Up all night watching MTV, I caught a video by a band called The Strokes. The band consisted of a group of guys that appeared to have fallen straight out of a ’70s time warp. Everyone had a shag haircut and the video simply consisted of them standing on what looked like it could have been the Ed Sullivan Show set. At first I wasn’t sure if I was watching a new video or perhaps an old archive. No snazzy animation or special effects here, just a few random flashes of swirling paisleys strewn throughout the video.
I personally appreciate the music of the late ’60s through the ’70s. The sound was unpolished and raw, unlike the super remixed, highly edited studio sounds of today. The band typically sounded the same whether you were hearing them live or on the radio.
Intrigued by their retro sound and style, I took a chance and purchased the CD. I have found it very common to hear a song and love it and then, after purchasing the entire CD, realize that the only good song on the CD is the first single that was released. Fortunately for me this was not the case with The Strokes. The entire album follows suit with the edgy semi-pop feel of the single "Last Night." I cannot tell you if they achieved their sound through some studio effects or if they simply use older style equipment. Whatever they do to achieve the sound, they do it with fluidity and accuracy.
The musical composition is not too complex, a basic rhythm section with popping high hats and simple effective bass lines. The guitar breaks off into tiny solos here and there but isn’t reminiscent of the "psychedelic" sounds of the late ’70s. The band follows more along the lines of the early sounds of Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground. Retrofitted for today with an indie/punk flavor, these guys succeed in creating a style that is theirs alone.
If I were asked to compare this album to a better known group, I would say that it is similar to the final album Pavement released, Terror Twilight. They have a similar lyrical style, nothing too introspective, more light hearted and fun.
If you are into a not-so-studio sound and have 16 bucks to spare I would recommend picking it up. If you are more into the pop stars of today like Backstreet and all the other neo-New Kids on the Block bands this would definitely not be a good choice!
