Update: Ryan Gentles set the record straight. There won’t be a song on Tuesday: “no, there is no “b-side” coming out tomorrow. albert may have been confused… on March 1st, we’ll release a 7″ w/b side.” Sorry to get your hopes up, everyone. Updated
One of the things that got lost in all of the craziness of Wednesday’s UCoD premiere is that we’re about to get another new Strokes track.
In his interview with Zane Lowe, Albert Hammond Jr. said that next week the physical copies of the “Under Cover of Darkness” single will be released. And, with that, Strokes fans will have their second new Angles track in as many weeks.
“The fact that pieces of it are coming out is very exciting,” Hammond Jr. told Lowe. “And I think in a week — I’m very bad with dates — with the single and the b-side being another song from the record is very exciting.”
The date Albert is referring to is Tuesday, Feb. 15 — just five more days.
Listen to the interview with Albert here: http://www.mediafire.com/?4h2kfaxay6dxam2
Some UCoD reviews, including my thoughts on the song and what makes The Strokes the best band in the world, after the jump.
Here are some reviews of UCoD from major media outlets, if you’re interested.
I’m not really interested in writing a review for this song. I love it and nothing I can say about the backing vocals or dueling guitars hasn’t already been said in nearly every review you’ve read. But this is an email response I wrote last night after everything settled and I had some time to spend with UCoD and my thoughts.
Was there ever any doubt the minute you heard it? I love it. I love everything about it. The things you wrote in the previous email thread were spot on, from what I can remember.
But the thing that so many people (journalists) don’t ever write about when it comes to The Strokes is just how complicated their arrangements are. You’ve certainly realized this because you’re a fan and you’ve listened to UCoD 100+ times. I’ve already listened to this song around 20 times and each time I can pick something different out from the mix, focus just on that and be absolutely blown away. Each member is doing something interesting in UCoD and that’s what separates The Strokes from everybody else (excluding Radiohead). That’s my favorite thing about The Strokes and something I was really worried about because the side projects (outside of Julian’s, I’d say) didn’t really have the intricate nature of the band’s first two albums.
So yeah, I love it and I’m unbelievably excited for the rest of the album. I have complete faith in the new ‘everybody contributes’ inner structure of The Strokes and I’m fascinated to hear some of the darker tracks off Angles. Machu Picchu sounds like it’s a monster from the Rolling Stone review and Albert’s interview on Zane Lowe.
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epic! i wonder what the b-side is going to be.
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssss
My nipples are hard.
I think I just had a heart attack, recovered, then had a stroke. *No pun intended*
“Each member is doing something interesting in UCoD and that’s what separates The Strokes from everybody else (excluding Radiohead). ”
yeeeeeah, too true.
Anybody else think maybe Albert meant a b-side, not another track off Angles?
As much as I’d love to hear another song from the album, I’m hoping it’s a b-side, that way, there’s 11 tracks to enjoy.
nikolai broke the zoom !
I’m assuming I’ll be able to get the b-side with the single on iTunes? Or perhaps I’ll wait for someone to rip it. Dunno yet. Also — anyone have advice as to whether I should pre-order Angles from Amazon or the Strokes’ site? I want it to show up on the day, pronto. I’m guessing Amazon will be more reliable…? Sorry, slightly unrelated. hahah. YES MACHU PICCHU DOES INDEED SOUND MONSTROUS. Can’t wait. Hope the rumored Radio Minor Madness is the b side. That or Nikolai broke the zoom.
@Barny Butteli
That’s what he meant. The B-side IS another track off the album. This isn’t exactly how things are normally done but it happens.
Case in point the first single from the Dead Weather’s “Sea of Cowards” was “Die by the Drop” with the B-side “Old Mary” which was the final track off the album.
I know Amazon’s not always right, but they’re stating the vinyl release as the 1st of March. http://www.amazon.com/Under-Cover-Darkness-Strokes/dp/B004MAM070/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&qid=1297391024&sr=8-24
I hope it’s only a week as Albert was saying, but the bad with dates thing…
Where did Feb 15 come from?
I feel like I ate waaay too much sugar and just feel the need to blast The Strokes songs and dance and sing along for hours. March 22 March 22 March 22 March 22
the b-side for Under cover of darkness will be Taken for a fool
@wilson
why would it be Taken for a fool? that is listed as a track on their album, at least I am pretty sure it is. Aren’t bsides supposed to be songs not on the original album i.e. Hawaii, I’ll Try Anything Once, etc…
I just kind of am hoping it isn’t on the album because that means more strokes songs.
@ luis i read somewhere that it was taken for a fool
@luis also b sides can be tracks tht r on albums too
Albert said it was going to be another track from the album I’m pretty sure.
@mandingo yeah he did say that in the interview
Maybe Mr. Met might know, ahaha.
You are so right about their arrangements being so complicated. I tried to arrange one of their songs for solo acoustic guitar (New York City Cops). I failed, while it did contain the vocals, bass and Nick’s guitar, Fab and Albert’s part was missing. It wasn’t the same. The music blends in so well that sometimes we don’t notice how amazing every part is. But if you focus really well, you can see why it’s important to have all 5 Strokes. I love listening to every part of their songs (especially Ize of the World and Vision of Division). I always find something new I hadn’t noticed before.
I totally agree with your response to the song, and that’s what I come away with everytime i listen to it- how intricate the music is and how truly amazing it sounds. By the way, were you writing this email to yourself??
^yaaay old Jordan is back!! I’ve missed pervy Jordan!
Isn’t it crazy that none of The Beatles singles were on their original British albums? Not the A-side OR the B-side. They thought that if they included their singles on their albums, they were cheating the fans. I know things are different nowadays and I don’t mean to imply The Strokes are cheating the fans – far from it. I’m just saying it’s crazy to think how prolific The Beatles were to be able to do that.
is it just me or was UCOD not soo good?? I think the instruments are really good in the song but I think Julian seriously BS’d the vocals. the parts are just not well put together at all. sounds like he got in the studio and just put it all together in 4 minutes or something like that. i’m not super happy with the song =(
Taken for a Fool for a B-side? Mmm…That’s the first name of a song I heard since they started recording on 2010 and thought that would be like their first single. Don’t know if I see it for a B-side.
February 15, I’m freakin out yet again….
the single is available right now on itunes…no b-side
i’m really worried about his voice though. i cant believe he tried to pull something new on UCoD, and i kinda didnt like it that much… the line “so long my friend, and adversary!” sounds sooo umm my-chemical-romance-ish… it sounds sooo mainstream. Somebody give Julian a drink!! he needs his old voice back!!
Does anyone else feel like the pre-chorus was edited in?
It feels like it doesn’t belong in the song
Yes, Casablancas has done it again with this track. Perhaps the other members have contributed more to this album than others, but the new song has Casablancas’ heart and soul all over it.
I can see why people might think the new song is a little cheesy in parts, it’s definitely the most pop/mainstream/upbeat song they’ve done. Julian’s vocals kinda bother me on the song, I’m not a big fan of how he tries to carry each note in that over the top style. He did the same thing on the last album on a lot of songs. I think his vocals sounds better than just about anyone’s when he just sort of croons/sings normally like on a lot of the early stuff as opposed to cranking the vocals up and going over the top throughout a wholes song like on the new one.
I really hope the vinyl has more than just the second song from the album as a b-side. Even if its a track that we’ve heard before, it’d be cool to have something else, cus otherwise the whole appeal of the 7″ is kind of lost. I would love to own Clear Skies, This Life, or The Rythmn Song on vinyl. They should add one of those on there for shits and gigs.
i dont know if anyone has seen but on Nikolai’s Facebook he posted an update that simply says
“10 AM…EST…”
could we be in for a surprise tomorrow morning??
Maybe the album cover?
@speedy, i thought I was the only one who thought that it sounded MCRish.
I liked his vocals on PFTY, but it sounds really odd on strokes songs. But to tell you the true its growing on me, the way his voice blends with the music. Only thing is, I used to feel that every strokes song was perfect, like they couldnt do anything to make it better. This song though..I kinda wish he didnt sing it at top range..I like his deep voice, anyways its a great song and I cant wait to hear the rest of the album.
I am totally with Bablah, Bobby and Matt.
The song is growing on me, but it still doesnt touch me as all the other The Strokes songs.
I miss Julian’s voice, I sooo liked the dark tone in it … it’s too cheery now
Any guess on who wrote UCoD?
If I had to guess, I would say it was Albert.
But who knows..
It’s a good song. Ppl are over analyzing it too much. Just enjoy what you got, guys. There is plenty more to come
I wonder what the hell Nikolai’s talking about with that tweet… does he just mean that that’s all the time that’s left to download the song for free..or it some something gonna happen????????
I think it’s totally fine that people are over-analysing the song – it’s been 5 years dissecting the same 3 albums over and over again so i understand the manic enthusiasm!
If the B-side ends up being a track from the album, which it seems it definitely will be if Albert’s got it right then i’m sure they’ll add something else to it as they always have in the past and I think Julian’s really into that sort of thing and he went all out for his Phrazes record.
Can I cry now?
will i able to get the b-side on itunes?
Hey Eric,
I just posted an article called “Why The Strokes are Still the Most Important Band of Our Time.” Give it a read when you get a chance, as it is my best attempt at explaining why I love the band, while also looking at their place in our culture. Here’s the link:
http://racecarspacecar.com/why-the-strokes-are-still-the-most-important-band-of-our-time/
Cheers,
Chris
http://www.juliancasablancas.com/news/
Angles art work !
can the b side be bought on itunes?
Bull
@everyonewhoiscomplainingaboutthissong.
No one can tell another person what is good music. The beauty truly lies in the ear of the listener. One could argue for years about whether a song is any good, and there would never be unanimous agreement. I understand this.
That being said, however, I cannot see how anyone that truly loves the Strokes entire catalog could not like UCoD. It is a perfect blend of everything they have done in the past, and yet it feels different and new.
The song is perfect. 10/10.
What is a 7?
Fuck no b-side, I’m fucking mad :/
The only Strokes song I could really even consider giving a 7 would be “On the Other Side.” Even then, I love the lyrics, but I’m not ga ga over the music. Every other song would be at least an 8, with the vast majority being 9 and 10.
Wait a second.. there will still be a b-side on the phsysical single right? Not just as soon as we hoped for? Or am I totally not getting this..
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