Artists: The Strokes
Title: Comedown Machine
Genre: Indie Rock
Release Date: 26th March 2013
Label: RCA
Album Review
It has to be a heavy load being regarded as rescuer of a genre, as stylistic phoenix, saviour of a religion believed to be lost. A load, that seems to be flattering for the nonce, but whose expectations must be bone crushing. ‘Is this it’ inflamed the musical world of the young millennium. THE STROKES (at the tender age of 20 something then) were hailed and praised as the reawakening of Rock`n`Roll, as the second coming of all its attitudes and alignments, a template the New York based outfit confidently gave in shrugging. But how to react when the rabid crowd expects another miracle? That´s right, at first you try to fulfil some expectations, then you lose your interest in that, you give the one-finger salute and run a musical way no one would ever expect. What already started to outline on their 2011 album ‘Angles’ got a resolute certainty two years and one album later – THE STROKES came of age, made their homework (solo albums, film projects) and replaced their stoical obstinacy with a striking musical diversity.
‘Comedown Machine’ is a sonic miracle bag, wherein Indie Rock, Funk, Disco and Rock´n´Roll blend to compositional humus, in which the band has planted their 11 tracks, rich in species and lasciviously de-stigmatized. The opener ‘Tap out’ comes along with a funky disco beat and grooving guitars and combined with Julian Casablancas’ falsetto it exudes a kind of polished 70’s flair. ‘All the Time’ is a relaxed Indie rock track with grumbling guitars, noisy drums and a familiar attitude of boorishly mumbled coolness. ‘One Way Trigger’ (the album´s first single) follows joyfully staggering the footsteps of a kind of soiled electro-pop, flanked by occupying guitars and vocals somewhere between Robin Gibb and Luke Steele. ‘Welcome to Japan’ you can call “white funk” with its groovy arrangement and organic rhythm, awaking memories of the above mentioned EMPIRE OF THE SUN or (to approach stylistically a bit) the later WILD BEASTS.
‘80´s Comedown Machine’ is a sweet melancholic ballad with a rusty surface and a pastel-coloured electro patina. Nothing emphatically but with a candy-like aftertaste. ‘50/50’ re-awakes the “good old” garage rock days with its aggressive noise, distorted vocals & guitars and a restless dynamic energy. Food for the nostalgic! So even now you can divine that it is hard to define what´s around the next corner. THE STROKES play with influences and devices like children with new toys, not always linear but full of passion and ardour. And you feel that it´s not an uncertainty what way to go, but a joy of sailing around on stylistic waters, hoisting the anchor wherever it feels good. ‘Chances’ is another fragile layer of bittersweet wistfulness, exhaling a kind of weltschmerz and pathos that reminds of those great eighties anthems like ‘Drive’ or ‘True Colours’. ‘Happy Ending’ is something like an electro-funk gem, finding it´s direction by the combination of shimmering rhythm guitars, hovering falsetto vocals and danceable electronic applications.
‘Call it Fate, call it Karma’ is not only the last but also the most extraordinary track on the album. Some 40´s bar atmosphere, born by a low tuned piano, sounds of marimba and gentle guitar chords is floating through the ether, bewitching the vocals, hard to define if male or female, which sounds like coming directly out of the bell of a phonograph. Unexpected and impressing… Really, there isn´t much left of the rough rocking attitudes of the early years and the blinkered indie rock neophobic will wonder: WTF?, but THE STROKES went through a progress, which was unavoidable on the one hand (Who could guess how NIRVANA would sound today?) and that´s very becoming them on the other. “Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are…” as the good old Bert Brecht used to say….
Tracklist
01. Tap Out
02. All the Time
03. One Way Trigger
04. Welcome to Japan
05. 80s Comedown Machine
06. 50/50
07. Slow Animals
08. Partners in Crime
09. Chances
10. Happy Ending
11. Call It Fate, Call It Karma
Line-up
Julian Casablancas - Vocals
Albert Hammond, Jr. - Guitars
Nikolai Fraiture - Bass
Fabrizio Moretti - Drums
Nick Valensi - Guitars
Website
http://thestrokes.com/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 9
Total: 7.5 / 10
