The Lonely Island is widely known as the modernized bro-ified version of Weird Al Yankovich adapted for the modern world bc they make zany viral videos. Their brand of humor is the ‘it’ style of humor for teens on the internet across the USA. Julian Casablancas, lead singer of the Strokes ‘collab-ed’ with the Lonely Island on a song called ‘Boom box.’ I am not sure if this video is supposed to ‘be funny’ or if it is supposed to be a ‘real song.’ Probs just the opportunity to make a zany video.
The Strokes were widely considered the #1 band of the 2000s, so it will be interesting to see if this viral video promotion hurts or helps the Strokes + JCasablancas solo project. Maybe this was some sort of strategic attempt to be part of the new ‘Dick in a Box’, getting over 100 million viral video views. Wonder if modern tweens who never heard the hit album ‘Is This It’ are becoming familiar with the Strokes brand, or if they will just think they are some weird old band like The Cars.
Since the 2k0 decade is over, the altosphere learned to stop ‘backlashing’ against the Strokes, and instead learned to ‘appreciate them.’ Because of this recent shift in public perception, their latest ‘LP’, due in September is possibly one of the most anticipated albums of the past 25-50 years.
DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH?
Dan from Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Bonus Eventus and Let’s Wrestle give us their picks of 2009 as we near completion of our Guest top 10s.
Fever Ray
Our top records of 2009 countdown continues, with our favourite singles, albums and downloads of the year. We’re now at numbers 60-41.
The Recession, 9/11, The Internet, Terrorism, George Bush, July 7th 2005, Big Brother, Reality Television, Social Networking, Celebrity, Tony Blair, Online Shopping, The First Black President, The Smoking Ban, I-Pods, Borat, Banksy, Chavs…
In no chronological or logical order, these are just some of the things that the decade dubbed “the noughties” may be remembered for.
Julian Casablancas- Phrazes For The Young
8/10
Marrying sunny melodies with despondent lyrics, The Strokes’ lead singer and mastermind Julian Casablancas has shed his gritty punk rock demeanour for more eclectic experimentalism with his debut solo LP. Perhaps it was a determined move to ensure his detractors had a harder job pigeonholing him, harder than they’d have to try with Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.’s sedate pop efforts or drummer Fabrizio Morretti’s joyous reggae-influenced pop jams. At first listen to the few Phrazes tracks leaked early, Casablancas’ output cried Ratatat to me. But the warped multi-tracked synthy guitar lines did more than just amble on aimlessly as Ratatat’s songs often can.
Myspace // "Vamos a Considerar" [Audio]
Monterrey, located in NE Mexico, is the hottest spot right now in the country for new music, and it’s across genre lines as well, from dance to acoustic to indie. It’s truly an exciting time to be a fan of MX indie rock.
Thanks, Zane Lowe! After the recent announcement and subsequent excitement of The Strokes singer Julian Casablancas’ debut solo album comes a radio rip of his first single, ‘Eleventh Dimension’, mere hours after it was first played on Lowe’s show. Phrazes For The Young’s lead song is everything I hoped for and more. While at first it seemed too fruity for words, this camp club banger actually has more depth than your ears might initially perceive it to have. Bombastic beats, sweet organ links and Casablancas’ trademark anguished howl glisten in this shinier-than-chrome single. From the man whose band brought you such classics and oft-regarded early ’00s albums as Is This It comes a visionary new idea entirely influenced by the Modern Age. It’s an inspired, impassioned listen.
In the Red’s profile may have risen in recent years through releases by King Khan & BBQ, Vivian Girls and Jay Reatard, but for years the L.A. label’s been buttering your croissant with permanently cool, stylishly unfashionable garage-rawk like what this here Reigning Sound band makes.
iLiKETRAiNS DEMO OF THE WEEK:
ISTVAN & THE KOSMAS / DISCO CLUB IMPERIAL
DAVE: The song started out pretty promisingly, but it didn’t really develop. It could be just me! Having said...
Legendary rock photographer Steve Gullick has a retrospective at Manchester’s KRAAK Gallery running from March 12th til March 27th, featuring shots taken for NME and Melody Maker as well as his...
To accompany the review of tUnE-yArDs’ Monday gig at Cargo, a few tasty shots of Think about Life, Trash Kit and New England native Merrill Garbus aka tUnE-yArDs.
Read the review of the night...
We have collected some truly heinous examples of recent album covers, from Empire of the Sun’s Star Wars travesty to the banal evil that is Razorlight’s Slipway Fire. Discretionary...
Album art in this gallery was selected based on several simple traits: strong concept, fine graphics including creative typography and general lushness. The first three of ‘The Best Record...
Placebo pictures: just in - some photos of Placebo and Brian Molko from last week’s gig at the Glasgow SECC.
Also check out the review here
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