The Strokes have returned with a new full-length studio album. It’s been almost four years since we’ve heard any new music from the band, their Future Present Past EP dropped in 2016, and it’s been seven years since a full album, 2013’s Comedown Machine. The band, while never officially broken up, has been splintered into a slew of side-projects and solo careers for quite some time now, only playing together for big events.
Notably, the band endorsed presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during his campaign, playing a benefit show in New Hampshire. The band was a headliner for Lollapalooza last year and frontman Julian Casablancas performed at Riot Fest 2018 as a member of his group the Voidz.
The album, which features production by legendary producer and beard-grower Rick Rubin, runs about 45 minutes, which is long by Strokes albums standards. Their debut and sophomore albums, arguably their most well-received, both float around the 35-minute mark. But The New Abnormal‘s length is cleverly disguised by a tracklist of only 9 songs.
The album kicks off with the 5 minute long “The Adults Are Talking.” The album hits me with a sense of familiarity and nostalgia for some of my favorite Strokes moments. Drummer Fab Moretti sounds like a drum machine, something the band employed excellently almost 20 years ago. Julian sounds charismatic as ever and their synth guitars sounds sharp and excellent as when used on Room On Fire. “Selfless” follows, again bringing a sense of familiarity as Julian sings the lines “Please don’t be long, cause I want your love.” It should be noted that his falsetto is excellent in this cut. At one point it effortlessly transitions into the guitar solo.
The band flips into a very different sound at the flip of a switch. “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus” is not only a pun about bridges and choruses as song structure, it’s dripping in synth sounds that evoke a huge throwback as Julian sings about wondering where all the 80’s bands went. They do the sound so well that you forget that’s not even what the Strokes are “supposed” to sound like, which I think is exactly what they were going for.
“Bad Decisions” borrows some melody from the 1980 pop song “Dancing With Myself.” It’s insanely catchy and Julian’s croon makes him sound irresistible. The lyrics reference putting away gloves and guns, a sly reference to the album art for Is This It (UK version) and Room On Fire respectively, nodding to how fans should let go of the concept of them being the same band.
Other highlights include Julian’s alternation between falsetto and strong shouts on “Eternal Summer,” the dark yet heavenly electronic sounds on “At The Door,” the bands insane sense of groove, and rhythm guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.’s consistently good soloing.
I would regret not pointing out the few spoken lines of studio banter that are sprinkled throughout the album such as the “here we go friends!” off the album’s opener and when Julian says “drums please, Fab” on the next cut, the closer. Although the members of Strokes were never in any sort of public squabble with each other, hearing them chat in the studio, hearing them be good friends again, is a huge plus. Especially for today’s music consumers, who become obsessed with the artists themselves almost as much as the art they produce.
The album ends with the beautiful, 6 minute-long “Ode to the Mets,” which features Julian’s voice sounding as beautifully as ever. There’s some vocal harmonies, too, which isn’t used very often by the band. There’s also what sounds like string instruments, which add a layer of sentimentality to the song. The song feels a bit moody and very lovely, like a warm hug to close the album.
Overall, the album is a very enjoyable listen. Anyone who’s been in love with the Strokes’ early sound but weary with their later releases needs to give this project a chance. The band has an excellent blend of implementing their straightforward rock sound that their fans define them by with the forward-thinking sounds that they want to make. Give this album an unbiased pair of ears and you’ll walk away with something on your best-10-of-the-year list.
About Post Author
