By Melissa Moody
Artist: The Strokes
Album: First Impressions of Earth
Release date: In stores
The Strokes’ sophomore effort seemed lacking after their 2001 debut album “Is This It,” but their third album, “First Impressions of Earth,” is still refreshing in a world where N’Sync has actually released an album of greatest hits. (Hits, sadly yes; great, never.) The talented quintet didn’t take any big risks lyrically or musically with this album, but still ended up with a solid, if conventionally post-punk, set of tracks.
Utilizing Warner Music producer David Kahne’s experience (Kahne has produced for artists from Paul McCartney to Sugar Ray), the Strokes have created a louder and more aggressive sound, minus the vocal distortion that characterized their early work. Kahne is famous as the producer who told Wilco that their 2002 album, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” was a “career-ending” mistake.
The songwriting on “First Impressions” seems forced at times and the pop-rock guitar solos are more pop-rock than Iggy Pop, but “First Impressions” features a more mature sound, with tighter vocals and instrumentation, evident musical growth, and Kahne’s role an obvious plus.
The Strokes, however, have a lot of talk to live up to. They were hailed by critics as the band that would save rock-and-roll from the likes of Britney Spears and tasteless teen-pop, and at the same time resuscitated the New York punk scene. The band is certainly equipped to, at least, inspire a generation that is in desperate need of something real. Far from music that has been digitally created to sell an image for a major label, “First Impressions of Earth” is a raucous, at times obnoxious, but always honest album that may not save rock-and-roll by itself but can certainly provide the defibulator.
