Room On Fire' burns up competition
The Strokes
'Room On Fire'
On RCA Records
Grade: A+When the Strokes burst onto the scene in 2001 with "Is This It," they were heralded almost universally as the saviors of rock 'n roll. This seems to be a record industry pattern that revolves around a band that is just ballsy enough to buck whatever the mainstream trend is in favor of the music they prefer. That's not being a savior, that's being selfish, and no band is better at being selfish than the Strokes.
"Room On Fire" is the hotly anticipated sophomore release from the New York rockers, and while it's only 32 minutes long, it will not leave you disappointed. Instead of the sweeping changes and drastic modernization that seemed to be their original plan - judging by the band's brief foray into the studio with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich - the band has simply returned to what they do best: straightforward, slightly mumbling neo-rock. It is has long been a criticism of the Strokes that they simply seek to imitate every other stripped-down rock great from decades past. However, it is an unbelievable credit to the band that while they fundamentally sound like everyone else, the have come to sound completely and singularly like themselves. A Strokes song is instantly recognizable, despite the fact that ten other bands have had the same idea before, including the Strokes themselves. And that is what makes "Room On Fire" so immensely pleasing.
Opening with "What Ever Happened?" the Strokes' signature sound of frenetically plucked guitars and lazy, slurred vocals is back. Heading possibly the most apathetic band of our time, vocalist Julian Casablancas implores his listeners, "I want to be forgotten / and I don't want to be reminded." This formula of retro-modern, halfway-frenetic music combined with lethargic and apathetic vocals is what makes the Strokes formula a classic one, and this time they've beefed it up slightly with a generous nod to New Wave. "Reptilia" and the current single "12:51" are especially heavy with these New Wave influences, from the inherent dance-ability of "Reptilia" to guitar-synth counter-melody of "12:51.
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