First Impressions Of...

I’m going to cut the long story short. Truth is I wanted (hell, we all did!) this review to be about a The Strokes album. You know, a follow up to 2005’s First Impressions Of Earth, not yet another solo project of a member of the band. But it’s not. This is about Julian Casablancas’ solo Phrazes For The Young. Saying goes you have to make do with what you get so for now, me and a bunch of other Strokes fans will be relatively happy.

But this means by no means it’s a bad album. First songs that promoted the album, 11^th Dimension and River Of Bakerlights, set the bar pretty high. Both are great fun songs and Casablancas’ lyrical talent and vocal skills shine. And while 11^th Dimension is so 80s infused and has great lines like ‘Where cities come to hate each other in the name of sport’, River Of Bakerlight does not veer far from something The Strokes themselves would put out (in fact, it gives a nod to Strokes’ Ize of the World and Sparklehorse’s Little Girl).

Opening track Out Of The Blue doesn’t escape the Strokes parallel: the guitar could very well be taken of the bands 2001 debut album, while the lyrics seem to be a follow up to his general hopeless state off FIOE. It also features a kick ass line: ‘Going to hell in a leather jacket’. So Joey Ramone. But it’s Julian’s time to shine (some more) and he sings it loud and proud: 4 Chords Of Apocalypse is an incredibly touching piece of gospel-scented synth pop with a little bluesy riff. And it’s safe to say there is not one filler moment on this album. Every song is a proof of his musical vision. And you kinda hope he’d do more songs like closing piece Tourist (with its Beirut-esque ending).

So, until that new Strokes album, we’ll all be busy enjoying this perfect gem.