Debuting tonight with three 2006 releases:



Average Metacritic score 69 (38 reviews):

http://www.avclub.com/content/node/44141

The Strokes
First Impressions of Earth (RCA)
US release date: 03 January 2006
Rating: 83

Reviewed by Noel Murray
January 4th, 2006

The Strokes probably didn't deserve to be anointed the saviors of rock on the basis of Is This It?, an entertaining but pointedly non-innovative album. When they hit the studio to record Room On Fire, they froze a little, and spit out a rehash instead of a radical advance. It was an enjoyable rehash, but if The Strokes had collapsed after two records, the second would've been more of a footnote in rock history, like the sophomore Stone Roses record, or everything Marshall Crenshaw has done since 1982.

Nevertheless, The Strokes have pressed on to album number three, First Impressions Of Earth, a 14-track, 52-minute affair that's so long—too long, really—because bandleader Julian Casablancas seems determined not to shortchange any ideas, even those that don't sound Strokes-y enough. He does play it safe on songs like "You Only Live Once" and "Killing Lies," where the stair-stepping bass and trebly jangle resemble yet more Is This It? leftovers. But even the album's first single, "Juicebox," stretches the limits of what fans expect from a Strokes song, adding sonic nods to The Damned, The Hives, early U2, and the Peter Gunn theme.

Casablancas and company sound loose, and they've regained a lot of the coolest-dudes-in-New-York swagger that made them so initially exciting. Their musical ability has caught up with their posturing, such that guitarists Albert Hammond Jr. and Nick Valensi can finesse the Graham Parker lick that anchors "Razorblade" (while Casablancas is sneakily swiping a Barry Manilow melody), and bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti can swing the shady nu-disco rhythms of "On The Other Side." By the time Casablancas moans "I've got nothing to say" on the art-glam ballad "Ask Me Anything," those who've maintained faith in The Strokes will be begging to differ.

A.V. Club Rating: B+

good album that didn't do any more than the new killers album to "save rock and roll".

but most importantly, GLAD to see the year in reviews are BACK BABY! cool beans.

Didn't like it.

Thru my job I actually met a member just a few months ago. Funny exchange we had but can't get into it.

Was listening to this album in Huntington Beach, trying to impress a very hot girl, then got in an accident (not my fault) with a 19-year-old. I think this album is cursed.

I only really enjoyed the debut, liked the second one all right but this one has too many songs. It does have some great songs but not really into like I would think I would be. Never have the desire to play it and only sat thru the whole thing three times.

teh suck

I loved it, probably more so than their other albums. A winner for me.

Overall bland album that had a couple great songs on it. They kicked some ass in concert, though.

Top 5.

fack haterz

never heard it, but I don't like this band.

if this album was as short as their others it would have been as good as their others.

I gave them another shot with this album, and I still am not sold on it. More power to you if you dig it/them.

i listened to this today before i even saw this thread

i was surprised by just how much filler was on there, alot more than i remembered

the good songs are still good, but it coulda used some heavy editing

real solid album.

An awesome album, their second best (after Room On Fire).

What some people call filler, I guess I call good songs.

this came on my ipod at random one day after i downloaded it, and i remember thinking "where did i get some joe jackson? this is terrible", and was kind of surprised to see that it was the new strokes. how was that Al Hammond Jr. album?

4-5 really good tunes, but don't return to them often.

Liked it, but not as good as Room on Fire.

It's near the top of my list. One album I never even slotted into my collection, it just hung out on my stereo all year.

'Saight.

I haven't heard a note. Is the Parental Advisory a joke or is this the album where the Strokes "matured"?

Fuckin' A.

People are just dissapointed that there are no "found sounds" or poopoo bear songs. Don't worry, there is still hope they will destroy their sound on 2009's albums, busters.

As long as they avoid the inevitable Bulgarian gypsy music trend, I'll still listen.