The Strokes: Angles

The Strokes
Angles
RCA Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: The Strokes reclaim some swagger on the solid Angles!

Album Review:
The Strokes debut, Is This It [2001], will always be the album the boys from NYC must live up to everytime they release a record. For many bands, this is like a dog trying to catch his own tail - it can't be done but they keep on tryin'. The Strokes were applauded for the effort on Room On Fire [2003], as it continued most of their debut's vibe, while First Impressions Of Earth [2006] was just a disappoint to most, as it found the band in several transitions and simply trying to break their own mold. Well, after just about everyone in the band has released a solo record of some sort, that never totally captured the bands magic, The Strokes return with their first album in five years simply titled Angles. I will warn you right now that Angles is not Is This It but what the record represents is band maturity, musical growth and the return of their don't give an F - we are the Strokes attitude. Right from the opening punch of catchy "Machu Picchu", the band infuses a bit of reggae that completely works that then transitions to the more classic sounding Strokes tune and first single "Under Cover Of Darkness". As you approach the midway point on Angles, "Taken For A Fool" gives you the intricate guitar work that makes you quickly realize that this is the album that you were hoping The Strokes would make. It has their swagger back that Impressions so deeply missed. The progressive parts on Angles, such as the synth lead "Games" or the almost robotic "You're So Right", might have some fans hitting next but the tracks still fit and have more of a Strokes stamp on them then you might think possible. It is this slight experimenting that allows the intense "Metabolism" to exist, as Casablancas's howl soars over the complex musical arrangements within the track and highlight that the Strokes are still relevent in 2011. Angles is a solid return to the scene for The Strokes that many probably never thought would happen and it could be just the stepping stone the band needs to climb the hill for yet another pinicale ablum in the near future!

Key Tracks: "Machu Picchu", "Under Cover Of Darkness", "Metabolism"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Cars
New York Dolls
The Police

Julian Casablancas: Phrazes For The Young [Fire Note Review 11/3/09]
Nickel Eye: The Time Of The Assassins [Fire Note Review 3/23/09]
Little Joy: Little Joy [Fire Note Review 12/4/08]
Albert Hammond, Jr.: ¿Cómo Te Llama? [Fire Note Review 7/16/08]
Albert Hammond, Jr.: Yours To Keep [Fire Note Says 3/5/07]

The Strokes Website
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RCA Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony