The Strokes evolve musically on 'Earth'
By Jeff Renfro
Returning from a two year hiatus with their new album "First Impressions of Earth," The Strokes have ventured into new musical territory, which may have come at the expense of the very energy and charisma that made them great in the first place.
The 2001 debut "Is This It?" from The Strokes was a hit before it was even recorded. The band, with vocalist Julian Casablancas, bassist Nikolai Fraiture, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., and drummer Fabrizio Moretti, created so much buzz over its New York City performances that the album itself was inconsequential. The coronation had already taken place and The Strokes was a rolling stone.
Around this time two years ago, I reviewed The Strokes previous album, "Room on Fire." My review said the album was nothing more than a remake of "Is This It?" But who cares when it sounds great, right? I was not alone on this issue, which led me to believe that the band was only capable of making one type of song. However, in "First Impressions of Earth," group's style evolves in a way that can alternately be called mature or boring.
"You Only Live Once," the album's opener, is fantastic. The lack of effect on Casablancas' voice stands out. The "singing into a tin can" quality that was constant on the band's first two albums is gone, and surprisingly its absence seems refreshing. It turns out that Casablancas has a great rock voice. The song bounces along, not really taking any chances or diverging from the standard Strokes model. This track would easily fit in with the best songs on previous albums.
"Juicebox," the second track and lead single, is the first of many musical experiments for the band on the album. Opening with a frantic bass line, the song moves into a guitar riff that sounds more like an '80s hair band than The Strokes. Embodying the changes and shortcomings of their new album, "Juicebox" sets a faster pace than traditional Strokes songs, but somehow lacks the urgency and energy of their previous albums. The song isn't bad, but it could have been made by any band.
The Strokes' defining characteristic, the quality that made them truly great, was their energy. In the past, there was a sense that the members were racing each other to the end of the song, which created a frantic feeling. "First Impressions of Earth" is faster and more aggressive, but leaves behind the snotty swagger. The experimentation on this album leads to great songs, such as the synth heavy "Ask Me Anything" or the bluesy "Red Light." However, with no obligation to keep making records with the same feel, The Strokes' "First Impressions of Earth" strikes the right chords, but lacks the energy and creativity that distinguishes them from other bands.
Grade: B+
Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 551-1918 or jrenfro@scu.edu.