My First Impressions of First Impressions Of Earth (2006) Oct 31 '05 (Updated Dec 15 '05)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line You Only Live Once is a great song. I was searching yesterday for info on the Strokes' new album First Impressions of Earth set to come out early 2006 when I found out that they got a new producer, Julian got married and a new stupid spider tattoo and Drew and Fab broke up. Wow the internet really is an information highway, huh? I realize I wrote something on the single Juice Box yesterday but I really still want to talk about the rest of the album that got leaked recently. I'm not passing this off as a full album review, and I was going to put this in the Writer's Corner, but there's no music section so I get the feeling that "General Music" is supposed to be like the Music Writer's Corner. Right? Anywhoo, here are the songs I managed to get my eager paws on. 15 Minutes-4 Stars Juice Box-4 1/2 Stars On The Other Side-3 1/2 Stars Razorblade-4 Stars You Only Live Once-5 Stars Julian has said something about First Impressions of Earth being like an alien's first impressions of our planet. But I wouldn't take that seriously because while Jules comes up with interesting lyrics most of the time, they're not the meaningful type. Juice Box was originally named Dracula's Lunch which shows how much attention the words get around the Strokes studio. Anywhoo... 15 Minutes starts off like Under Control as Julian sleepily drawls, "It was all just a dream..." While I'm not a fan of the twinkling guitars in the background, the melody of this song is nice (it sounds like those 50s songs in the mafia movies), and while Julian's voice misses quite a few notes, it's done with charm. The song then gets fast midway through and I thought it sounded like a cheesy punk song at first but I found myself humming it to myself at all hours of the day. This one could be a grower, so I guess I can give it sometime. I already wrote a whole thing on Juice Box. The Batman riff, the screaming, the distortion...doesn't really sound like typical Strokes, huh? I get the feeling they really wanted to create something different to shut up the critics and it works quite well. I just would hate it if the whole album were like this. On The Other Side is a puzzling song. It has a good enough intro riff but the constantly moving guitar seems to me a too obviously ploy to sound catchy. Also the more sombre feeling intro and interludes don't match the bouncy choruses at all. Julian reaches a new low in lyricism here with... I hate them all I hate them all I hate myself For hating them ...by now you're like "Very clever, Jules, very clever" but it gets even better... I drink some more I loooove them all I drink even more I hate them all then I did before Now I'm not going to say the Strokes were deep but I liked their lyrics. They had a good balance of fun and mysteriousness without being pretentious. But wow that verse is atrocious. The chorus makes up for it though with Julian in his baritone singing "Oooonnn the other siiiiide/ooonnnn the other siiide..." For some reason I get easily amused just singing it to myself in my best deep Julian impression. Razor Blade starts off with a very generic riff and then the guitarists play around with their favorite effect from Room On Fire, that synthy sounding thing. This one's a grower as the guitar and bass riffs are catchy and the chorus is fun to sing along to... My feelings are more important than yours... But then we get to the best song yet, You Only Live Once. This song is pop perfection. It's amazing, the opening riff is simple yet catchy in that classic Strokes way, and then Julian starts singing so it gets better, then for the pre-chorus, the guitars start soaring in for a new riff that's even catchier and during the chorus, there's an even catchier lead! It's insane; the song keeps getting catchier and catchier as you go along! I love the lyrics and singing too, except that mabye a little too many "Uh oh" and "I know"s are thrown in there. But this song is one of the Strokes' best and I'm sure it'll be a single one day too. Some people think they're always right Others are quiet and uptight Others seem very nice nice nice (ah oh) Inside they might feel sad and wrong... Oh don't don't don't get out! So I can see the sunshine I'll be waiting for you baby Cause I'm through... Classic Strokes lyrics. They seem meaningful enough when you read them but you just shrug it off when you're listening to the song cause the song is just fun! And Julian shows he can sound excited when he goes, "don't don't don't get out!" but he still mumbles, "Cause I'm through." Nice. So far this album has been somewhat of a disappointment but some of the songs are growers I think. And You Only Live Once shows some promise for the rest of the album. While I don't forsee any Hard To Explains or Somedays on this new album, Room On Fire's Reptilia and I Can't Win have shown me that they can change it up a little and sound just as good. This album seems it's going to be a major departure but speculation is useless at this point. Mark your calendars for January's First Impressions Of Earth by the Strokes. I'll be sure to get that CD the day it comes out. update... I saw a video of them live on BBC or something and Red Light is really catchy. It's got that 12:51 guitar effect to the max. At first it sounds a little too busy and off-beat, but you'll like it after a while. They also played some song called Vision of Division or something which is more edgy sounding. It kind of sounds like pre-Good News Modest Mouse...which isn't a bad thing but the Strokes are so much better. The part when Jules croons "All that I do/is waaaiiittt for you" is cool. Ize Of the World is fast paced fun and has a cool solo but the chorus is repeated way too often. Fear of Sleep has really cool riffs but has the same problem. Heart in a Cage is probably their best "hard" sounding song. Ask Me Anything is like nothing you ever heard before from the Strokes with just a snythesizer background and strings in the background. Yes, strings! Electricityscape is good but the riffs on these "harder" songs really sound almost the same. Evening Sun is kind of boring. Related Strokes Reviews Juice Box (single) Is This It? Room On Fire

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