Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young [Rough Trade]
It’s late 2005, and ‘Juicebox’, the first single from The Strokes’ third album has leaked online, sending fans into paroxysms. Its driving, insistent riff and controversial video seem to indicate a reinvigorated band, but First Impressions Of Earth delivers little of this promise, and after an arduous touring schedule the time seems ripe for The Strokes to take a backseat to a range of other projects.
It’s perhaps strange that in the time it has taken guitarist Albert Hammond Jr to release two records, only now do we have a full length album from Julian Casablancas. But while Hammond Jr’s commitment to chugging guitar and summertime melodies arguably remains Strokes-like and rooted in the US West Coast tradition of yesteryear, previews of ‘11th Dimension’, the first single from Phrazes For The Young, show Casablancas drawing on a retro sound of a different kind, with sharp 80s synth stabs and raindrop beats fighting for space over the top of that unmistakable gravel
voiced drawl.
So far, so different. But on opener ‘Out Of The Blue’ it would seem that old habits die hard, as warm trebly guitar tones give the impression of a more mature Casablancas as he croons “How could you be? / So perfect for me?”, taking one of the strongest melodies on Phrazes… to a soaring conclusion without venturing into the realms of pomp.
In Casablancas’ own words, Phrazes For The Young represents his attempt to juxtapose more modern sounds with “the power and seriousness” of older ones, but on ‘Ludlow Street’, promising faux Vangelis electronics somehow segue into Casablancas doing his best storytelling Billy Joel impression.
It’s an embarrassing moment, but thankfully it appears to be a momentary lapse as the angular guitars and urgent motorik drive of Casablancas’ voice (“Timing is everything/ Timing is everything”) on stand out track ‘River Of Brakelights’ usher Phrazes… into more experimental territory, with the final moments of the record mercifully sounding more like fellow New Yorkers Ratatat in their Classics period than the Bronx-raised Joel and his tales of Italian restaurants. After all, Casablancas’ cool credentials have never been in doubt, and luckily for him, most of the influences worn proudly on Phrazes’… sleeve do little to harm them.
Tim Wong
It’s perhaps strange that in the time it has taken guitarist Albert Hammond Jr to release two records, only now do we have a full length album from Julian Casablancas. But while Hammond Jr’s commitment to chugging guitar and summertime melodies arguably remains Strokes-like and rooted in the US West Coast tradition of yesteryear, previews of ‘11th Dimension’, the first single from Phrazes For The Young, show Casablancas drawing on a retro sound of a different kind, with sharp 80s synth stabs and raindrop beats fighting for space over the top of that unmistakable gravel
voiced drawl.
So far, so different. But on opener ‘Out Of The Blue’ it would seem that old habits die hard, as warm trebly guitar tones give the impression of a more mature Casablancas as he croons “How could you be? / So perfect for me?”, taking one of the strongest melodies on Phrazes… to a soaring conclusion without venturing into the realms of pomp.
In Casablancas’ own words, Phrazes For The Young represents his attempt to juxtapose more modern sounds with “the power and seriousness” of older ones, but on ‘Ludlow Street’, promising faux Vangelis electronics somehow segue into Casablancas doing his best storytelling Billy Joel impression.
It’s an embarrassing moment, but thankfully it appears to be a momentary lapse as the angular guitars and urgent motorik drive of Casablancas’ voice (“Timing is everything/ Timing is everything”) on stand out track ‘River Of Brakelights’ usher Phrazes… into more experimental territory, with the final moments of the record mercifully sounding more like fellow New Yorkers Ratatat in their Classics period than the Bronx-raised Joel and his tales of Italian restaurants. After all, Casablancas’ cool credentials have never been in doubt, and luckily for him, most of the influences worn proudly on Phrazes’… sleeve do little to harm them.
Tim Wong
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