Angles, the fourth record from NYC rock kings The Strokes, is a far cry from their early albums. Once dubbed the ‘saviors of rock’ by many fans and critics, the band has undergone a series of recording and style changes that sets their latest album apart from the edgy, fuzzy sound of albums like Is This It and Room On Fire. Some of the change has to be attributed to frontman Julian Casablancas’ venture into solo territory; his album Phrazes for the Young also has a much more polished sound than that of his previous work with The Strokes. Nevertheless, the tighter sound is an interesting evolution for the band, and one that should be met with considerable praise.
“Everybody’s singin’ the same song for ten years,” yells Casablancas on first single ‘Under Cover of Darkness,’ and that couldn’t be truer. Ever since the band’s critically acclaimed debut album Is This It, fans and critics have been praying for a worthy follow-up, but they have been mostly disappointed with what they’ve been given. If you’re looking for a return to early 2000s form, you’ll again be disappointed, but if you want some tight catchy rock tunes, this is the record for you. The guitar hooks on ‘Under Cover of Darkness’ and especially album opener ‘Machu Picchu’ are so infectious you’ll need to be sedated to stop from whistling them. One of the most striking changes for the band is the emergence of a rhythm section that does more than just keep time. The Strokes have always been a guitar driven band, but on Angles there are some great drum patterns and fills to complement the onslaught of awesome guitar riffs. Casablancas’ vocal performance is spot-on throughout, as his tired drawl shifts between ranges effortlessly.
The real problem here is that after a rocking start, the album loses steam rather quickly at around the halfway point. Some of the songs in the final half sound like filler, and they failed to keep my attention at a few points. Overall though, the quality here is very good, and even though at some points it really does sound like Casablancas forced some of his solo work onto his band, they perform it flawlessly. A few of these songs will be finding their way onto my year-end list for sure. 4/5.
Since it’s been a while since I posted last (finals and all that), here are some scores I’ve given for other recent releases (or impending releases).
The Mountain Goats – All Eternals Deck – 4.3/5
The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns – 3.7/5
Low – C’mon – 3.4/5
Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care – 4.2/5
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