The Strokes
This is my (Brett) pick.
I haven't listened to this album personally, but Rolling Stone put it in their ten best of the decade, so let's role with it.
Discussion on this album has mostly been about the lack of originality and the lack of hardship the band has had to overcome (so no depth to the music?) versus "It sounds good so whatever."
http://www.amazon.com/This-Strokes/dp/B00005QIPH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262744842&sr=1-1
I usually listen to this album while working out (meaning it has been a while). I had forgotten how short it is. Regardless, on this album the strokes captured the best of what the NYC rock scene has to offer. It is irreverent, grimly humorous, and ambivalent. Yet, they manage to play the songs so clean and tight giving them an accessibility that is lacking in less skilled garage rock bands.
ReplyDeleteFavorite song: Barely Legal
Also, a great song called "New York City Cops" was on the British version but removed from the American version because the album was released shortly after 9/11. Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOmkPrhpQGQ&feature=related
Also the image on the youtube video is the original album art.
I am not at all an expert on music; most of the time the only thing I can discuss intelligently are the lyrics and I have trouble picking up all the words with this band (and those lyric sites are crawling with viruses). But, from what I have gotten, the lyrics are playful. Someone somewhere else said they reflect modern big-city life, so a reaction to less personal and more automated life, and I can certainly see that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the music, the best I can do with non-accoustic music is to wonder how difficult/fun a given song would be to play on Guitar Hero (I don't play, but sometimes I watch). A lot of these tracks, especially in the middle of the album, made me think "this would be awesome for guitar hero." So that's good I guess.
Early favorites (based on 5 listens now): Barely Legal, Someday, and Last Night.
A popular question for these instant classic albums is what is the degree of their influence. On this one, no Strokes = no Kings of Leon later. Agree or Disagree?
The first time I listened to the CD I was doing homework. The fact that I was able to tune out the lyrics and successfully complete my homework with this playing the background is not a good sign. I usually only listen to instrumental or really soft music when reading.
ReplyDeleteMy initial response is to say a lot of the songs sound very similar. Lots of electric guitar and snare drum/symbols- I also agree with Brett in that it is hard to pick up all the words of the songs.
However, after listening to the album for a second and third time it has defiantly grown on me. Someday and Last Night are my favorites, but I feel like I have heard them somewhere before...
Overall it seems like a good rock album- not exactly my cup of tea per se. One of the 10 best of the decade seems like a stretch, but what do I know.
Who are the Kings of Leon?