New York-based garage band The Strokes released their 3rd album, 'First Impressions Of Earth', on January of last year. Mixed reviews of the CD made me hesitant on giving it a listen. Plus, the garage genre slowly took a backseat in my head for the past year. Until a month ago when I took 'Room On Fire' to one of my daily train rides to the office. Even though I dismissed that 3rd album (considering it as a failure - just because AllMusic said so!), I had always been wondering what changes they've made with their sound. Of course, the first (Is This It?) and second album (Room On Fire) basically had the same feel to it - though I should say that their sophomore outing was an improvement.
So on the weekend that followed, I went to Quiapo (yeah, I’m cheap) and bought myself that third album.
And the critics were right - the band did change! But I believe they got better!
‘First Impressions Of Earth’ impresses the passive listeners - suggesting a wide and more complex image for the band. First track 'You Only Live Once' is a great opener and makes you want to listen further. If the chorus of ‘Razorblade’ makes you feel like you’re listening to a very familiar melody, that’s because band vocalist/songwriter Julian Casablancas rips off Barry Manilow’s Mandy. Under other circumstances, this would’ve pissed me off. But Casablancas gets away with it right there because he does it so well and you’d have to just consider it as homage to Mr. Manilow. ‘Ask Me Anything’ is a minimalist song utilizing a mellotron instead of the usual set-up. That’s right! No-guitars, no drums, no bass – just that mellotron and Julian singing over it. He sings ‘We could drag it out. But that's for other bands to do.’ What’s funny is he does drag you out – in dragging beautiful way. The lyrics make no sense but that’s the sense of it. If that makes sense to you.
Unfortunately, only the first half of the album sinks in after repeated listens.
The second-half is like an unnecessary bore that you just can’t wait to end. And the reason for that is because this album is indeed longer than the other first two albums – about twice as long. If it’s not for ‘Ize Of The World’, I should hate the last parts of the album. And ‘Ize Of The World’, is the work of an artist that’s bound to be either dismissed or hated by shallow men who will never understand him. The song is good, not great but good. But the ending is what it’s all about. It abruptly stops without any hint that it would. And it’s not just an ordinary stop- it’s a full stop- the brown-outs we taste every now and then, the unexpected blow on your head by an unforeseen attacker, the shutting of your brain. And if you’re wondering why, listen to the words.
The Strokes had taken a leap on this one. Not just a step but a leap. Some may not like it and they might shed a few fans for it. But music is always about doing/writing/playing/singing what you want despite the opinions of others.
So hats off to these guys!
By the way, the inlays are great too – courtesy of Love Police!