Why Angles?
“It’s what the record sounds like,” guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. says of the title. “It comes from five different people.”
Oh my Lord. I need to here this NOW. Some of my other favorite quotes from the Rolling Stone piece, which you can read here, include…
“This is the first one where we are truly working democratically. It’s taken a long time because this is a new model for us.”
(I’m sorry for my impatience, Nick.)
“Taken for a Fool,” “Life Is Simple” and the probable first single, “Undercover of Darkness,” are reassuring displays of the Strokes’ feral-garage dynamics. But Angles is the best album the Strokes have made since Is This It because of the stylistic depth and progressive excitement in those crisscross guitars, the tightly wound rhythms and Casablancas’ dry trademark croon. The stabbing guitars in “Machu Picchu” mimic the staccato beep of synthesizers, then become a rough wall of jangle over a hip-hop grind, as if the Strokes are cutting a Jay-Z track via the Rolling Stones’ Aftermath.
(I’m about to faint like a 90-pound fangirl in the front row at this year’s Lollapalooza.)
The Strokes will tour this year — within reason, Hammond claims: “We want to come back strong but slowly, so we can grow live and also make new music. We want to release albums quicker.”
“I don’t want to make an album every five years,” Valensi insists. “I love being in this band, and I want it to be a career thing. It’s so worth it — for all of us.”
(The perfect quote to end on. The Strokes are back and they’re here to stay. The world is right.)
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@Brian — I believe FIOE debuted at No. 1, as there wasn’t any competition.
And the album’s performance in that first week all depends on buzz and the first single. If “Undercover of Darkness” is a smash like TBK’s “Tighten Up” or “Last Nite”, then it’ll be huge. If it’s not, then I’d expect something close to FIOE.
HELL YEAH, FUCK YEAH!!!!
I agree… seeing the song titles and reading about what they sound like is surreal!!! It’s such a tease, but somehow satisfying none the less! (Is that grammatically acceptable, Brian?) I. can. not. wait!! Vegas, Angles, Jazz Fest… looking forward to a GREAT few months!
HELL YEAH, FUCK YEAH!!!!
I. can. not. wait!! Vegas, Angles, Jazz Fest… looking forward to a GREAT few months!
I agree… seeing the song titles and reading about what they sound like is surreal!!! It’s such a tease, but somehow satisfying none the less! (Is that grammatically acceptable, Brian?
“(I’m about to faint like a 90-pound fangirl in the front row at this year’s Lollapalooza.)” hahahaha so funny and totally true. i was there up in the front left corner. Had to lift so many little girls that were passing out or about to. definitely the best show at lolla that year.
Wow!!! A new Strokes record!!! I can’t wait to get the album on my hands!!! Well: it’s probabbly another band, if it’s real that the number of composers it’s 5 and not only Julian. It’s good to hear this: mutation. My favorite bands do this, to change and to give a new asshole to the common fan.
I hope get charts too! I’m the Jarvis and Saskia Cocker nephiew. You can hear me at http://www.myspace.com/patriciomartinotti. Blur’s Dave Rowntree loves my songs.
Best wishes!!
That is amazing to hear!!!! I really don’t think it could be better than Is This It!
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