oh my my

hear the news people! i have wonderful, amazing news! the new strokes album does not suck!! i know. those words are a surprise to even me, the biggest strokes apologist. since 'room on fire', which was released in 2003, that's right 2003, the year i graduated from sam houston state, the strokes have been releasing albums with half-baked ideas, songs that were too long, songs that made no sense, songs that were like wearing your father's jacket when you're 8. 'first impressions of earth' was okay. the album was way too long. way too long. i mean, seriously, who wants to listen to a single album that's almost an hour long with 14 songs? it's not a double album. if it's a double album, there's more wriggle room. it's a double album, so it carries more of a statement. a single album that's too long is a single album that's too long.

'angles' was the first beginnings of the new strokes. i guess once you've had your fun with late 70's new york punk, the only way to go is early 80's new wave. that's what 'angles' is. but half the album is not good. the other half is great. i had my doubts that the strokes could move on and do something different. were they just trying to branch out? what did all this mean?

well, 'comedown machine' is the answer. the strokes are comfortable in their 80's skin. they actually sound like they're having fun again. what was always interesting about the strokes was how fully developed they were with their initial album. the sound. the look. the feel. it seemed like they'd worn it for decades. with each new album, the confidence faded and you could hear it. you could feel it. each step was a half step, a step that was unsure. 'angles' was two steps forward and a face plant.

this new album is fun. it's self-confident. it's the 80's strokes fully formed. honestly, i'm shocked. i didn't think the strokes would have another album that i would enjoy. but that was short sighted. i mean, ten years, is a short period in the history of the world. it's like a blink. so for the strokes to take ten years to release an album that i actually liked, it's like super quick.