperately want to be sleazy, and to a slight degree they achieve this – for a flash in ‘Trying Your Luck’ (the best song on the album, in my opinion) the chorus pitches and lingers in memory for a moment – it is simple and effective, but then it dissipates and the climax is lost. The guitar almost swirls but ends up being lost in the appalling mix. Elsewhere on the album the vocals drone on, but here they are a hybrid of Top Cat and Frank Sinatra on smack.

‘NYC Cops’ is deservedly a single. It’s catchy, and the intro snares you, but there is nothing overwhelming about it, nothing that could change ones life as the press have suggested it will. The ultimate in lo-fi, The Strokes churn out 11 songs that would be hardly distinguishable from each other if is wasn’t for the pause between them.

Two thumbs down for this. Sorry.

"Hard To Explain" and a few other songs I've heard off their album are enjoyable enough. My only gripe is, with all that hype, surely they can finally afford to buy the singer a microphone that isn't broken? And the album's cover photo is a bit unnecessary.

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