Calm after the storm
Ilana Kronick
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The Strokes
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The Strokes are finally at peace with themselves after releasing their sophomore album third
It's not their sophomore record, but it feels like it is. Two and half years ago, when the Strokes' actual second album was circulating, nobody was breathing backlash, nobody was questioning worthiness and nobody was grumbling "new direction." That's because it takes energy to make the-album-that-may-not-be-loved, and back then the beleaguered and bedazzled Strokes could barely see, much less refocus their artistic lens. But it seems that for the most part, "the greatest rock band since The Rolling Stones" and/or "the second coming of The Velvet Underground" (remember?!) have emerged from that dizzy, drunken, groupie-gooped miasma called insta-fame with something of a fighter mentality. Three months after First Impressions of Earth's release and the band has returned the borrowed time they shrewdly pinched by safely following up the first record with, well, the first record part 2.
"After the last album we all wanted to play something much different, where you could notice that something had changed," says bassist Nikolai Fraiture. "We didn't want to just pass it off as 'the third one.' In the same way that we're challenging ourselves, our listeners are hopefully being challenged. I think the majority of people would have been disappointed with the same record."
"It's not about us saying to our fans that they need to move forward with us - we hope they do. But really, it's that this is how we feel that we'll be able to establish a career in music, if we really want to do this for
good. And we all do, definitely." Here for a long time, and a good time
And so, in their first blatantly calculated stab at longevity, everyone's favourite New York City garage rock revivalist prep-school boys have punctured their comfy platform and, quite impressively, built entirely new structures to work from. Yes, the VU-vibe is still around, as are those thrilling, reckless, street-smart struts. But if it weren't for singer Julian Casablancas' moody growls, late-night complaints and blaze confessionals, a few of these cuddly, hi-fi, Stooges-meets-'80s-meets-top-40 pop songs would be unrecognizable. Pretty crazy when you consider the limiting (but very grooving) dirty-rock mould (with new wave tinges and sexy listlessness galore) these guys once conformed to.
"When we started recording the album, it wasn't clear exactly what we wanted to do - the only word we came up with was 'different.' It started to get more defined when we began working with Dave Kahne, our new producer," says Fraiture.
"He showed us the extent to which we could branch out. With Gordon Raphael [who produced 2001's Is This It and 2003's Room on Fire], the recipe was pretty much one mic in the room, or a mic and a few amps. It was very raw and simple and made for great energy and great recordings. But with Dave Kahne it was more specific and specialized."
If Fraiture sounds more laid-back (and forthcoming) than you might have expected, that's because he is (and was, more than I expected). According to him, the band's public façade - flat, despondent, annoyed even - is the way it is not because of any torture they might be experiencing, but rather "because we're all pretty honest and sometimes it goes well and sometimes it goes badly and we're not pretending that it's always great." Apart from that, he has to admit that The Strokes are "in a good place now" and that it's "probably more fun lately than it has been for a while."
"Plus the new record is great to play live. It's more complicated than the others, so in the beginning we were a little nervous. But in retrospect it was, you know, exciting. We felt like we did in the beginning..."
Driving, with both hands on the wheel
So The Strokes are happy. Stable. Driven. This despite the fact that First Impressions of Earth has not impressed every listener it's fallen on. (Bad album title aside, this reviewer takes issue with anyone who 1) doesn't have the patience to adapt to the new sound, and 2) doesn't find perfection in the opener You Only Live Once.) But expectations create reactions and The Strokes knew that their latest record would be met with some rejection. And as obnoxious as it may sound, some healthy and utterly predictable criticism is a whole lot easier to handle than when people are referring to you as the saviours of rock'n'roll before they've even heard your record, which then goes on to sell two million records worldwide.
"It was wild and crazy. The fame wasn't so hard to control. What was hard was controlling ourselves. We didn't know what was going on. At first it was just this bizarre thing happening, and we would walk in New York and the reactions of people that we knew, or of people who knew of us, was kind of really mixed. People just didn't know how to react to what was going on. I mean, we were just doing our own thing, but we couldn't help but notice that when we went out to bars or our regular spots that things had changed," say Fraiture.
"I think the second album was a reaction to all of that, in the sense that we did it very quickly and we didn't tour it very well. It was not a 'fuck you,' it was more of a 'if we don't take a break we won't be doing this for very long.' This third album happened once we got our feet back on the ground and Julian stopped drinking. That really helped with the focus of the band..."
Fraiture is pretty sure that "all of it has gone back to normal." He even acknowledges that "most of the time we can just live." Of course, this is the case for all of them except drummer Fab Moretti. Because of his girlfriend (Drew Barrymore), "he's not quite as readjusted" as the rest of them. And what about the fan love, has it calmed down?
"Actually, I'd say it hasn't calmed down - but we have."
The Strokes
At CEPSUM, May 7
| (((My Two Cents))) - The Strokes Show That They Can Be Extremely Consistent With Their Latest Release |
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I am really shocked at the Strokes. They impress me everytime that they release a record. I mean, this band started out as a little garage band playing little venues that held some 150 people. Then out of the blue, they're selling out 2000+ venues and getting platinum selling albums. To make it even better for them, they keep on being consistent and it seems like their records and their albums are constantly getting stronger.
Yes, if you like the Strokes you will like their newest record First Impress On Earth. It sounds like their past albums and sounds like them at their original days. The only difference is, and I say this positively, is that it is a little more melodic and they seemed to even experiment a little with this album. It still sounds like 70's garage bands but it is starting to evolve a little. Bottom line, these guys are getting better every album and soon, they will be considered pioneers in their genre. That is a guarantee.
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Zachary Masoud
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Well, as a very distant outside 3rd party, who probably hasn't even heard any of ''The Strokes's'' music - unless I have by accident on the radion or something - it sounds like it = just a case of 'different strokes' for different folks - btw - Pun = very intended.
I don't know, but I guess that by experiencing somewhat of a musical struggle before enterring Super-Stardom (especially if people = claiming that these guys = the next Rolling Stones) = a good thing, in preparation for the rough yet easy road ahead, you dig? Either way, I guess that as of now I'll probably start hearing a lot more from 'The Strokes', because as we all know, out of the darkness into the hype, music like pop, rock and busniess come into the light.
Peace.
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Dawn Manhertz
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{42 votes}
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Unfortunately, the Strokes have entered the realm of media hype overinflating expectations we have on a certain band only to chew them up and spit them out again. I don't feel sorry for them as being able to sell tickets for a venue the size of the Cepsum does still represent quite an accomplishment. Nevertheless, the people thinking they could have already sold out the Bell Centre have been proven wrong.
The Strokes are in many ways the poster boys of all things excessive. The aforementioned sex, drugs, and rock n' roll was very much their lifestyle that was leading them to stardom. Could this very lifestyle lead them to their own seld-destruction? Only time will tell I guess...
Nevertheless, First Impressions of Earth is a good album that does not get you hooked instantly like its predecessors but will grow on you with multiple listens. I'm looking forward to hearing these songs as well as those on Room on Fire played live next week!
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Ronny Pangia
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{44 votes}
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The Strokes are back (at the same time as The Vines mind you)... I liked their second album (which I have sadly not bought but borrowed because of a lack of spending money) it was just what I needed and I'm happy it was kept on the down low because it's horrible when something just explodes and disappears. Well because of that my beloved Casablancas led band is back and I can enjoy more of their clashing sounds especially since they aren't on every twelve year old girl's iPod nano. All in all they are kept grounded with the oncoming criticism but I'm sure the CEPSUM will be full when TheStrokes make their entrance in front of a cheering crowd (which I will be part of). See you there...
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Ekaterina Frank
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{20 votes}
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Wow, I can't remember the last time a sophmore (sophmoric?) third album generated so much contoversy. It seems people/critics are pretty much divided but, be that as it may, it seems that "First Impressions of Earth" has been a very cathartic labour of learning and love for the band. This may not be the band's crowning achievement but, trust me, if you read between the lines, it was the exactly the balm the band needed to counterbalance the blessing/bane of being too famous way too fast.
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Mark St Pierre
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{13 votes}
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I really wanted to see the Strokes perform live but did not get the chance to see the show because I had prior engagements. I had a friend that went to the show and she told me that it was the best show of the year in the city of Montreal. I find that the best Strokes album is there debut album but this album is okay to listen too. The thing that I like about the Stokes the best is there raw garage rock sound. The Strokes are very unique group and they will be in the music business for a very long time to come. The new Strokes album is fantastic and I believe that it will win some major awards in the music industry.
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Carmela Sicurella
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Finally, The Strokes are back on track. I loved their first album because it was unique and the lead singer's voice was very different from the others too. Of course when the second album came out, well that was another story. I was very disapointed because I didn't feel that same excitement as I did the first time. It was frustrating but I think many bands go through that phase where they can't control themselves but apparently they can control the fame, which is quite confusion to me; what do I know about it, I am not famous!
I am excited to hear their new album, which I didn't have time to do (don't ask me why!). I mean I still don't have time to buy the new CD of Coldplay.
I hope that this new and different album will sound great because every band should show some maturity on their third album. Fans should see that their band memebers have truly worked hard to give something special to them. The Strokes might just have delivered that.
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Sabina Gergel
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{8 votes}
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