This is the song that consistently makes me want to drive The Truckster into oncoming traffic when it comes on (in a good way)

There hasn't been nearly enough talk about this for my tastes.

HOLY SHIT THIS ALBUM FUCKING RULZ!!!

I can't wait to hear it

awesome album. Heart In A Cage is "The One" for me.

i was surprised that more people haven't commented on this album. if it was released this year, it'd definitely be in my Top Ten. this bitch slays.

pm me your email addy, pls.

Thing is, just when you think there's no more, it keeps giving to you. Every song is awesome. And as of right now, it's got a hold on my stereos.

I also think the vox being clearer makes it sound as if Julian may care about the music this time. To my ears, they are feeling it much more.

Dalen: TOP TEN?!!!??

It's number 1 for me.

Pitchfork agrees with you but they don't like the result. How do you compare this to Room on Fire

I think its a natural progression from one album to the next, but I don't really see how people imagine Room in Fire to be Is This It pt 2, and even if they do, why they care...not every band goes the way of Wilco and Radiohead (you know, experimenting with their sound just for the sake of being weird..aka shitting the bed)

i will hear this album on january 3 and no sooner. i'd like to love it, but i dislike "juicebox" a lot.

I really enjoyed about half the new album but didn't honestly get thrilled with the other songs. BUT...I got it loaded on the ipod right now (and Loogs, I put Room on Fire on it as well, for another listen) and will post some more thoughts after a better listen.

i've heard 3 tracks. not feeling it. someone paste this into the 11 other strokes topics because i'm not getting involved.

So I've spun Room on Fire and First Impressions twice in a row, back to back. These two play as companion albums for me, they're qualitatively different than Is This It, in terms of tempo and feel. First off, I've been way too hard on Room on Fire. While I don't enjoy it as much as the debut, it's definitely not as bad as I first made it out to be. It's definitely got further potential for me.The newer album definitely extends further any development that began with Room on Fire. (I realize others have noticed no development at all, but play all three albums in series and you'll notice definite changes). As Dalen has already pointed out, the new album is far 'riffier' than the previous two, like in Heart in A Cage, Ize of the World or Vision of Division. While they don't always break the template (i.e. it still sounds like The Strokes), there are some slight changes, like the slight groove of On the Other Side. Some seem like new types of songs for the band, like Ask me Anything which is pretty spare and mopey, but in a good way. It's a standout track. As is Electricityscape (they've cribbed part of the guitar in here from somewhere but I can't place it). While I don't think I'd necessarily want drive my car sidelong into traffic, Fear of Sleep is quietly dark, with Julian slighlty reminencent of Ig when he croons '....fear of sleep'. His repeated screaming of phrase 'You're no fun' might be just a coincidence (For you Loog, I imagine it must be...). Red Light is a great song to end the album with because if there is any truth to the psychological phenomenon of primacy and recency, you'll remember the best parts of the album at the beginning and the end. Overall, I really enjoy the album after a proper listen. My own critique is the length. My first impression still stands, it would be an even better album if there were more songs clocking in at 2.30 min instead of 4.30 min. But that still doesn't detract, it would be Top 10 for me.

Weird observation: the faint 'whooo-oooos' in the back of 'You Only Live Once' reminded me of a song that plays in Silence of the Lambs when serial killer Jame Gumb is dancing in front of the camera/mirror as a girl with his junk tucked between his legs. Despite this, it's one of my favourite songs on the album.

Nice review. thanks.

DJ, I agree on Red Light. The perfect ending to an almost perfect album. Love the drums on that one.

Killing Lies is the only track with a lull.

Pitchfork have missed the point altogether. This isn't a record where Julian shows off his singing ability, and where Nick attempts Eddie Van Halen theatrics. It's an album where they push their trademark sound even further, by writing riffs that most other bands wish they could come up with. No technical genius, no crazy studio tricks.....simple, catchy, great fucking memorable riffs.

Very few bands are capable of that nowadays.

I still haven't listened to this album yet.

I've still got an active link for interested parties. It's good until Friday, I think.

Also, am I crazy, or does the ending of "Fear of Sleep" have that triumphant, stadium rock feel of U2?

This is going to be the best track live IMO.

Oh I've got it on my hard drive, I just haven't gotten around to listening to it yet.

You are not crazy, that is an apt description of the last minute of this song. Definitely a great one.

right on. i think it's one of the more emotional moments on the album. my wife actually called the U2 comparison, and i was like "fuck, Julian's letting go like Bono!"

I listened to the first 3 or 4 songs last night on my way to and from the Deadly Snakes show. I liked You Only Live Once but really can't remember it all that well. Juicebox still sucks. Heart In A Cage was alright, I liked the guitar on it. Based on what I've heard so far, it wouldn't make my top 20 for this year and I'm guessing it won't for 2006 either.

first listen i was on the fence.....then i broke it out for the last few days.....i can't stop listening to it.....i really really dig this album. thanks all

I listened to it again tonight and got as far as track 6 before I put the new Juelz Santana album.

juicebox has a disconcerting "Weezer - Hashpipe" quality to it.

there's nothing wrong with hashpipe, just the rest of the entire friggin album