What do we make of The Stokes new album? It’s been a couple of weeks since the release of their fourth studio album ‘Angles’ and word on the street it’s the New York Indie kings coolest since ‘Is This It‘. Bursting on to the scene in early 2001 The Strokes were a new breed – fresh, young and cool making them figureheads of the new rock revolution. After inspiring a generation and making one of the finest debut’s of the decade, The Strokes shook off knocks from the critics that the follow up albums failed to offer anything new.
Their second album Room On Fire showed off singles that knocked the socks off the competition in 2003. In 2006 ‘First Impressions of Earth’ reached number one in the UK album charts proving the bands continued international success without ever losing their credibility. After a break and various solo projects and collaborations 2010 saw The Strokes reunite to begin work on their newest batch of indie gems and ‘Angles’ was born.
So, ten years on…five years after their last release what does ‘Angles’ offer the eagerly awaited listener? Well there are songs on the album that hold the classic Strokes’ sound, allowing you to nod your head content in listening to a finely tuned rock n rock band blast out indie guitar music that makes you glad it is sunny outside and you’ve a beer in your hand. There is a change and something else on offer, parts of their ‘new sound’ is more experimental with ‘out of this world’ Extra-Terrestrial sounds, hip hop beats and 80’s prog rock. The one thing that stands out for us is how different all the tracks are from each other, and its exciting and reassuring to know that these icons of ‘The Modern Age’ are back and will be touring again soon.
It would simply take too long to pick apart the tracks one by one so here our favourites…’Matcu Picchu’, ‘Under Cover of Darkness’, ‘Two Kinds of Happiness’, ‘You’re So Right’, ‘Taken For A Fool’, ‘Games’, ‘Call Me Back’, ‘Gratisfaction’, ‘Metabolism’ and ‘Life Is Simple In The Moonlight’…that’s the whole album by the way…listen and enjoy!