Julian Casablancas, 'Phrazes for the Young' (RCA)
New York's grooviest rocker spiffs up his sound.
By David Marchese 11.06.09 10:26 AM
In the eight years since the Strokes instigated savior-speak with the gutter-glam classic Is This It, Manhattan has been nanny-stated into bland fashionability, the quintet's hipster status has gradually declined, and its rhythm guitarist, drummer, and bassist have all beaten singer Julian Casablancas to recording solo albums. "Last Nite" was a long time ago.
Good thing, then, that Casablancas' impressive solo debut sounds like the future. With the mild exception of chugging opener "Out of the Blue," Phrazes for the Young jettisons garage rhythms and punk guitar palimpsests for glowing grids of synths and clattering drum machines. The effect is more Tokyo neon than Lower East Side leather.
Surprisingly, the sonic leap forward intensifies Casablancas' greatest gift -- melody. (Well, second greatest -- he's still got that dirty croon.) Whether it's the gleefully stroboscopic "11th Dimension," glitchy "River of Brakelights," or sweeping "Tourist," the album's eight songs have indelible verse-chorus hooks. The keyboards and treated guitars piston in catchy counterpoint. The architecture is amazing.
Still, although Casablancas has figured out how he wants to sound, he seems unsure of what to say. Phrazes' lyrics slip into awkward sloganeering ("America / Nothing is ever just how you plan") and vague diatribes against twin persecutors "they" and "them." It's a curiously overbearing match for the fresh backdrop. But this man's career has always been about surfaces. Here, they positively gleam.
WATCH: Phrazes for the Young album preview
The last comment about the lyrics is a bit unfair. Seems the writer needed something to say isn't working. Diatribe against "They" and "Them"? Well, we'd have to discount a lot of good music if "They" and "Them" were off limits - good literature, too (Pynchon, for example).
Bobbie Rade. Great comment!
The whole album felt kind of uncertain didn't it? I want another Strokes album like the rest of the world does but I'm a little worried our boy Julian might be straying from the tried and true course.
I had been worried for a long time that The Strokes would never get back together. After listening to this record, I honestly don't care. It's more groundbreaking than "Is This It?" and might even be better than what I consider their finest record, "Room on Fire." If the Strokes can't make another album because Albert can't keep his nose out of the yay or whatever else is holding them up, this album has reassured me all will be okay. Just listen to the fourth track "Four Chords of the Apocalypse" for proof. Casablancas wrote the chorus to that song with Valensi and Moretti and it almost feels like a punk rock Motown tune at times. This album is excellent, and sadly may prove that being in The Strokes has hindered an excellent artist in Julian Casablancas.
I think the album is great and have been listening to it for a few hours, but I do find the lyrical mood a little draining in the back half. Anybody know where he swiped those four chords of the apocalypse from? Mike's comment about Motown seemed to match my immediate response. Very familiar. I like the way he takes familiar sounds and layers them in rich and new ways. I don't think anyone listens to Julian for lyrical depth, but I do agree that they are a weak point. Overall, it shouldn't make anyone not go listen to this slab of awesome.
4 Chords & Ludlow St. are the real weak points on this record to my ears, Ludlow in particular is just painfully obnoxious. 11th Dimension is one of my favorite tracks this year.
great album! my second fave of the year!
For me the album it´s amazing... the best album of the year....Julian Casablanas can live without The Strokes! & it´s Sad....for me
this album fucking rocks. casablancas is a new-sounding thom yorke. this album solidifies casablancas as a legit music icon.
I love his album. And I agree there's all that soul expressed, especially in the chorus of 4 chords. It's just after hearing all the blips and squeaks make me miss the straight up guitars. With Strokes records every instrument has its own personality, soul. It's like Jules times five.
Gotta snag the album this week sometime fuckin new amp has me low on cash
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