The Strokes exploded onto the scene with Is This It?, creating a refreshing sound that rejuvenated rock 'n roll and opened the door for the garage rock revival. Their punk attitude and style fit perfectly into the new millennium, bringing about many imitators.
But The Strokes were criticized with their second album, Room on Fire, as playing it too safe and failing to significantly change their distinctive sound. It was hard for The Strokes to push the 30-minute barrier with their album and go beyond melodies structured around only a few chords.
On The Strokes' latest release First Impressions of Earth, they have clearly taken some of the criticism they received from Room on Fire to heart, as they have made many changes and improvements.
The result is a 52-minute album with 14 tracks and songs pushing the three-minute barrier, a hurdle they desperately needed to jump over. First Impressions showcases the band's growth and progress with their songwriting and overall sound. Their instrumentation is more dynamic and insightful, as the band seems more mature throughout the majority of the record.
But some of the songs stretch on with melodies that are at times a bit hard to follow and tend to wander. They could have ditched a few songs on the album, since some seem unrefined and underdeveloped. Instead, they are left reaching for material that does not fit with the rest of the album.
The Strokes start off the album in full force, going heavy on all the instruments for the first third of the album. They are tighter and stronger than ever from the very beginning with 'You Only Live Once.' Their sound only builds and becomes more powerful and elaborate in 'Juicebox,' 'Heart in a Cage' and 'Razorblade.'
'Vision of Division' is where the album hits a major sour note when it breaks into a guitar solo that drifts far from the main melody. At this point they are trying to stretch things much too far in terms of instrumentation and track length, which is not to their advantage at all.
Throughout the latter half of the album, the band is able to produce upbeat and high-energy tracks. 'Fear of Sleep' is classic Strokes as the band plays powerfully in unison and singer Julian Casablancas builds up an intensity that comes close to 'Take it or Leave it.'
Standouts '15 Minutes' and 'Electricityscape' show how they have successfully grown and can be dynamic with tempos and instrumentation. These tracks highlight how the band is coming into their own, and they are able to branch out from the simple song structure to more fully develop their sound.
For die-hard Strokes fans, First Impressions will be an overall delight, with interesting elements elevating them to a new level. The Strokes took a risk by creating a diverse album, one that builds upon the strength of Is This It?. With First Impressions of Earth, they answer that original question with a 'No.'
