A very unreliable source told me that in between The Strokes' 2003 album Room on Fire and 2006 album First Impressions of Earth, vocalist Julian Casablancas "quit drugs and alcohol" and that this lifestyle change accounts for how disappointing the third album is. I did not necessarily believe this theory, especially as it came from a college dropout Urban Outfitters lifer, but it did remind me why I should not work in retail, especially Urban Outfitters, and motivated me to work towards another degree (university lifer!). Furthermore, I do not find First Impressions to be a bad album nor do I believe it greatly differs stylistically from anything else in The Strokes catalogue, save opening track "You Only Live Once," which belongs in a commercial for GAP khakis.
Having only heard an instrumental snippet of Casablancas' solo album prior to its release, I concluded that the album would sound like a more electronic version of The Strokes. Considering that Casablancas is actually the primary songwriter in the band, this is not surprising. The majority of the songs in The Strokes' catalogue were originally written on keyboard by Casablancas and then brought to the rest of the band who would write their own individual parts based on the original structure. So essentially, Casablancas' solo album, Phrazes For The Young, simply avoids that second step in the songwriting process and takes a slightly different path. Every track on Phrazes is keyboard driven, often incorporating electronic drums and some subtle background guitar work.
Although Phrazes allows me to better appreciate Casablancas' ability as a songwriter, it still disappoints me overall. Without the extra elements added by the wealth of musical talent the Strokes possess, Casablancas' songs fall a little flat, with the exception of two tracks: opener "Out of The Blue" ultimately sounds like a typical Strokes song with its jangly treble-fueled guitar chords and jumpy bass; "River of Brake Lights" is a richly layered song, with noteworthy key changes, multiple arpeggio guitar riffs, and a heightened ending that allows Casablancas to wail the final few stanzas.
Although Julian Casablancas does have talent as a songwriter, he should stick to the formula that worked so well with The Strokes. Without the rest of the band his songs are undeveloped and forgettable overall.
