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LISTEN: Julian Casablancas' Synthy New Song

MP3

By JENN PELLY on September 18, 2009 11:46 AM (15) Comments

Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas has leaked "11th Dimension," the first full recording to be released from his solo album Phrazes for the Young, out Oct. 20. The track -- which you can hear below, or at his MySpace page -- is four minutes of unadulterated dancefloor pop that sound nothing the Strokes have ever committed to tape.

To be clear, that's not a bad thing at all. In fact, it's quite possibly the catchiest song any Stroke has ever recorded.

MORE ON SPIN.COM:
>> Julian Casablancas Announces Solo Album
>> Julian Casablancas Debuts Solo Tunes
>> Stream: Strokes Bassist's Solo Project, Nickel Eye

Debuted live on August 31 in Tokyo, where Casablancas unveiled the album with a six-piece band, the track's jagged mosaic of electronic beats and bright synthesizer bursts fall somewhere between the bubblegum radio pop of '80s radio queens like Stacey Q and latter day New Order.

And while the chorus' paeans are a bit Strokes-y, content wise, in their laments of urban nights gone awry -- "Forgive them even if they are not sorry / All the vultures who left us at the door waiting" -- the song's imbued with an undeniable and quite lovable air of optimism.

So what do you think? Is "11th Dimension" an awesome new direction for one of this decade's most recognizable frontmen? Listen for your self and weigh in with your comments below.

LISTEN: Julian Casablancas, "11th Dimension"

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Posted By Nathan

09.18.09 1:31 PM

Love it, look forward to this release and the eventual long overdue Strokes album.

Posted By Ak Spencer 49

09.18.09 2:24 PM

most defiantly looking forward to the album. little joy was great the first Albert Hammond Jr was great the second was good and the Nickle Eye album was good as well. So I expect great here. Palin does not speak for me!

Posted By Anonymous

09.18.09 4:26 PM

excellent song. can't wait to here the rest of the album. nooothing like the strokes sound, which i like.

Posted By Peter Hoffman

09.19.09 7:03 PM

Music that sounds good. I don't mind.

Posted By stevetothepast

09.19.09 7:50 PM

this sounds like julian had relations with an aging disco machine.
it sucks.
I thought after that drive thru song he would have had all this crap out of his system and be ready to put out something worthy of my c.d. player.

what happened to rock and roll?

Oh well, at least we can say we lived through the strokes. The best band of my generation other than GBV.

Posted By idlehands237

09.21.09 9:32 AM

I like the sound of this single alot! Very catchy! The music kinda reminds me of New Order....But yea I dig this..This one song is better than the whole last Strokes record..hands down.

Posted By Acrymonious

09.21.09 10:29 PM

''The best band of my generation other than GBV.''

They only have ONE good record...You said best, you probably meant MOST OVERRATED!

Posted By Krunch

09.22.09 8:52 AM

I like his voice but, quickly became bored with the synthetic music. We all know thats cheating.

Posted By Anonymous

09.22.09 10:25 PM

Saying the Strokes have one good record is the most cliche thing to say about the Strokes. They have some very good songs on each record. This album is Julian's chance to explore this electronic pop stuff. The Strokes album will be rock n' roll and I'm confident it's going to kick ass. But yeah...I thought the new single was decent at first and now I like it more each time I listen to it.

Posted By PhantomTwin

09.24.09 10:40 PM

Cheating huh? You are an ass...

Posted By Nahali

09.25.09 12:32 PM

I like it! It's not at all like the Strokes, but that's good. Solo work gives him a place to explore sounds that don't fit the Strokes' sound. This song just makes the wait for the new Strokes album all the more unbearable!

Posted By Anonymous

09.27.09 3:14 AM

Julian Casa is so legit. He is a fucking genius and this music is mind blowing. Little Joy and some Albert Hammond Jr. songs are magical as well but I think JC's album is going to be brilliant. I am trying to be patient for the strokes new record but with this gem I think I can make it.

Posted By onenonly

09.27.09 7:27 AM

Very interesting angle julians taken here. Alot of 80's to it but can hear alot of almost renaissance type sounds. Can tell he's a music history lover and this project is all about showcasing his musical genius. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzMJyUboKwQ&feature=related just listen to the music at 3:45 of this video GENIUS!!!

Posted By Stizzy Wop

10.01.09 12:39 AM

Julian is so dope, can't wait for this record.
I think the Strokes are gonna be alot like the Ramones they won't get their full credit until they're done. Now everyone likes the Ramones but they didn't when they were around.

I knew jules would knock it out the park.

Posted By geonotgio

10.03.09 5:46 AM

First impressions was not crap and i don't know why people down talk that album.

Julian and the guys are producing good music that's better than anything out on the radio.

Viva los strokes.