Album Review

Julian Casablancas

Phrazes for the Young

I’ve read a lot of articles about the anticlimactic rise to success the Strokes never quite achieved. After the group disbanded in 2008 in what was described as a “much needed break”, the only valuable information anyone seems to have about the Strokes is how great they “almost were”. Julian Casablancas was recently quoted in an online interview, with a seemingly reluctant dissatisfaction after the band failed to achieve the success of other main stream artists such as “Green Day, or Creed” Now these seem like very shallow comparisons for those of us who regard the Strokes as a band with far more substance than either of these two bands, however, when it came to the Strokes, I always found it better to disregard their careless, despondent image and just listen. For Julian Casablancas, I did the very same. Phrazes for the young is Julian’s first endeavor into a solo career. The record is jam packed with his signature synth revival, simple chord change and that apathetic voice of the of the lost generation of underground punk. The first track “Out of the Blue” reveals Julians greatest gift to the Strokes, Melody.  “Yes I know I’m going to hell, in a leather Jacket, At least I’ll be in another world, while your pissing on my casket” Julian sings, proclaiming his underground roots . Unlike his typically aloof singing we’re all used to, Phrazes seems to have more Julian in it.  The lyrics have a childish innocence that sing very well. I have little doubt these songs were written without words and constructed lyrically depending on pronunciation and sing-ability. Either way, for anything the lyrics lack, melody caries throughout the record. The album as whole is solid.  Tracks I would recommend would be “Glass” and “Four Chords of the Apocalypse”.

Guest Writer:  Andrew Robinson