LISTEN: The Strokes — ‘One Way Trigger’

by Eric Van Dril on January 25, 2013 · 480 comments

in Strokes V

The Strokes have debuted its first new song in a little less than two years. It’s called “One Way Trigger”, and you can download it here.

Before you listen, I beg you: Listen to this song at least five times. You most likely won’t like it on the first listen because of Julian’s voice. I didn’t. But it will grow on you. I promise.

This song is obviously a stark contrast to every song in The Strokes’ catalog, most notably because of Julian singing in a high falsetto. It also appears to be the synth-heavy track 107.7 The End was referring to last week.

What do you think of the new song?

{ 480 comments… read them below or add one }

401 the modern age January 28, 2013 at 10:07 am

@Biff, Now that this song is out I don’t think they’ll wait too long. Maybe beginning of Feb? But I tweeted with 1077 last week and they said once they leaked that news RCA legal “got in the way”. Made it sound like they weren’t supposed to say anything yet. So maybe longer, IDK. What do you think?

402 Tony Montana January 28, 2013 at 11:02 am

Hopefully the new album has more than 10 tracks. To me Angles was OK considering the circumstances behind its creation (delays, etc.). I’d say it’s my least favourite of their 4 albums. I think between 11-15 tracks would be perfect for this album.

As for ‘One Way Trigger’ a pretty good song, very busy, somewhat frantic but with nice opposing shifts into acoustics and vocals. Not a classic (so far lol) but definitely worth a listen. I’m keen on hearing ‘All the Time’ after hearing this…

403 Maya January 28, 2013 at 11:22 am

@Biff and tma
I got kind of worried today that maybe they wanted to push back the release of the single (like maybe to March), and that’s why they released this one out of the blue. I’m glad we got this one, but I hope they’re still planning on releasing All the Time in February.

@Tony
Yeah, I’m hoping for a nice meaty album too.

404 the modern age January 28, 2013 at 11:31 am

@Tony, I would love 11-15 tracks! I’m a big FIOE fan, so the 14 on there is like heaven to me.

@M, I’m wondering if they planned to release OWT like this but didn’t really want ATT’s info released the way it was (just based on my 1077 convo, but I could be wrong). I feel like this is a teaser. Bastards. Just give us the album already :)

405 Leaving Just In Time January 28, 2013 at 11:40 am

Another thought: following a band is about appreciating their growth as artists. Is everything they do going to sound like their first album? Of course not, and that’s a good thing -one of the great joys of being a Strokes fan is seeing them evolve as musicians. I personally think that individually they’re playing/singing better than ever; their problem lies on collaborating on the compositions, which inevitably is going to be hard with 5 full grown men. But musically they can all do things they couldn’t have dreamed of 15 years ago when they were playing tiny venues in Manhattan, and that’s something we should appreciate.

They haven’t found the perfect formula for their new incarnation yet, but we’re lucky to be watching their journey towards it.

406 LillySu January 28, 2013 at 12:06 pm

I would say OWT is a teaser, although I would love it as the first single. Unfortunately, I don’t have music taste of majority, not even of majority Strokes fans. I love it’s so different from everything they ever did. I love Julian’s courage to show us he can sing this way. I love this was written by J&A together. And this song is definitely radiating with self-confidence of the band. I’m ready for this album to be great. :)

407 Wolfsie January 28, 2013 at 12:11 pm

I’m wondering if maybe there’s a delay in All The Time being ready for release and they’ve given us OWT just to keep the buzz they started going during the wait. I hope it won’t be too long though!

408 LillySu January 28, 2013 at 12:15 pm

I hope for more songs too. Not just 10, please!

409 Biff January 28, 2013 at 12:15 pm

@LeavingJustInTime Very well, put my friend!

I love that they’ve been slowly moving in a New Wave direction ever since they flirted with it on Room On Fire. It seems to be the kind of music that makes them happy…or at least Julian.

410 Bilbo January 28, 2013 at 12:19 pm

OMG i just looked at albert’s twitter! he’s feeling so generous at the moment. What a legend. People (who are actual strokes fans) with twitter, blast away with good questions. Especially relating the new album!

411 the modern age January 28, 2013 at 12:33 pm

@LJIT, LillySu, and Biff,
Agree agree agree!!

@Wolfsie, Now you’ve got me thinking this too… that might be true!

@Bilbo,
Isn’t Albert so great with fans? :)

412 Maya January 28, 2013 at 12:34 pm

@Leaving Just in Time
Very well said

413 the modern age January 28, 2013 at 12:35 pm

No, I think OWT is a teaser. I’m sure of it now. There’s a reason they did it this way.

414 LillySu January 28, 2013 at 1:06 pm

I love one comment under Rolling Stone article about new song. It’s a reply to one negative dude…
“Please go be a downer somewhere else. I love this band far too much to be an over critical cynic.”
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-strokes-unveil-new-track-one-way-trigger-listen-20130125

415 LillySu January 28, 2013 at 1:06 pm

I love one comment under Rolling Stone article about new song. It’s a reply to one negative dude…
“Please go be a downer somewhere else. I love this band far too much to be an over critical cynic.”
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-strokes-unveil-new-track-one-way-trigger-listen-20130125

416 Annie 1251 January 28, 2013 at 3:10 pm

If you don’t like this song then you are not a TRUE strokes fan. I will continue to troll the comments here snipe anyone who disagrees.

417 Samster January 28, 2013 at 3:19 pm

I don’t think we could trying to place it in a genre yet, I certainly don’t think it’s new wave

418 exaggerated stories January 28, 2013 at 3:38 pm

i love songs where you cant tell if its a girl singing or a guy! thank you so much julian!

419 Acombs1793 January 28, 2013 at 3:49 pm

Supposedly the single will be out feb 13th don’t know if that’s been posted yet

420 Acombs1793 January 28, 2013 at 3:52 pm
421 Dracula's Lunch January 28, 2013 at 3:53 pm

@exaggerated stories, you’d love this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTElDZGhZ-M

422 Dracula's Lunch January 28, 2013 at 3:58 pm

@Acombs, thank you for letting us know! :) I’ll be counting down the days lol

423 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 4:17 pm

Apparently the new single is out feb. 13th. That’s cool.

424 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 4:19 pm

@Annie 1251
Stop trying to masquerade as our Annie. It’s petty and unnecessary

@Everyone
The Annie 1251 that recently posted isn’t the regular Annie. Don’t get mad at the real Annie.

425 taken for a fool January 28, 2013 at 4:25 pm

@ Tourist
Suspicious, how would you know that? Unless Annie 1251 is also you.

426 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 4:28 pm

Regular annie’s name is red and she isn’t rude. Clever trick they pulled, but it’s not foolproof.

427 taken for a fool January 28, 2013 at 4:30 pm

oh its red that proves it.

428 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 4:31 pm

Duh. It always shows up red when it’s her. It actually does.

429 taken for a fool January 28, 2013 at 4:43 pm

thou doth protest too much…

dont you think annie would be the 1st to notice someone posing as her? no instead an hour later you who only know this person on the internet through comments could determine by 1 sentence it was not her-because the real annie is never rude? so go sign into your annie handle with your red font.

430 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 4:46 pm

Dude, chill. It’s weird how you’re so suspicious. I told you it was the red thing. Annie’s usually busy during the day. That’s why. Jesus, calm down.

431 the modern age January 28, 2013 at 4:47 pm

The fake Annie1251 and taken for a fool are obviously the same person.

432 the modern age January 28, 2013 at 4:50 pm

@Acombs1793, that’s awesome!! I can’t wait!!

433 taken for a fool January 28, 2013 at 4:50 pm

the modern age handle didnt see that one coming.

434 Dracula's Lunch January 28, 2013 at 4:52 pm

Like any troll, instead of feeding them or getting angry with them, I will sit back and laugh at how little they have to do with their time :) They can post all the dickish comments they want, they still are all little bitter bastards lol

435 taken for a fool January 28, 2013 at 4:53 pm

coming from someone with the most post counts on this site.

436 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 4:55 pm

@DL
Ah, good point.

437 Dracula's Lunch January 28, 2013 at 5:02 pm
438 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 5:20 pm

@DL
You never fail to make me laugh!

439 Dracula's Lunch January 28, 2013 at 5:28 pm
440 Maybeman January 28, 2013 at 5:32 pm
441 the modern age January 28, 2013 at 5:42 pm

Dracula’s Lunch you’re always funny :)

442 Dracula's Lunch January 28, 2013 at 5:48 pm

@the modern age, thanks love!
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhkk31F5HR1qgnmyz.gif

(on the off chance that you’re the troll posing as modern age, please go stick a glass tube into your dickhole and smash it with a hammer)

443 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 5:52 pm

@DL
I’m torn between laughing and feeling disturbed…

444 the modern age January 28, 2013 at 5:54 pm

LOL it’s me, and I’m laughing so hard over here!!

445 Dracula's Lunch January 28, 2013 at 5:56 pm

@TheTourist, people say that to me a lot…
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mao8sj7DNR1qade31.gif

446 Annie 1251 January 28, 2013 at 6:33 pm

@The Tourist, the Modern Age & Dracula’s Lunch
Thanks for having my back! :) You guys are the best!

DL – You are truly one of the wittiest people I have ever “met”!

TT & MA – Was I psychic or what this morning? lol.

447 Annie 1251 January 28, 2013 at 7:06 pm

@LillySu
I saw that Rolling Stone review and was going to post it!
I also liked what one person said there (in a positive way) – “Pretty cool cut though. All things considered. Kinda spazzy. Freaky keyboard.”
**LOL! this song IS kinda spazzy! But I really just love the energy!

I also saw this little review:
http://www.themusicninja.com/alternative-rock-the-strokes-one-way-trigger-2/

“While this is different than anything they have done before, it still manages to sound like a Strokes song.”
**I agree! And I honestly am not sure why – but it just has that “fuzzy charm” back – doncha think so?

Also – a quote from under this article:
Jim Bennett ·
“It’s a good song, reminds me of a video game from Nintendo.. just can’t put my finger on it.”

Well….Julian does love his video games… :)

448 taken for a fool January 28, 2013 at 7:37 pm

whats so clever/funny about copying and pasting a gif? its like taking credit for a song you didnt write or a joke you didnt come up with. i’ll leave the sensitive alone now.

http://media.beta.photobucket.com/user/shesthunderstorms/media/tumblr_lftqexkeFf1qe8kd9o1_500.gif.html?filtersterm=julian%20casablancas%20gif&filtersprimary=images&filterssecondary=videos&sort=1&o=0

449 here here January 28, 2013 at 7:43 pm

where nick got inspired for his whte striped blue blazer, and julian shaggy hair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DPdUKy7_aqM

450 TheTourist January 28, 2013 at 8:12 pm

@Annie
No problem! You know where to find us!

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