Julian CasablancasPhrazes For The Young
RCA Records [2009]
Fire Note Says: Strokes frontman makes solo debut work.
Album Review:
Well, all the other Strokes boys have ventured out into the solo water and all that was left was frontman Julian Casablancas. The wait is now officially over as Casablancas solo debut Phrazes For The Young hits with a somewhat surprising sound. The record is drenched in keyboards and contains more orchestrated song structures that by description sounds like a recipe for ridicule but after talking Phrazes For The Young for a spin, your opinion will be completely changed. The key to remember here is that this is a solo record and Casablancas accomplishes offering up a much different version of himself from the quick punch of the Strokes punk. The first noticeable difference is that all of the songs here are longer than four minutes and five of the eight are over the five minute mark. This allows extended melodies, hooks and song structures that embraces his Bowie meets Numan approach and after several listens you will start to get it. Ultimately, what listening to Phrazes For The Young does is give respect to Casablancas as an artist and gets him out a bit from being just pigeonholed into the New York sound. Of course Julian's swagger is all over this record as well as his calm and cool delivery style, which should appeal to his fanbase. Overall, after listening to all of the Strokes collective solo output, it definitely is clear that each member is extremely talented and that there is no reason that their next record together shouldn't finally achieve them the success that goes with it. Until then give Casablancas a chance!
Key Tracks: "11th Dimension", "Out Of The Blue", "Tourist"
Bands With Similar Fire:
David Bowie
The Killers
Gary Numan
Official Julian Casablancas Website
Julian Casablancas MySpace
Julian Casablancas Info [Allmusic]
RCA Records
-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony
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