Julian Casablancas’ debut solo album is under allot of pressure from Strokes fans, as this surely would push back the eagerly anticipated 4th album.
The album has been described as ‘based around electro pop’ which is a bit of a dubious description, the normal perfectionist rhythms and sharp sounding guitars have been toned down and there has been an inclusion of a various array of synth sounds which wouldn’t sound out of place on a Strokes record.
There is definitely a catchy-pop/wave edge to this album, a beautiful example of this is the first single ’11th Dimension’ ,’Out of the Blue’ and ‘Left & Right In The Dark’ which I would be surprised hearing as the soundtrack to a video game. But there also some surprising inclusions in such songs as ‘Ludlow Street’ having a country theme, and this can also be found in ’4 Chords of the Apocalypse’, and it works well.
‘River of Brakelights’ abandons all these elements, and stands out on its own on the album. This dosent mean it isn’t a well crafted song, it is. Its dark elements add to the strangeness of the album, in the most positive way possible. Its sophisticated layers and beats lead to a very effective song.
‘Tourist’ has an eastern feel to it, and ‘Glass’ is more american, if you had to pick a geographical location. They both incorporate different instruments and sounds that add to the magnificence of Phrazes for the Young.
Concluding, the creativity Julian Casablancas used to make his band one of the most important bands of the decade is shown in this record. His very alternative, beautifully strange and outstanding 8 track album proves he still has that magnificent songwriting ability. Strokes fans, he hasn’t let you down.
