A Stroke(s) of Genius...

As I write this, the 1st track from the Strokes 4th album has LITTERALLY this second just gone live as a free download and been uploaded to youtube...and yes it is genius! A quick homage to the Strokes is the least I can do in tribute! 

Is This It...

Pioneers of garage rock The Strokes also known as lead singer/songwriter Julian Casablancas, guitarist Nick Valensi, bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti met at been mates at school. Casablancas was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland due to alcohol problems at the age of 13, which is he met lead met guitarist Albert Hammond Jnr... a true and somewhat cool story!

The band wrote the 'Modern Age EP' in 98 which contained  most of the tracks from the first abum 'Is This It', albeit with better production quality and slightly different lyrics under UK label Rought Trade. They made there big break when NME made their first single 'Last Nite' available as a free download before they were instantly catapulted success with the 1st album released in 2001, lucky they had been playing very similar material for years! The album cover features a black + white photo of a gloved hand on a woman's naked backside, shown in semi-profile, amazing, much like the entire album as a peice of music.

The track I have chosen as my stand out track is 'New York City Cops' which was removed from the album in good faith following the September the 11th attacks, which only adds to bands popularity winning HUGE critical acclaim, countless awards + top ablum charts worldwide, selling 3.5million copies by 2010. enjoy...

Room on Fire...

I was lucky enough to see them play live at the Reading festival in consecutive years 2001 and 02 before the band released their second album 'Room on Fire' in 2003 after recording it with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. I personally prefer this album and it received even more praise from critics but was less commercially successful, although it still went gold. The album's sound maintained the Strokes' familiar reference points but also evokes sounds similar to acts such as Bob Marley and the Cars. The first singles were the songs 'The End has no end' and '12:51', the later using distinct keyboard-like sounds produced by Valensi's guitar and had cool Tron-esque video.

For me, however, the stand out track on the album has to be 'Reptilia', need I say more? Just use your own ears (oh and your eyes as this video is a specially edited using the awesome cinematography of Koyaanisqatsi)...

First Impressions of Earth...

In 2005 the band released, 'Juicebox', which was the 1st single from their unreleased 3rd album, after being leaked online the album release date was forced to be advanced with next to no promo. The album this time, however received mixed critics reviews and only got to number 4 in US, however the more descerning British ear made a No.1 and as a thankyou the band did played 18 sold out shows in 2006. Since the album they have been on hiatus, concentrating on solo material- noteably Casablanca's 'Phazes for the Young' debut album released in 2009...

Along with the stand out track 'Heart in a Cage' - for me the 1st track, 'Your Only Live Once', a Sum41-esque number is not only my favourite track from the album. Its upbeat, fun qualities but yet still with that garage ryhtm make it not only my favourite album track but also my all time favourite Strokes song, enjoy this live version from Jools Holland...

Angles...

The new album promises to be something REALLY special judging by the 1st single the 4th album 'Angles' is due for European physical release on March 22nd. If you think the Strokes are 'too hipster' for you then you really do put the 'mental' in judgemental and you really are an idiot, thats just my opinion ofcourse ;)

Having confirmed to play Coachella and Benicassim this year, if you get the opportunity...GO SEE THEM GODAMN YOU!!! now sit back and lap up the 1st single, which is available to download from thestrokes.com as of litterally moments ago...