Strokes of genius?
- The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
- Release Date: 01/03/2006
- There's a lot to love -- and hate -- about the NY retro-rockers' third studio LP.
How much do I love The Strokes’ latest effort First Impressions of Earth? Let me count the ways.
1) It’s catchy.
Wasting no time at all, the New York rockers open their third LP with one of the best tracks on the album, “You Only Live Once,” and one you probably won’t grow tired of any time soon. Three minutes of pure power-pop party fun a la early ‘80s Blondie, Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr. blend luscious guitar riffs around Julian Casablancas’ abrasive swooning for their most unforgettable tune since “Last Nite.” Coming soon to a radio near you.
2) It’s experimental.
The Strokes rockin’ out with … cellos? You bet! “Ask Me Anything,” with its non-traditional orchestral-string arrangements, is probably the furthest they’ve ever deviated from the mainstream, and it works. Definitely not a tune, however, you’d expect to hear during a live venue encore, but proof this band is willing to grow and expand their resume.
3) It’s edgy.
With wickedly swift rhythms laid down by bassist Nicolai Fraiture and drummer Fab Moretti, “Juicebox” not only kicks it up a notch, but kicks you in the teeth in the process. Uncompromising in its delivery and aggressive as hell, this song quickly dispels any notion that this is a sell-out album. Replete with heavy guitar riffs and solos, this is rock and roll through and through, packaged perfectly in a wrapper of glorious noise. Sure to piss parents off from sea to shining sea.
4) It’s cool.
“Ize of the World” starts out as scattered and screechy as nails on a chalkboard, then eases into a tightly wound, cohesive rock tune. Highlighted by a crafty guitar lick that vaguely reminds me of Guns N Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Ize” meshes polished mainstream pop with coarse Seattle grunge for one of the most eclectic tunes on the album.
How much do I hate The Strokes’ latest effort First Impressions of Earth? Let me count the ways.
1) It’s sappy.
Wimpy, corny lyrics mar an otherwise OK-sounding beginning to “Razorblade,” only to give way to a chorus, that, *gasp*, can it be? A Barry Manilow rip-off?! Damn it if I don’t hear “Mandy” in there! (Oh Mandy well, You came and you gave without taking, But I sent you away. Oh, Mandy) I don’t want to know the inspiration for this one. I just don’t want to know.
2) It’s whiny.
Maybe it’s me, I dunno, but Casablancas wails on “Killing Lies” like a schizophrenic cat that can’t figure out whether it’s hungry, horny or hostile. Alternating pitch does little in the enunciation department as the vocals remain pretentiously slurred throughout. Somebody crack open a can of Fancy Feast for Chrissakes!
3) It’s false advertising.
Tattooed with the once-damning-but-now-chic “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content” warning, I found but one curse word and very little in the way of sexual innuendoes throughout the entire record, which leads me to wonder … could a pompous enough band actually request an unmerited warning to make themselves look bad-ass? It’s shit like this that – if substantiated – will bury you in the musical world. Anyone ever heard of Vanilla Ice?
4) It’s lost.
While listening to First Impressions of Earth, I get the feeling that this is a band still in search of an identity. Pop, hard-rock, emo, grunge … the pieces are all there, they just don’t mix well. As Emeril might lament, you can’t cull ingredients without a recipe, fellas. BAM!
The rest of the album? Well, it wavers between love and hate; some really good tunes, some really forgettable ones. After blasting onto the scene in 2001 and garnering praise as “the next big thing,” The Strokes have not lived up to the hype. Substantially better than their 2003 release Room on Fire, First Impressions of Earth, however does offer a few glimpses into the potential genius this band might one day possess.
Unfortunately, it’s not today. Not with this album.
January 12th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
Juicebox is the first Strokes single EVER that I like. So that’s saying something fo sho!
January 12th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
i mean, how can you not like juicebox? great tune. just avoid razorblade. trust me on this one.
January 31st, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Oddly enough, I like “Razorblade”. I’m not usually one for this kind of stuff, but I really dig the song.
February 1st, 2006 at 6:08 pm
the strokes are over. is this it? yes it is.