Rock fans knew it was too much to ask, but they asked anyway. The Strokes, once touted as the saviors of rock and roll, could not muster the fury needed to make a fraction of the impact foretold by the hype machines.
Nonetheless, the public wanted an answer, a voice with fiery conviction to affix to rock’s next big thing. The landmark “Is This It?” had piqued interest and satiated the collective appetite in the interim, but the more-of-the-same follow-up “Room on Fire,” offered only a banal retort.
Now, with their third offering, “First Impressions of Earth,” the five New York City hipsters have rid themselves of the insurmountable hype and taken a who-gives-a-damn approach. As singer Julian Casablancas semi-croons through lines like “I’ve got nothing to say” and “I’m tired of everyone I know,” it is evident that the few still looking for The Strokes to be the second coming will be thoroughly disappointed yet again.
No, this album is not great, but what is the matter with just being good? Casablancas and crew have accomplished something here. Everyone knew that the band needed to renew its approach and they have done just that. This is a fact easily recognized even before a single song is heard; the 14-song, 52-minute LP is practically longer than the first two albums combined.
As for the sound, The Strokes brought in new producer David Kahne (Presidents of the United States of America, Sugar Ray) and added more depth. As musicians, the band is better than ever. The always meticulously tight rhythm section seems impossibly more rigid in a framework that allows bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti more room to grandstand their talents. Similarly, the interwoven guitar machination gleams as Albert Hammond and Nick Valensi showcase an impressively superior aptitude compared to past efforts.
However, the strength of the album lies in the fact that for the most part, The Strokes still sound like the same old band while broadening their scope. Opening track “You Only Live Once” could easily supplant a track of “Is This It?” and the familiar bass grooves still drive the effort. Its first single is the subsequent “Juicebox,” where the redefinition can really be heard. By far the band’s hardest hitting rocker, it’s as progressive as it is powerful. The most surprising track, though also the most lackluster, is “Ask Me Anything,” which breaks the mold in a construction free of the typical Strokes trademarks as Casablancas’ impassioned vocals are buttressed solely by synth and strings.
The first half of the album is damn good and on first listen there is a definite inclination to anoint it as almost on par with their freshman release. However, after the murky, pounding, “Vision of Division,” there is little else of note. The following songs really just drag on and lull the listener into sedated apathy.
“First Impressions'” other pitfall is the sometimes downright atrocious lyrics. Casablancas has never yielded profound renderings, but some of the lines signal a complete lack of effort: “Don’t be a coconut / God is trying to talk to you.” Other lyrics are just safe and unimaginative like a teenage garage-bander’s attempt at being deep: “I hate them all / And I hate myself for hating them.”
Overall, “First Impressions of Earth” should not be seen as a disappointment. The album really is strong, even if it doesn’t have an über-catchy hit like “Last Nite” or “12:51.” There are signs present that should please even those with the highest hopes, though they would be best advised to curb them. The Strokes really have taken a step in the right direction; they’re just not quite there yet.
Leave a Reply