Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young - 2009
Before I even start this I have to wonder: Why? Isn't Casablancas the leader of The Strokes? Isn't he the visionary that started that group and, without him, aren't they just a bunch of guys who would've been haunting bowery clubs?
Okay, no matter. Sure, so Julian wants a solo record. Fine.
1. Out of the Blue - This is what the Strokes should sound like by now. They didn't on First Impression of Earth. But this is what we were hoping they would sound like.
2. Left and Right in the Dark - Strokes meets Disco meets Flock of Seagulls With a killer chorus.
3. 11th Dimension - Disco Strokes. Take the vocals out of it and it's generic roller rink stuff.
4. Chords of the Apocalypse - Brandon Flowers has been doing this stuff already for years. Ripping off The Killers is a sure sign that JC has run out of ideas.
5. Ludlow St. - Odd, dischordant, overt synthiness, this is Brian Eno meets Gary Numan meets Neutral Milk Hotel
6. River of Brakelights - Take the worst of The Strokes, the laziest of "singing" and "melody" and marry that to what sounds like a found loop of "music" and you end up with this Kraftwerk inspired mess.
7. Glass - The closest the album gets to a melodic ballad. Which, if you loved ballads by The Cars, you will enjoy.
8. Tourist - A song so bored with itself that it just decides to end.
I would have given this album a higher grade if it was a Strokes record. But the sheer arrogance of Casablancas and the thumbing of his nose to the other guys knocks it down a half grade.
Grade: C-
ASide: 11th Dimension
BlindSide: Left and Right in the Dark
DownSide: Ludlow St., Tourist
No comments:
Post a Comment