Update: You can download the rip of “Taken For A Fool” right here. Download “Machu Picchu” here. Thank you Carla, Mardy Bumm and Gerard. Updated
For all of the negative press that has come out about the difficulties The Strokes had recording Angles, the five songs that have been released thus far have showed why The Strokes must stay together and continue to make music: When you put those five guys in the same room, the result is brilliance.
Two of Nick’s songs off of Angles have leaked. Listen to them here.
What do you think of “Taken For A Fool” and “Machu Picchu”? How do they stack up to the other five songs we’ve heard?
{ 233 comments… read them below or add one }
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@Anthony Thanks, man it clarified some parts for me.
And yes I think Scott is right it sounds more like “I don’t need anyone with me right now”, love that part btw.
I thought it was I dont need anyone with me right now also and one line says it feels like just yesterday
took a few listens to warm to machu pichu. the way the band spoke about it led me to expect something else.
but now i’m a fan.
love love love taken for a fool. its rad.
ucod rocked, as did you’re so right.
i really like this new-wave direction.
it seems to me that a lot of people are thinking about the actual band members too much (press, interviews, negativity, ect) and old/new strokes, and being too mainstream. i think the point they were trying to make in the beginning was “its about the music, not having people talk about us/ being popular”. bands can be really good even if they are mainstream….i guess all im trying to say is that all that should really matter is the music- it should stand on its own
and i think taken for a fool and maccu picchu are both stellar songs
lol the strokes aren’t close to being mainstream, just julian singing slightly out of tune sometimes is enough for them not to be
“lol the strokes aren’t close to being mainstream”
Sorry to halt your indie wet dream, but yes they are. ANd this is good. We want good music to be popular.
mama it feels like just ‘shit’ sundaayy!
I agree with JJJ; however, the best material may not be poppy enough to be main stream, but the Strokes do have pop elements, which isn’t a bad thing. People need to recognize the best band of the 21st century!
this was always their main goal since the beginning…
@jjj it’s shameful you say something like indie wet dream, I don’t care if music is mainstream lol, I’m just saying it isn’t, it’s as mainstream as deerhunter
new review: http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/music/the-strokes-sharp-as-ever
ny times journalist elaborates on her article, and the chorus of the life is simple recording is played: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/popcast-the-strokes-and-ladysmith-black-mambazo/
Strokes > Dearhunter is mainstream…ery by……. a shitload.
These comments get me thinking… does everyone/ most of the people here think that The Strokes are the best band if not of all time (which I know I’ve seen at least one person say) than on the 2000s/ the 21st century? I’m seriously, just curious. I for one don’t think so, but I’d like to know other people’s thoughts.
The Strokes are definitely the best single band I’ve heard since 2000. ITI is without question one of the greatest albums I’ve ever heard. And ROF is pretty amazing as well. I can only think of a couple bands/artists I’d even put up there with them since that time.
man, the verses for taken for a fool are so good, but the chorus is so cheesy. It ruins the whole song.
I think it’s stupid to say a band is the best in the world, because really it’s all about opinion with that
I’m just founding out that “people doesn’t like” First Impressions of Earth. What the hell is wrong with the world?!? It seems people don’t like experimenting, more clean, polished studio work. We’re so lucky coz we never grow up, right?
That National article blows.
@Tobz I agree it is stupid to say a band is the best in the world and it’s hard to even compare such things. But i do strongly feel that the Strokes are the best band since the year 2000, or in other words, the 21st century!
Personally, i think FIOE, it´s Strokes’ extreme cd.
I mean, it has the best songs ever, but also, the worst for me.
it has ize of the world, juicebox, vision of division electricityscape…but also has evening sun, killing lies and fear of sleep.
Anyway, this is just my opinion.
@tom agreed. i think i’d really like the song but the chorus just… i dont know man, im just not feelin’ it.
@Louis
@Louis I think you’re right it has definitely some of their best work but it has more songs, and all 14 can’t be great as maybe 10 in an album.
Damn I love FIOE cause it has my total favorite song from the Strokes, Ize of the world.
I like most of the songs in there but I guess Evening Sun and Fear Sleep are kinda weak tracks and the two previews albums don’t really have weak tracks in them. But I definitely think that there isn’t a “You’re So Right” on any of their previous albums. I’m having a lot of trouble liking that song…it just kinda sucks…and this comes from a guy who actually likes Killing Lies.
The other 4 songs of Angles…instant classics.
i have to say that i love these songs! i can’t stop listening to them. the only new song that i haven’t been completely crazay about is “You’re so right”. i just can’t seem to get into it
Here’s an audio rip of their performance on SNL
http://watdadickens.com/2011/03/07/the-strokes-on-snl-audio-rip/
I dont see why everybody is so concerned with whether or not the strokes are “mainstream” or not. The music is great, THAT should be the point. Worrying about whether or not a band is “popular” or not just means that youre buying just as much-if not more- into the whole “mainstream” thing in the first place. Stop watching the public, and start listening to the music.
The White Stripes, Raconteurs,Arctic Monkeys,the Prodigy,Wolfmother,Roots,Wu-Tang Clan,Black Keys,The Strokes,of course- 21st century isnt so bad.They are all different,and can not be compared.
Poop_Master: No, I don’t think they are the best band ever. For me, that’s The Beatles. The Strokes are my favorite band, though. And I personally think they are the best from this century. That doesn’t mean they are, though, it’s just my opinion.
I’m trying to put my finger on Machu pichu, i know it sounds similar to Michael Jackson wanna be startin something, but is there another song with that Guitar rif? It’s really bugging me… It’s great, im just trying to figure out which song that guitar rif is from…!!! ahh!!
@Neil: Machu Picchu is very similar to “Land Down Under” by Men At Work. I dunno if that’s the song you were thinking of, but I know that’s what popped into my head when I first heard it. I love how the Strokes take certain songs from the 70′s and 80′s and warp them into their own creations. Julian even mentions the song that inspired Under Cover of Darkness in this article: http://www.nme.com/news/the-strokes/55289
if you listen to that song, there are some definite sonic similarities.
All links are down. Could someone upload it again?
Machu Picchu : http://www.mediafire.com/?y5qbdxy9p7g1goa
Taken For a Fool : http://www.mediafire.com/?oio2stnz771l7qv
I love every song on their album except you’re so right. And I totally agree with the M.J. comment! It was bugging me so much!
@neil The beginning sounds like “break my stride” by matthew wilder.
i gotta say, i think i’m digging these songs the most on the album.
nick was the only stroke with the sense to save his best songs for the greater good, rather than waste them on a solo project.
out of the blue, in transit, and many more would have made great strokes songs…
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