The Strokes - Classic or Duds?

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

listened to his radio show this morning, it was neat. new song is cool. he had this burned out just shot up and smoked a million cigarettes affect. after he played C.R.E.A.M. he was like "some people like to peg me into one genre....but i like to go all over the spectrum."

i agree that comedown machine is their best but i'm not sure oblivius is quite as good, it doesn't have that lightness?

i don't like drag queen though, it feels like the voidz album but not in a good way

yeah "drag queen" is kinda wacky

i think i really love the voidz album now

felt like if i kept listening to it i would inevitably fall in love with it but never dedicated the time

it's really something! i have 40 hours a week at least in front a computer so i got the time

Listening to Comedown Machine reminds me it's pretty good.
Actually, thinking about their output, I think they only released one bad album : First Impressions (still it has one of their best songs on it !).
The first 2 are great. The 2 latest are good.

I'd agree that they've only made one bad album, but I'd go with Angles. I tired of that one very quickly. The three singles are the only keepers.

if julio did nothing but release eleven-minute songs called 'human sadness' i might quite like him

Dud.

Destroy all of it.

Classic.

Great drumming.

*julian, lol

ahah. julio would be a cooler name for him actually !

There's apparently an oral history, when they could have just used our old threads instead.

And having scanned the thing, all these people going "No really, that first album is a classic!" now sound as desperate as people did back then when they were trying to pretend it was going to save music.