First Impressions of "First Impression of Earth"?

[mashuguna]

Yeah, I know they're not Matador and have lost any indie credibility they ever had long ago (if they ever had any in the first place), but I find the dearth of reviews regarding the upcoming Strokes release a little odd, to say the least?

I've heard the single...can anyone comment on the rest of the disc and how it stacks-up against "Room On Fire" and "Is this It"?

[tinobeat]

Its downright horrifying.

they lost all the scrappiness of the first two records, and have replaced them with some kind of weird faux-metal machismo (tons of noodly leads, lots of palm-muting all over the place). oh and then there's the random Magnetic Fields song stuck in the middle somewhere.

[johansen smith]

they were never that great to begin with, but they really fell down from the ground as it is.

[tinobeat]

over the years I grew to really like the first two albums, especially "Room on Fire".

but yeah, I don't even know what happened to them. the album belongs in the "rolling WTF" thread, not the "listening pile"

[Lukas]

I watched the video of their single and it was terribly unfunny.

[tinobeat]

which song is the single?

[pabost]

which song is the single?

Juicebox.

As conflicted as I feel about admitting it, I really am a Strokes fanatic. I've only heard two new songs, though: "Juicebox" and "You Only Live Once." I could do w/out the former, but the latter, which I believe is the album opener, is pretty great. I'm definitely looking forward to the album, but the wary words I've heard from you guys, plus the lackluster first single, worry me.

[Fiona]

What I've heard of the new album I found abysmal. IMO Juicebox is atrocious, and certainly over here at least it seems they're milking the success of the previous two albums. I remember coming home with the 7" of The Modern Age/Last Nite a few years ago and after listening to it about 10 times back-to-back myself banging on my neighbours' door demanding they listen to it. Nothing they produced after that would make me do such a thing.

What's their level of popularity in the US? I read an article in The Guardian recently which made it seem like their fanbase was mainly in the UK/Ireland/Europe and with this album they were hoping to break the US. They're arena-rock over here - playing (in Dublin at least) 8,000 capacity venues.

[johansen smith]

they're fairly well known here, practically one step removed from a full-fledged commercial success.

[Lukas]

about as big as maloze

[Lutherface]

hmmm, arena rock must be different over there, I tend to think of 20k plus saps filling stadium venues for coldplay arena rock

all said, I've only heard juicebox on the radio and thought it was horrible...at least their older stuff was catchy

[Keith]

From what i've heard so far i don't like. I think their trying hard to say something about modern cutrue but it just comes out a cluqe, and has already been done before. There's probly some exciting tracks on it but overall i'm not the interested anymore. The Strokes have in my view lost the abillty to be theirselfs.

[pabost]

I got the album yesterday and have already listened to it 3 or 4 times through. First off, it's amazing how diverse the critical reaction to it has been. In a sense, the response reminds me of that to another third record named "Wowee Zowee."

As I see it, it's a successful album. For the Strokes lovers who want to hear "Is This It 33 1/3," there are tracks like "You Only Live Once" and "Razorblade." Otherwise, the album's a school in guitar riffery and expanding the typical Strokes formula. IMHO, the fun that the band had in the studio (knowing that they were free to create whatever they wanted) is contagious. That's not to say it's a fun album; if I've found anything to dislike about the album, it's the overwrought and pleading vocals. Still, the guitar lines are so crisp and melodic that I can't imagine someone not grinning when first hearing.

[Maximo]

The album is "fine" in my opinion. "You Only Live Once" is great, I love it. However, Juicebox really is just... horrible. The music video is terrible as well-- I'm disappointed to see David Cross put his name in there.

[Keith]

The Strokes are a great modern Rock band no doubt and thats all good, but please don't compear them to Pavement. Pavement are much better.

[mayorbloomberg]

pavement aren't a band anymore. and i don't think anyone compared pavement to the strokes. all they said was that pavement had a third album that everyone said sucked and now the strokes do too.

[mashuguna]

Word, Mayor!!! I'm with you!

[dola]

i sure hope mayor bloomberg doesn't attempt to make a 'third album.' guiliani was salivating at the chance!

[Miss Tasty Princess]

pavement aren't a band anymore. and i don't think anyone compared pavement to the strokes. all they said was that pavement had a third album that everyone said sucked and now the strokes do too.Pavement's third album is my favorite of theirs (I liked it from listen #1 and couldn't see what some many people allegedly hated about it).

I've never much cared for The Strokes, though.

[Paul]

It finally occured to me a few weeks ago what my biggest problem with the Strokes is (I'm not a hater by any means, although I think the newest album is a total mess). Casablancas sings every song at the same speed, regardless of its tempo. Lay off the valium, duder!

[tinobeat]

That's actually a really accurate assessment. I also think this is a new problem. The thing that made those first two records good in a big way was Julian's great sense of melody and cadence, and he seems to have lost it all.

Also, yes, Pavement's 3rd album is totally my favorite. I know Wowee Zowee. I love Wowee Zowee. and you, First Impressions Of Earth, are no Wowee Zowee...

[johansen smith]

comparing Pavement and the Strokes is like comparing Jaws and 1941.

[tinobeat]

sorry, I'm not a film nerd (or even an enthusiast by any stretch). "1941" does not compute...

[johansen smith]

sorry, I'm not a film nerd (or even an enthusiast by any stretch). "1941" does not compute...
yes exactly (http://imdb.com/title/tt0078723/).

[tinobeat]

and here I was thinking that "1941" was the one analogous to Wowee Zowee, that only the smarties would know about.

[pabost]

comparing Pavement and the Strokes is like comparing Jaws and 1941.

Fair enough, but if you read my statement more closely, I was comparing the reactions to the albums, not the albums/bands themselves. Like "Wowee Zowee" though, I think many initial haters will begin to like the album once they lose their preconceptions.

[johansen smith]

I was responding more to Mayor's proclaimation.

[Lukas]

yeah next movie rental = 1941.

[johansen smith]

if you like 2 1/2 hours of yelling, you're in for a treat.

[mayorbloomberg]

but i wasn't even comparing only noting that much like pavement, the strokes now have a third record. just like interpol will have one in a few months and just like the nation of ulysses never did which is the bigges crime of all.

[johansen smith]

Journey, Frank Zappa, the Kinks, Matchbox 20, Jars of Clay: all had a third album

[Futureman]

but i wasn't even comparing only noting that much like pavement, the strokes now have a third record. just like interpol will have one in a few months and just like the nation of ulysses never did which is the bigges crime of all.

Where to begin?

[Miss Tasty Princess]

Journey, Frank Zappa, the Kinks, Matchbox 20, Jars of Clay: all had a third albumThat's an odd lineup.

[9000]

i haven't heard the album or the single, but will get around to it eventually. new york mag cover story: http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/15495/index.html

[Lukas]

wait are we talking about the solo project of the guy from apples in stereo?