Word: guitars
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Unfortunately, a nearly four-year studio hiatus seems to have somewhat dulled Casablancas’ previously superb songwriting abilities. The album’s opener, “Out of the Blue,” rides a driving guitar riff resembling something from a punk rock Johnny Cash as Casablancas delivers one of the album’s best lyrics: “I know I’m going to hell in a leather jacket / at least I’ll be in another world while you’re pissing on my casket.” While Casablancas?...
...same principle holds true for “River of Breaklights,” in which Casablancas mindlessly chants, “Getting the hang of it, timing is everything,” over a generic, messy background of drums and guitar. Casablancas holds to the false impression on “Phrazes” that a fast tempo alone always conveys a sense of urgency or energy. He fell victim to similar problems on his later Strokes songwriting—think “Juicebox”—and has failed to correct such issues...
...uninspired “Glass” recalls “On the Other Side” from the Strokes’ 2006 release “First Impressions of Earth” with a syncopated beat and slowly progressing guitar chords. As Casablancas wails muddled lyrics such as, “I don’t believe it / I won’t believe it,” his usually appealing nasal, alien-sounding baritone starts to strain, proving that he truly sounds better as a singer at faster tempos...
...coming out of my hands and feet!” Similarly experimental, the bluesy “4 Chords Of The Apocalypse” opens as a keyboard-fueled shuffle before devolving into a grungy rave-up in the chorus with Casablancas shredding his vocal chords over churning twin-guitar solos. The closer “Tourist” resembles the Led Zeppelin classic “Kashmir,” featuring its galloping drumbeat and Middle Eastern-sounding, snake charming guitar lines that rhythmically shift to accomadate the addition of space age synths. Casablancas’ experimental instincts...
...style is very traditional without being too formal,” Mankiw says. “We have some mementos, like old family heirlooms and photographs, mixed with more modern pieces like guitars. I fool around with the guitar myself...