The Strokes - "First Impressions Of Earth"

I'm not going to lie to MWRI fans. The Strokes represent everything that is bland about garage rock to me. To be honest, it almost feels like they want this effect. The first album sounded like a mediocre attempt at NY punk and the second was just drivel. In just two albums, the band became the point of reference for both the scene's greatest supporters and harshest critics.

For this reason, the Strokes needed to do something truly amazing with album number 3. It should have been their masterpiece. After 2 and a half years of writing the bloody thing, it needed to be perfect. Was it perfect? God no!

Just two tracks in, they descended into yet another samey riff, and from there, the album only picked up in sporadic moments. Does Julian Casablancas really need someone to extol the virtues of development as an artist? Unfortunately, where the one saving grace with the first two LPs was their merciful brevity, FIOE is a 52 minute piece of dirge.

I'm less than wowed for much the same reason I'm always less than wowed by The Strokes. Blah, blah, blah… Get a haircut and try actually being punk for once. BORING!

CMcG 6/10