“I’m putting your patience to the test.

I’m putting my body on the line for

less”, Julian Casablancas denounces in the opening track. From the start, the Strokes’

fourth record ‘Angles’ both raises and answers questions that die-hard fans have

been waiting for. This isn’t the usual follow-up 4th record that most bands seem to

put a little extra effort into. This record kicks you in the face the second it starts.

There is no single theme to the album or general direction. It’s not ‘The Wall’ or ‘Sgt.

Pepper’. Each song goes in a different direction and it wouldn’t work unless it was

done with the precision and detail ‘Angles’ possesses. Over the last 3 records, the

Strokes had progressively shifted their musical sound, writing, and structure in a

way that left a lot of fans wondering what to expect from ‘Angles’. The wait was

definitely worth it. The record is produced the exact same way it sounds – like 5

guys crashing into each other at various angles. They managed to work

democratically to produce a record whos quality surpasses that of every one since

2001’s Platinum Certified ‘Is This It’. I’ve researched many record and track reviews

so I know what most people and critics have said about ‘Angles’. Some fans will

absolutely love the album while others may find it’s eclectic sound a bit confusing.

Here, I am providing an unbiased review. Without further adieu, I present a track-

by-track review of the record’s 10 songs.

“Machu Picchu”

There are hints of reggae beats from the start. Julian’s slightly distorted voice

is back after having gone missing that in ‘FIOE’. “I’m putting you patience to the test.

I’m putting my body on the line for less”. Nikolai’s bass playing sounds free and
unrestricted. Julian references Lady Gaga: “wearing a jacket made of meat.” It ends

with a final jam and the very catchy solo guitar riff.

“Under Cover of Darkness”

Old Strokes 110%. It has a hit of Ska to start and once Julian’s vocals come in,

I’m reminded of a classic Sublime song. It’s a definite first single with that amazing

pre-chorus and bridge. It get’s me thinking the whole album is finger-snapping fun.

“Two Kinds of Happiness”

Wait a second, did my iPod switch to a Cars song? No, it’s the Strokes! They

manage to write a song that reminds me of Billy Idol and Velvet Underground. It’s

very much a power-ballad. It sounds very similar to George Harrison’s “Got My Mind

Set on You”. The bridge and solo are reminiscent of ‘Vision of Division’ from ‘FIOE’.

“You’re So Right”

This song has Nikolai’s stamp all over it seeing as he did write it. Julian

definitely brings some sound from his solo work, ‘Phrazes for the Young’. This song

sounds like someone wrote it after they just got done finishing a line of crack. It’s

fast, confusing, repetitive, and the solo is face melting. This is a song I didn’t like at

first but it grew on me after a few listens.

 “Taken for a Fool”

This one starts off with a “bang”, literally. The quick guitar playing and

Julian’s crooning voice lead to a great bridge. It sounds similar to “12:51” from

‘Room on Fire’, only a little heavier. The chorus is very catchy. I see it as a good 2nd

single.

“Games”

This is unlike anything I’ve ever heard from the Strokes. It’s got synthesizers

all over it. Julian repeats over and over again, “living in an empty world”. It slows

down in the middle and Julian spills his heart out, giving the song a very impressive

finish. HE definitely stretches his vocals higher than I’ve ever heard him. It almost

sounds like the last half of the song is a completely different song than the first half,

which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Call Me Back”

I imagine Julian and Nick sitting around as old men, playing this song

together and reminiscing about the “old days”. It sounds like Julian is whispering in

your ear. The lead guitar sounds slightly distorted and there are actually backup

vocals in it. It reminds me of a better version of “Ask Me Anything” from ‘FIOE’.

“Gratisfaction”

This song is borderline “The Boys are Back in Town”, and is a must for late

night garage parties after you’ve gotten in the mood where you’re hugging everyone
in the room and singing at the top of your lungs. It’s a fast, fun, catchy song. Fab tries

to break on through his cymbals. I could see it as a 3 rd single.

“Metabolism”

This song has a guitar riff that’s immediately in your face. The drums are fast

hitting and bass drum oriented. The bridge sounds like a scene from an opera, as

funny as that may sound. Julian screams and pleads “I wanna be somebody like

you… instead of me”. The solo sounds like Brian May from Queen. It ends with

another synthesizer riding it to the end.

“Life is Simple in the Moonlight”

“There’s no one I disapprove of more or root for more than myself.” It sounds

like “Trying Your Luck”, with slightly less rhythm guitar and a synthesizer in the

background. Joe Chiccarelli produced this song so poorly it’s noticeable when the

first and second chorus’s end so abruptly with the change in key as Julian sings,

“Don’t try to stop us, get out of the way.” (The only reason I know something as

trivial as this is because the same thing happened to the Beatles in “Strawberry

Fields Forever”. Producer George Martin combined the beginning of a slow take and

the end of a long take to create it’s unique sound.) The solo has a bit of a Carlos

Santana flavor to it. This is song is significant for 2 reasons. First, Julian reveals an

inner thought that eats at him every day. Who knows what’s going on in his mind.

(I’m really excited for their next album for this very reason)) Second, the song ends

with the line, “Don’t try to stop us, get out of the way.” It wasn’t a mistake that the
album begins with “I’m putting your patience to the test. I’m putting my body on the

line for less”, and ends with “Don’t try to stop us, get out of the way.”

Overall, the album is exactly as advertised. It is the first true democratic

Strokes album. The first half reminds you of who the Strokes are, the indie garage

rock band with its lo-fi sound. The last half, starting with “Games”, gives you a

glimpse of what the future holds for the Strokes. It’s impossible to say where they’re

going next. They can obviously maintain their garage-rock sound but at this point in

their history, why would they? In ‘Angles’, they have shown that they can give their

fans what they want while slowly changing the face of indie rock. They have done

something truly revolutionary with this record. It is a combination of 5 musicians

working together in unison, similar to the making of the Beatles’ “White Album”. In

various interviews, the band members weren’t afraid to explain their distaste in

making the record. In my opinion, it was part of their act. There are signs of

resentment in Julian’s lyrics but in the end, the band isn’t called Julian Casablancas

and the Strokes, it’s the Strokes. Maybe it wasn’t an accident and Julian wanted more

of a democracy? In any case, the Strokes aren’t done making great music. They’ve

also said in interviews that 5 years is too long between records and they are already

working on their 5th. I’d like to think that the next Strokes album is going to sound

even more similar to ‘Is This It’, but I don’t see that happening. It’s a new era and it’s

time for a new sound. I’m looking forward to what the future holds for the Strokes. It

wasn’t coincidence that Julian ended the album they way he did. The Strokes really

mean it when they say, “Don’t try to stop us, get out of the way.”