The Strokes - Comedown Machine : Album Reviews
This week seemed like it was a product of a time machine factory opening. A whole slew of bands who peaked during the 2004 - 2006 phase of pop, rock and indie movements and just as quickly faded from the public consciousness are back with brand new albums.
From Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, to Aussie rockers British India and of course The Strokes and Justin Timberlake. All these guys are back with something to prove... that they are still relevant. But are they?
Let's first take a look at The Strokes fifth studio album "Comedown Machine", an album which has a lot to prove after the somewhat disastrous sales and critical panning of both Julian Casablanca's solo album (which really only had one killer track on it) and The Strokes rushed and marred "Angles" (which had two decent songs on it, if at all).
So, on one hand, this album didn't need to do much to improve on the failing of Angles, yet NEEDED to be good to ensure it wasn't a "Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants" level nail in the coffin that sunk a band like Oasis. And, by and large, it's almost there.
There's some definite standouts here including single One Way Trigger and All The Time. However, they aren't AMAZING single... not even on the level of Angles hits. In fact, the album doesn't really reach any high points. It's best moments come in the form of "Call It Fate, Call It Karma", the biggest departure from the Strokes sound completely.
Perhaps Comedown Machine will need a few more spins to really grow on me, but as it stands, this sounds like the creation of a group of musicians - Julian Casablanca's (lead vocals), Nick Valensi (guitar), Albert Hammond, Jr. (guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (bass) and Fabrizio Moretti (drums) - who have lost the love of playing with each other and the product their brand name supposedly pushes.
Track Listing
- Tap Out
- All The Time
- One Way Trigger
- Welcome to Japan
- 80's Comedown Machine
- 50/50
- Slow Animals
- Partners In Crime
- Chances
- Happy Ending
- Call It Fate, Call It Karma
