With the various crises ongoing in the Middle East, now isn’t the best time for a rock band to talk about giving democracy a test drive. But it’s an unavoidable discussion point: “Angles” is the Strokes’ first album where lead singer Julian Casablancas has ceded dictatorial control, and the growing pains show up all over. Casablancas has repeatedly told the press there’s a lot on the album he wouldn’t have normally wanted, and he pretty much tells listeners directly. “You’re So Right” seems to be Casablancas’ sarcastic message to his bandmates. He repeats “I don’t want to argue” plaintively, warbling a boring vocal melody and seeming more interested in playing with vocal distortion knobs in the studio than putting together a full song.
Elsewhere, Casablancas continues his whining, chanting about “living in an empty world” in the phoned-in “Games.” (No surprise he sounds so disconnected: Casablancas recorded his vocals in a separate studio and e-mailed his tracks to the band.)
Fortunately, Casablancas doesn’t stay so aggrieved all album. At it’s best, “Angles” recaptures the energy and coolness that the Strokes made their name on.
| LISTEN UP |
| ‘Angles’ |
| » Artist: The Strokes |
| » Label: RCA Records |
| » Price: $9.99 |
Lead single “Under Cover of Darkness” sounds like a lost track from iconic debut album “Is This It,” playful, danceable and soaring. “Taken For A Fool” showcases the group’s signature swirling guitar interplay as Casablancas suavely coos, “Monday-Tuesday is my weekend,” still sounding like the coolest guy in the room.
Things get a little more uneven as the group ventures in strange new directions. Opening track “Machu Picchu” taps into a reggae vibe that fellow indie darlings (and Strokes spiritual successors) Vampire Weekend and the Killers have already mined with more success, before a riff strangely reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” takes over. On “Metabolism,” the Strokes go modern rock and Casablancas apes Muse singer Matt Bellamy’s howl.
The Strokes always wear their ’70s and ’80s influences on their sleeves, and “Angles” is no exception. “Two Kinds of Happiness” recalls the Cars’ power pop, and “Gratisfaction” basically is a Thin Lizzy song, with a raucous, drunken scream-along chorus. If you can get past the cringe-worthy song title, “Gratisfaction” offers the most hope that the group can evolve their style and stay jangly and fun.
