ROCK
“First Impressions of Earth”
The Strokes
RCA
The debate over The Strokes’ ability to live up to their once-overwhelming critical hype is now moot. This hip quintet of thrift store models has proven itself worthy by churning out three airtight albums of late- ’70s-NYC-influenced rock in a row. “First Impressions of Earth,” the band’s latest and most mature, finds a comfortable middle ground between the apathetic, ragged scorchers of its early days and the catchy, mainstream radio aspirations of a maturing band.
Eschewing the squawking vocal distortion of “Room on Fire” and “Is This It,” lead singer Julian Casablancas takes lyrical shots at his detractors and fans alike. He also continues to crib the best and most recognizable bits of other artists’ work and fashion them into his own stunning melodic panorama. The low splendor of “Ask Me Anything” screams Magnetic Fields, while the sing-songy cadence of “Razorblade’s” chorus sounds, bizarrely, like Barry Manilow’s “Mandy.”
Casablancas also frequently invokes his crooner persona, finally comfortable to let his deep and unadorned vocals do the heavy lifting on the experimental tracks. Lucky for him, “First Impressions of Earth” never gets too bogged down in the kind of stylistic self-importance that’s plagued so many former Flavors of the Week.
– John Wenzel
ALT-COUNTRY
“Dog Days”
BR5-49
Dualtone
Chuck Mead and his buddies don’t sound so fresh anymore.
What was once special and unique in the sometimes-vapid ’90s – BR5-49’s retroriffic honky-tonk – is now more of a yawn and a passing listen. Whereas other alt-country acts – Old 97’s, Dwight Yoakam and early Wilco included – continued to evolve beyond their alt roots, BR5-49 has stayed the same. And while it’s still sweetly melancholic to hear Mead sing about “After the Hurricane” and spicy women in “Cajun Persuasion,” it’s not as fulfilling as it once was.
The one standout track here wasn’t even written by the band, although it fits their plight. “A1 on the Jukebox” tells the story of a critical favorite never breaking out in the mainstream: “‘Cause I’m A1 on the jukebox, but nowhere on the charts.”
– Ricardo Baca
