[schiss]

Alternative rockers have been rejoicing and critics have loved the sounds coming from the new cd by The Strokes, and I can't say I blame them.... I love listening to this band. I have yet to hear them live, but seeing them play on TV has shown their ability to replicate their studio playing very well. Actually, it's nice that their record is really a reflection of how they sound live... imagine that!

I think the excitement that music listeners feel over this band now is exactly what I felt some 20 years ago when first hearing the likes of The Cars first album, Echo and the Bunnymen, the English Beat, and so many of the fantastic new wave artists on the Sire label. At the time, noone had made anything that sounded like it, and I was completely wrapped up in the originality.

So, while The Strokes have borrowed from the sounds of many of these bands before them, I believe that sound is also very refreshing among today's crunch-heavy rock bands. If you don't hear The Velvet Underground, The Cars, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Doors, and Television inside all those Strokes tunes, somethin's wrong with yer hearin'. A few of the guitar solos are right out of The Cars songbook... both guitar sound and how they're played.

Are The Strokes original? No, not completely... But very refreshing right about now. Everybody Pogo!


Schiss

 

[carlo]

schiss,

i agree completely. what will be interesting is what they do on their follow up, hopefully they'll branch out and find a sound that's more their own. the original european release (w/ "nyc cops") is one of the few records i've willingly overpaid for.

have you heard the "dif'frent strokes" album yet? supposedly a side project by members of the strokes and pulp. sounds like it may be interesting.

best,
carlo

 

[DarkAngel]

What I hear is a band trying to sound like Johny Thunders & Heartbreakers or NY Dolls. Get a copy of "LAMF lost mixes" and you will see they still have a long way to go to achieve that level of talent.

I guess it sounds refreshing if you are too young to have heard the bands that did it originally and better. I like their sound but lets not give them too much credit, hopefully thier musical skill will continue to improve on future releases.

 

[sd jones]

I bought this CD on the strength of many reviews and after hearing one single, "Last Night." I needed a few listens to appreciate and I have come to really like this album. Do they invoke VU, Television and The New Dolls...without question, but is this a bad thing? Will The Strokes save rock n' roll as some prominent magazines have suggested (Rolling Stone)? I doubt it...in any case much better than most of the junk released by major labels today.

 

[sd jones]

Sorry meant to type New York Dolls. BTW, don't get me started on David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter) what a shame...

 

[huy_ha]

I'm not sure what the hype is all about. The material that I've heard, which has been on repeat in lots of friends' houses, is fine, even enjoyable, but I can't call it original. I'm more refreshed by the likes of the White Stripes, though they, too, may be headed into the "alternative" mire.

 

[markl]

I've been around the "alternative rock" scene since the early 80s when it was known as "New Wave". There is nothing new in what the Strokes are doing.

Granted I have only heard "Last Night", but color me unimpressed. They splice the beat from Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" to velvet underground guitar strumming. The lyrics are meaningless, the singer is hopeless and has no charisma, and the song is boring after 5 listens. Zero originality; all aping of styles with nothing to say.

Get Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" or dig up a VU best-of if you want to hear what the Strokes are trying to do.

markl

 

[FlurkingShnit]

I've never listened to Velvet Underground or the other bands which the Strokes seem to draw from, but I've listened to the Strokes' albums many times now and I saw them when they visited Houston on tour promoting Is This It and I think they're a fantastic band. Sure they may have echoes of the past in their music, but it's better than hearing dj lethal of limp bizkit trying to scratch over fred durst's whiny voice. If you want real technically skilled DJ'ing listen to turntablism. And it's a hell of a lot better than the trailer park inspired stylings of kid rock.

The Strokes themselves hate all of the hype they've received from what I've read and they say that they just wish people would listen to the music and decide for themselves. I've listened to the music and decided I like it.

On a completely unrelated topic, I bought Blackalicious' album Nia today and it is one fantastic funky hip hoppenin album. Quannum rules!

 

[markl]

"Sure they may have echoes of the past in their music, but it's better than hearing dj lethal of limp bizkit trying to scratch over fred durst's whiny voice."

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. I agree that in contrast to the total crap that passes for "rock" these days, the Strokes stand out simply for being mediocre. Same goes for White Stripes.

markl

 

[schiss]

YEAHHHH, NOW THAT'S WHAT I LIKE!!!!!! A little passion in the responses!!!

Oh yeah, the NY city bands' influences are undeniable. Since the beloved original bands are no more, I don't mind the Strokes recycling their sound. But let me go fishing with this one...

Do the strokes, as a young band, borrow the sounds of the NY bands the way the very young REM borrowed from the jangly rock bands of the sixties?? This will probably inspire arguments about the new vs. the old REM sound and which is better... except for Automatic for the People, i sort of stopped paying attention around Document.


Schiss

 

[markl]

And while I'm at it, Ryan Adams is OK, but way over-rated. He currently has little or no competition in trying to do what he's trying to do, so he seems like a "genius". For now, he's riding on hype and some OK songs. Time will tell.

Having the right influences is a good start. Taking those influences and putting your own unique mark on them is what it's all about.

You can't help sounding like your influences, especially when you are young like the Strokes. At this point in their career, for me, I'll be waiting a few albums to let them develop (if they make it that long), before I would buy one of their CDs.

They're certainly starting from good ingredients, but it's a little faceless to me at this point.

As for REM, their sound is unmistakable. Sure the musicians had influences, but where is the precedent in rock 'n roll for Michael Stipe? He's an original, right from the start. The guy from the strokes just doesn't stick out to me.

markl

 

[sd jones]

Every band/musician is influenced by another...it could be argued that early Beatles ripped off Chuck Berry (take it easy, the Beatles are my favorite band!). It's where they took their music over the long haul...someplace entirely new. It's called artistic growth.
BTW, Ryan Adams fully embraces the comparisons of his music to Gram Parsons...hell, if you're going to rip someone's sound off it may as well be a great such as Parsons or Lou Reed.

 

[sd jones]

As for Michael Stipe...early REM sound was often compared to Roger McGuinn and The Byrds.

 

[markl]

Peter Buck the guitar player played in a Byrds style. Stipe is an original.

 

[secretagent44]

big star, the smiths, the soft boys, &c, &c. certainly they were original, but it's not like rem came out of nowhere. as for the strokes, i think their album is great, but i'll have to hear the 2nd before i call the band itself great. my vote goes to the new pornographers though, great album.