The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth

The Strokes’ third album, First Impressions of Earth, is a story told in two parts. Roughly the first two thirds of the album is sheer brilliance, as the band works diligently to create some of the most important and diverse music of their young career. These tracks make a convincing argument that the NYC rockers are not content to survive on buzz alone. In stark contrast, the last five or six tracks prove languid fare and dilute the album’s overall vibe (which to that point is energetic and luminous). “You Only Live Once” starts the album in fine fashion, marrying a fairly characteristic riff with a fresh dimension to the band’s music (which has been made much of in other reviews): The audible and intelligible presentation of Julian Casablancas’ vocals, which are one of the album’s most consistent highlights. “Juicebox,” the album’s first single, follows emphasizing a dramatic Nikolai Fraiture bass line and a wonderfully raw vocal from Casablancas. Tracks like “Heart in a Cage” and “Vision of Division” feature some of the most direct, aggressive riffs the band has ever employed. The latter track’s distinct sections (a faux-punk opening riff, melancholy vocals on each verse and System of A Down-lite Mediterranean metal shredding) make the song feel like a mini-rock opera wrapped tightly in a four minute package. The album begins to drag on its ninth track, “Killing Lies,” which initiates a succession of relatively similar songs that drain the momentum built up by the rest of the disc. Particularly frustrating is the shuffling “15 Minutes,” which includes Casablancas’ most consistently banal lyrics to date. After the experimentation displayed at the beginning of the album, the closing tracks just seem a letdown. While the album’s close is a bit exasperating, First Impressions of Earth is, overall, a satisfying experience. Strokes fans should appreciate how the band exhibits growth while retaining their most identifiable characteristics. Casual fans should gain a glimpse of the lasting quality The Strokes can achieve should they harness the promise displayed for an entire album. [www.thestrokes.com]