The Strokes - Classic or Duds?

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The Strokes, are they the most exciting band to emerge in some time? Or are they ripping off old trends? Discuss.

― Jon, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Oh, we've done this already, believe me, though I don't know where it's been filed.

― DG, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Word has it at BMG that the full length is gonna make all y'all Stroke haters eat your words. Of course, we signed the damn band, so . . . eh . . .we'll see.

― bnw, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I'm sure it will.

― DG, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Please tell me this is a hoax

― JC, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Sigue Sigue Sputnik?

― Andy, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Look, I haven't even heard the Strokes yet, but even if their debut LP is good, it doesn't make them "classic". Let's calm down.

― Sean, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I'm telling you guys, they're an overhyped drag. They not terrible but they ain't no Velvets!

― Mike Hanley, Tuesday, 24 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Okay, I'll waste a few words on The Strokes since I finally heard that single. Not bad really, if it were released in 1974 ;) And this fake bad production trick is a bit sad in 2001 innit? On the voice: the guy sounds like Lou Reed's nephew, which comes down to being a fake of a fake. Mmm, now they sound interesting again :)

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?

― Omar, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I hate their fucking names. What the hell kind of a name is 'Nikolai Fraiture'? Worse than that, guys with stupid names like that always get pussy!

― dave q, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Five tracks from the album have already been released on the singles so far, which is a shame. Hard To Explain is wicked, The Modern Age is pretty good...

We'll see.

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

― Nick Southall, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The Strokes kind of got elected Top Band for ILM to Hate, thanks primarily to the Attitude of a Certain Capering Demon that ILM grew to love to hate, currently absent, due any minute now (sigh!) to return ("It is I! Doompatrol! HahaHAA!)

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!

― mark s, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

So that means you like The Strokes, Mr.Sinkah? :)

― Omar, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Nevah heard a note, Omah!! Doubtless they are toss.

― mark s, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Cheers! ehehehehehehe...

Um, thanks. Yeah.

― Nick Southall, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I heard some Strokes sound samples finally.
Response: "Oh."

― Melissa W, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The question should be: Do you like stuff that is 'Retro'? This music is for 13- year olds. Before they get into other, more 'progressive' stuff. Or for people who want to be 13 for ever end ever...

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

― Julio Desouza, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

It's not so much a question of "retro" as a question of being totally devoid of any other defining qualities. There's not a single reason to listen to them when they're stripped of their nostalgia factor. Plenty of bands can carry off a retro sound with a shred of originality/personality that makes them worth listening to.

― Melissa W, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Ah, but they're having fun, aren't they? And that counts for something in my book.

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.

― Nick Southall, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I disagree- all you need is somes tunes, a singer that can sing and to look good and any band with a 'retro' sound can suceed. there are no other qualities that a retro band actually needs. Also, you seem to be saying that originality and personality are the same thing. Explain?

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?)

― Julio Desouza, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Well a band like Clinic has a distinctly retro (Velvets and doowop especially) sound, but also has a lot of qualities that separate them from being exclusively a nostalgia act. The presence of a Krautrock influence, brief incidences of lyrical brilliance, etc. They have more going than a simple robbery of previous styles.
And I'm not saying that originality and personality are the same thing, but that they can become inextricably intertwined.

― Melissa W, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I'm not saying The Strokes are the best band in the world, far from it, but they have got some good tunes, an appealing attitude (to some), and an aura of excitement around them (whether it's pre- fabricated by the press or not).

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...

― Nick Southall, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Green Day?

― Andy, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

sadly, i was in the monarch the other day, and they played a strokes record (don't know which one), it actually reminded me of weezer covering kicker conspiracy. this isn't necessarily a bad thing

― gareth, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I don't mind them, but they're not going to save the world. They're just a slightly more oomphy Jonathan Fire*Eater.

― alex in nyc, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The Strokes are just not what I need right now. I can't really say whether they're classic or dud at this point; I haven't heard enough of their output, and I think it's a little early to tell one way or the other. Still, they do absolutely nothing for me. I feel like - oh, I don't know, no matter what I say, it's going to come across as snide and arrogant - but dammit, there's so much MORE to music than the Strokes... That sounds terribly snobby, like I'm trying to say you should only like things that are Significant and Vital and Enriching, rather than things that are just fun. But the Strokes are such safe fun; it just feels like an exercise, especially what they're doing at this point in time - and context is important, iddnit?. I mean, the Stooges/VU/whoever were, and are, a great deal of fun, but it's at least partly because of what was going on around them at the time that they were so refreshing and amazing. (Sorry if that seems painfully obvious.) Now _Here Come the Warm Jets_ - THAT'S fun! (and it's also what I happen to be listening to as I type...)

― Clarke B., Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

i've had the album for the last two weeks - it's very good, though more remiscent of late 70s punk/po/clash ska than velvets - spoke to one of them last week cos they;re in oz right now - very hard workers,they don't believe the hype and are blown away by the overkill in the uk press.

― Geoff, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

What the fuck did they expect when they started getting attention over there, though? Are there really bands coming along who *don't* know how UK overhype works? Morons.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Well, Clinic is a bad example 'cause I never liked them- they always copied the worst aspects of the velvets and I'd like to know a bit about their Krautrock influence because from the songs I've heard it just isn't there.

― Julio Desouza, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Yes, Ned, but it doesn't happen to every band. Why the Strokes? The UK press (we really mean the NME when we say this, no?) seems to pick its saviours at random.

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.

― Venga, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Nancy Boy?

― Andy, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I hear a lot of Faust and Neu! in Clinic.

― Melissa W, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Strange that. I hear a lot of Faust and Neu! in clinics.

― Jerry, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I hear a lot of Kenny G in clinics.

― Melissa W, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

You can take the Groucho mask off now, Everett. ;-)

― Venga, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Find me a clinic where they *play* Faust and Neu! and I might just last the whole 28 days!

― colin clark, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Ah, the Strokes can't win. They've barely squeezed out a decent- sized log, and they're already suffering through a torrent of press (both good and bad). Stupid BMG is going to be eating their shorts with a severe lack of condiment assistance.

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").

― David Raposa, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I heard an advance of the LP... it's pretty good, but the single was better, and that's not a good sign. They might do okay in the UK, but it ain't gonna fly in the US, is it? With that weird cheap microphone effect of EVERY song... Fred Durst and Brittany own this country.

― Andy, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

No one aside from music geeks has even heard of The Strokes in the US.

― Melissa W, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Yay for Les Savy Fav! I saw them play in student lounges and house parties and they are lotsa fun. Tho I will always miss my favorite Providence band, Thee Hydrogen Terrors.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Double yay for Les Savy Fav. In case you're wondering why...

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.

― Jerry, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

If Todd Bridges were in the Strokes, I might be more interested.

― Nicole, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Yeah -- sounds like they've got Mr. Drummond-level scratch backing them up. I hear Charlene goes for leather dudes.

― Andy, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?

(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.

― David Raposa, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

David-- Email me your mailing address and I'll send you a Ted Leo promo...Today!

― Andy, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I bought Rome(written upside down) after reading Kris's end of year list. Played it once and thought it was the worst record I'd ever heard. Put it on again two months later and it rocked like a crazed bastard. I understand it's normally classed as emo, but it sounds nothing like any of the other emo I've heard. The keyboards have something to do with it, but there's an intelligence and genuine aggression about it that is missing from most of yer obvious 'feel-my- pain' bog standard emo timechange frenzy. And it's got ace lyrics about Caeser and stuff.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Maybe theyy should be called teh "Dopes" HA HA HA HA!!!!! (sucks fingers happily)

― Mike Hanle y, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I prefer The Chickens.

― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Name one -- ONE --- Rock'N Roll band this NOT retro in one way or another...please...we could discuss this forever. These kids weren't even inspired by the bands they've been compared to when they grew up -- they are teenagers for heaven's sake! I bet they went out to buy some Stooges, Chameleons, Television, Velvets only AFTER they read all hype that surrounded them. They loved Nirvana and Pearl Jam just as much as most of their fellow generation x'ers. And that's ok -- that's what makes them sound fresh. I've been going to Strokes shows for over a year and trust me, they have come a long way, musically speaking. I love their songs, what can I say....

― stuck+in+nyc, Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

come a long way = no more sets with the amp turned off

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

― Dave M., Wednesday, 25 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 270 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I'm starting to think we're being linked to by a Jonathan Fire*Eater album, containing all three people who are familiar with them in 2009.

― Enormous Epic (Matt DC), Friday, 15 May 2009 23:49 (4 years ago) Permalink

The Strokes themselves have admitted their massive debt to JF*E.

I think the initial UK gaga explosion was from people who never heard JF*E, and even if it is misguided, the gaga train can't be block on its trip across the Atlantic ocean since it is powered by that grossly invincible NME fuel. That's how we ended up where we are unfortunately.

― litcofsky, Saturday, 16 May 2009 00:09 (4 years ago) Permalink

I like JFE but their kinda slow-ass compared to the Strokes

― da croupier, Saturday, 16 May 2009 00:13 (4 years ago) Permalink

they're, rather.

and that doesn't mean better-worse per se, but it's not like the Strokes were a photocopy

― da croupier, Saturday, 16 May 2009 00:15 (4 years ago) Permalink

They were called Jonathan Fire*Eater, they got what they deserved

― Niles Caulder, Saturday, 16 May 2009 02:27 (4 years ago) Permalink

Also I never heard a fun JFE song, were there any?

― Niles Caulder, Saturday, 16 May 2009 02:27 (4 years ago) Permalink

these little monkeys and when prince was a kid probably the funnest jfe songs.

― mizzell, Saturday, 16 May 2009 02:31 (4 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

new member!

― mizzell, Thursday, 30 September 2010 21:09 (2 years ago) Permalink

I don't get why peeps upthread are comparing them to Jonathan Fire*Eater (they likely doomed their whole career with the band name alone) but while we're at it I'll give my 5 cents and say the 'tremble under boom lights' ep is the only thing even worth listening by those guys.

― Moka, Thursday, 30 September 2010 21:32 (2 years ago) Permalink

But then, 'Is this it' is the only album even worth listening by the Strokes. I like to pretend that 'Little Joy' solo project was their following album before they disbanded. Hope they prove me wrong next time.

― Moka, Thursday, 30 September 2010 21:34 (2 years ago) Permalink

Some of you must spend 98% of your day walking around in an uncontrollable rage and I feel very sorry for you.

― he's always been a bit of an anti-climb Max (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 30 September 2010 21:39 (2 years ago) Permalink

Whoa, really wrong thread.

― he's always been a bit of an anti-climb Max (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 30 September 2010 21:43 (2 years ago) Permalink

uncontrollable rage can cause strokes

― who's got the (platform) 9 3/4ths? (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 30 September 2010 21:45 (2 years ago) Permalink

Why are there other bands called the Strokes or JF*E that I'm not aware of?

― Moka, Thursday, 30 September 2010 21:50 (2 years ago) Permalink

Because I think they're fine but you definitely wont see me throwing my panties their way.

― Moka, Thursday, 30 September 2010 21:51 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

I just heard New York City Cops for the first time in a while, with it's lol metarock intro. God I hate this fucking band.

― Will Chave (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 8 August 2012 16:15 (9 months ago) Permalink

4 months pass...

fun to listen to "Is This It" and pretend it was a really "experimental" Matthew Sweet album.

― Cunga, Thursday, 20 December 2012 18:54 (5 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

new song is kinda puzzling, possibly in a good way

reminds me of The Chipmunks doing A-Ha
http://pitchfork.com/news/49301-listen-the-strokes-new-song-one-way-trigger/

― mh (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 25 January 2013 19:58 (3 months ago) Permalink

possibly in a good way

If by good you mean "it doesn't compel me to end my own life" then, yeah.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 25 January 2013 20:07 (3 months ago) Permalink

Dreadful

― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 25 January 2013 20:11 (3 months ago) Permalink

good to hear the strokes still suck. gives life a satisfying sense of order.

― Spectrum, Friday, 25 January 2013 20:12 (3 months ago) Permalink

what's incredible is that these guys are still young enough to be the same age as most 2013 buzzband groups

― Cunga, Friday, 25 January 2013 22:23 (3 months ago) Permalink

That first album still stands up.

― i would never inflict the process of making a sandwich on myself (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 25 January 2013 22:32 (3 months ago) Permalink

That was really, really, really terrible, redeemed only by the hilarious comments on the Soundcloud. I don't begrudge stylistic changes by bands I like, but for god's sake that was like MGMT for deaf people.

― Gollum: "Hot, Ready and Smeagol!" (Phil D.), Friday, 25 January 2013 23:06 (3 months ago) Permalink

reminds me of that 'diff'rent strokes' britisher covers thing a while ago

― dutch tl;drs (electricsound), Friday, 25 January 2013 23:51 (3 months ago) Permalink

back when mash-ups were a thing this would have spawned an "take on me" hybrid within 6 hours

― Z S, Friday, 25 January 2013 23:54 (3 months ago) Permalink

This is growing on me

― Raymond Cummings, Monday, 28 January 2013 00:02 (3 months ago) Permalink

Room on Fire is secretly better than the first album

― baby beluga (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 28 January 2013 00:31 (3 months ago) Permalink

Good God that is fucking ATROCIOUS.

― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 28 January 2013 00:59 (3 months ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Not sure if anyone will care but the new album is available to stream here.

http://pitchfork.com/advance/48-comedown-machine/

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 18 March 2013 21:37 (2 months ago) Permalink

I've been listening to it, but I didn't know which thread to revive.

It's remarkably okay, but I guess anything they recorded would be considered an improvement on Angles.

― Johnny Fever, Monday, 18 March 2013 21:42 (2 months ago) Permalink

I'm over half way through and it sounds like a mixed bag but there are some really good moments.

When Angles came out I really liked it and defended it on one of the Strokes threads but listening to it again recently I didn't enjoy it that much at all. There were probably three or four songs that were decent.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 18 March 2013 21:48 (2 months ago) Permalink

Okay, Partners in Crime is like the best thing they've done since Room on Fire.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 18 March 2013 21:51 (2 months ago) Permalink

they should just keep making that one song from their first two albums over and over i mean why not

― lag∞n, Monday, 18 March 2013 21:54 (2 months ago) Permalink

I reckon it'll be a grower like Angles was. When I first heard that album, it was all very "WTF?" to me but I grew to like it. Not quite as good as Is This It? or First Impressions Of Earth, but a good solid album all the same.

― Slash N Burn, Monday, 18 March 2013 22:43 (2 months ago) Permalink

Room on Fire is my favourite these days. Is This It is a great album but I just overplayed it so much back in the day that I just don't play it that much anymore. First Impressions is a lot better than people say but it need need a lot of trimming, it would be a solid 10 track album.

New one sounds a lot more interesting than Angles. As I said I went from loving that album to really not rating it all. Machu Picchu, Under Cover of Darkness, Taken for a Fool and Gratisfaction are the only keepers.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 18 March 2013 23:00 (2 months ago) Permalink

"What kind of asshole drives a Lotus?" made me lol and was a great rhyme

― ums (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 18 March 2013 23:33 (2 months ago) Permalink

surprised to be digging this! weird, seems so far that the 2 songs they released prior were the worst songs

― ums (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 18 March 2013 23:39 (2 months ago) Permalink

Yeah the Lotus line is great.

This was the least excited I've ever been for one of their albums but I'm pleasantly surprised. I actually really liked All The Time, it's just a really simple song that always seems to gets stuck in my head. It does rip off it's chorus from All Mod Cons by The Jam though.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 18 March 2013 23:49 (2 months ago) Permalink

Room on Fire is my favourite these days. Is This It is a great album but I just overplayed it so much back in the day

I don't listen to them anymore but, yes, this.

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 18 March 2013 23:52 (2 months ago) Permalink

Can't imagine ever actively listening to them

― OutdoorFish, Tuesday, 19 March 2013 01:41 (2 months ago) Permalink

officially nearly loving this record

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 25 March 2013 20:38 (1 month ago) Permalink

i felt sort of indifferent to it on the first two listens but on the third listen somehow the melodies appeared and they're all great

― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Monday, 25 March 2013 20:41 (1 month ago) Permalink

I need to give it another shot, on first listen it was very eh

― Raymond Cummings, Monday, 25 March 2013 21:58 (1 month ago) Permalink

Best one since Rooms on Fire undoubtedly. Maybe the best one period, because not every song is identical.

― Johnny Fever, Monday, 25 March 2013 22:00 (1 month ago) Permalink

so, brmc vs the strokes for cover art shoot out ..
who wins ..

― mark e, Monday, 25 March 2013 22:00 (1 month ago) Permalink

I'm not a Strokes partisan, though, so ymmv.

― Johnny Fever, Monday, 25 March 2013 22:01 (1 month ago) Permalink

Yeah I have been playing this a lot, it's just really fun and a lot of the songs are quite addictive. Partners in Crime should have been the first single really. Easily their best since Room on Fire.

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 26 March 2013 00:50 (1 month ago) Permalink

this is really growing on me

it's funny, albert hammond has quietly turned into this peculiar virtuoso guitar player, at first i was like damn this is kind of a synth album but the more i listen i think it's just hammond using shitloads of guitar effects (almost like some kinda elliot eason of the cars meets tom morello type thing)

― ums (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 26 March 2013 20:34 (1 month ago) Permalink

so I've been listening to this a bit lately and it's surprisingly good (except for 2 or 3 horrible, horrible songs, including the 2nd single).
many nice melodies and hooks, good production that's both basic/DIY and 80s rock FM.
I'm not sure it adds anything but I enjoy it, especially with the spring mood at the moment.

― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 3 April 2013 15:10 (1 month ago) Permalink

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