SOUNDS FROM HEAVEN'S GARAGE

By: B

The Strokes are back, and they're as good as they were before!

Although that might not sound like a ringing endorsement for their new album Room on Fire, keep in mind that anything resembling 2001's masterpiece Is This It can't be a bad thing.

Instead of experimenting with new instruments or effects, the Strokes have stuck with what got them there. Fast-paced, distorted and tight, the Strokes have come out with another album that carries the same mood from beginning to end.

Lead singer Julian Casablancas lazily croons throughout the album, rarely getting revved up at all. Although he does have range, he doesn't choose to use it, at times using no more than a speaking voice. This is how the Strokes do it; no part of their sound sticks out. Quick guitar solos come and go, never overshadowing the constant beat and never outpacing the overall sound.

The Strokes now seem to have it down to a science. Short riff, quick drums, distorted voice, repeat and move on. What results is rock-and-roll at its most rebellious, toying with pop hooks but never fully giving in. Of course, the same can be said for the last album.

Comparisons between albums can't help but be offered. Here is B's: song by song, Room on Fire is stronger. The guitar is tighter- the solos shorter and more to the point.

Casablancas sounds basically the same, but shows off his range more than their debut release. There is an 80's feel here, especially “The Way It Is” (song 10), which sounds like a cross between the Cure and the Cars. The strongest songs on the album are “What Ever Happened” (song 1) and “Meet Me in the Bathroom” (song 7). Both are straight-up rockers, introducing the riff early and adding layers throughout the cut.

However, what is going to keep this album from becoming a classic is the lack of surefire, gotta-buy-the-album now hits. There is no “Last Night” here, not even a “Someday.” Nothing to make the sometime-listener need to come back for more. The Strokes seem to be able to do so much with what sounds like so little that it makes you wonder, ‘Do they even want those type of songs?'

Fans of the first album won't be disappointed with Room on Fire. It's highly possible that they will like this one better. In many circles, the Strokes are considered the best American band in the world, and Room on Fire solidifies their talent and reinforces their concept.

However, this isn't an album that is going to pull in too many new listeners. It's a specialized sound, one that may keep the Strokes from becoming the next Stones or U2- a band that receives both critical and commercial success. It sucks, I know. I would like to live in a society where it was okay, nay, expected to give an album a handful of listens before making judgments.

But it's a new world now, one where the Strokes aren't going to receive the attention they deserve simply because their sound isn't easy enough. Thankfully, neither the Strokes nor their fans likely give a damn.

Buy this album from Amazon

POP RATING: 6.5

CRITICAL RATING: 9.1

B'S RATING: 8.4

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