The Strokes - Classic or Duds?

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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.

I need to give this another go

Close to thinking this recent one is their best album actually, along with the second one. Julian should get rid of the others asap and do his own thing, letting them have any say in writing songs really seems like it was a mistake

Funny how the narrative means nobody really cares, I guess rock and roll can get saved another day

the (very good) JC track on the latest DP could have easily been on this album, actually.

Exactly!

call it fate call it karma from the new album is one of the best things theyve done. reminds me a bit of vincent gallos music (in a good way).

Yeah that song is fantastic, great way to end the album. Chances and Partners in Crime are my other two favourites on the album.

yeah, I really like it too. the lounge/bossa smooth feeling...

This album is totally slept on... I actually think it might be their best. And that Julian should jettison the band asap

an album from casablancas following the same direction as "karma" would be nice.

It's what I've always wanted! I just want him to be a lounge singer, always

suit&tie-up, julian !

As long as it's like, a really bad suit

that said, adam green did the same thing (lounge, 60s), more or less, didn't he ?

yeah but he's Adam Green

ahah.

hahaha a lot of the personality of this record comes from the band, i think

anyway yeah this is pretty much tied with room on fire for their best at this point. to think i kinda hated it at first!

I was just thinking it was funny seeing a lot of people attribute the Daft Punk song featuring Julian to the Strokes, when in reality he played (and you'd have to assume wrote) the guitar part on that. I've always assumed he was primarily responsible for all the bands best moments and signature sound; the album which was trailed as having more writing involvement from the rest of the band is easily their worst

Maybe Albert too but ehnh

I think julian and the band have always said openly that he did most/all of the creative work.

I seem to recall reading a lot of articles around the new albums release about how that was a bad thing but uhhhhhh all evidence points otherwise

truth is though that this particular set of dudes plays really well together

as long as they know who's in charge

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/tony-danza.jpg

that said, I think it was Julian who was fed up with doing everything and the guys relying on him.

i honestly don't know if this new record was made in the old mold of casablancas writing everything

I suppose it was the same dynamic of the previous album were the guys would work on the tracks and julian would send his vocals by fedex.

i like the new album but the band doesnt sound 'tight' like they used to (maybe thats also just to do with the songs and them not wanting to sound like they did but even so, they dont sound all that 'connected' which i miss, the guitars in particular)

Glad to see this album has its fans. It's easily my third favourite after the first two. I wish they'd kept the three good songs on Angles and put them on here instead

From the sounds of it the band worked together more on this album than they did on Angles but now the album has kind of tanked as they have not promoted it one bit. No interviews, no gigs and so far they've only released one single that had a montage video probably made with none of them knowing. Partners in Crime sounds like the hit to me but I kind of think it's too late, the public have moved on.

i guess i haven't listened to this album until tonight -- it got mixed reviews and i was only ever sort of a fan of this band. but this is actually very great and much better than angles. 50 50 is my jam right now.

i disagree with the pitchfork review that claims that this album "smacks of effort" whereas their other stuff is more casual, tossed off, and cool. the arrangements here are pretty thoughtful, but the overall vibe is really chill. julian's singing is much more anguished on their first two albums than it is here. the only "deeply uncool" thing about it, really, is that RCA logo on the cover

man, i guess people really are done talking about comedown machine.

i'm not! it is totally their second best record

"the arrangements here are pretty thoughtful" otm

do you think their best is is this it? or room on fire? i'm torn on that question

also "call it fate or karma" is amazing.

it's still room on fire but man the second half of this record

its their third best record, but thats kinda faint praise considering how highly i rate the first two

Oh yeah I still like this. I'd rank it behind the first two albums but it's a big improvement over the last album. It's a shame no one bought it and the campaign seems like it's over. Partners in Crime, Chances, Welcome to Japan and Call it Fate are the highlights for me.

Room on Fire is still my favourite overall.

http://vevo.ly/o0K2Oe

Love the Daft Punk nod in the bridge.

Hmm, not sure why that link doesn't go through.
http://radio.com/2016/05/26/the-strokes-oblivious/

comedown machine is their best album and this is as good as anything on it imo