Anne WidjajaThe Strokes and their various side projects.
November 5th 2008 23:36
Make a new album damn it!
Side projects, yay or nay?
I get that musicians must fufill their musical ambitions, collaborate, mix, mash, fill their bodies with foreign substances that you might polish your floor with, write songs etc. But, let's get it straight, side projects are just annoying reminders that the band you really want to crank out a new album, aren't going to. For a while. This is certainly the case with The Strokes. I have this theory that as soon as one band member strays, the others get jealous and want to out do the other and then before you know it the lead guitarist has opened a new fusion restaurant with Mark Wahlberg/Naomi Campbell, right after the drummer has hosted that new insert-trashy-MTV-reality-sho w-here. The latter example is completely fictional by the way, and usually band members' endeavours are more musical in nature, but I was trying to make a more exciting analogy out of a very fustrating situation. A situation, dillemma if you will, which has plagued music fans since John Lennon left The Beatles. Sometimes side projects work, but no matter how good they just make you want to yell at said member's new individual myspace: 'stop fluffing around mofo! Get back in the studio with your original band members and return from whence you came - don't forget you're roots (cue 'I'm still Jenny, Jenny from the block')'. And when these roots/the block are/is The flipping Strokes, well, lets face it, you're more awesome making music with The Strokes than anything you'll make as a single Stroke - I mean how ridiculous does that even sound. Let's break down what the members of The Strokes have recently been busying themselves with, from best to worst.
ALBERT HAMMOND JNR.
Is actually pretty good on his own and has certainly gathered some momentum and most of the ears of Strokes fans. Think ripping guitar solos, digestable guitar pop/rock tunes, catchy riffs. But generally I wouldn't say that it's anything mind blowingly original, but definitely an easy listen, and his voice is nice and glossy, and refreshingly rougher and more punk rock on 'Cómo Te Llama'.
LISTEN: Scared, Rocket
myspace.com/alberhammondjr
Fabrizio Moretti- LITTLE JOY
Raggaeish, folkish, countryish, at times latin infused, random. Something you imagine you would listen to whilst chilling next to a flowing river bank, or in a Spanish restaurant, or whilst driving in a Kombi van. Good though, a good organic muddle of musicians who can really play the glockenspiel and form prettiful harmonies (especially the female vox are amazing). The guitar heavier songs are quite Strokes-esque too. Its a fascinating mix of genres. Recommended listening.
LISTEN: Keep me in Mind, Don't Watch Me Dancing
www.myspace.com/littejoymusic
NICKEL EYE
Hm. A bit hit and miss. His vocals really drag, and in a rather out of pitch kinda way. The quicker paced songs are a lot better though. Nickel Eye should really stick to louder, rockier songs, and avoid slow drawling ballads - they make him sound a bit drunk and a bit I'm leaving this message on your answering machine at 2 am.
LISTEN: Dying Star.
myspace.com/officialnickeleye
I'd like to think the other non side project bound members of The Strokes spend their days locked in a room filled with Strokes memorabilia, reminiscing and drinking scotch, gently stroking pictures of the band members who have strayed (HA! Stroking. No pun intended.)I hope they're all pining for the day that they'll rejoin each other and make sweet sweet music. Jeez. Aren't we all?
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