Julian Casablancas Goes Solo With The Phrazes For The Young LP
Fab did it with Little Joy. Nickolai Fraiture did it with Nickel Eye. Albert Hammond Jr. did it with Albert Hammond Jr. And now after lending his voice to Homme and sneakers and authentic rappers, Strokes figurehead Julian Casablancas is officially and completely stepping out on his own with a debut solo full-length. The set spans eight songs, recorded in NYC, LA, and of course Nebraska, with production assists from Jason Lander and Mike Mogis. We're scraping for details here, so the best we can offer is there are songs titled "River Of Brake Lights," "Glass," and the L.E.S. referencing "Ludlow St." And that this album preview looks like a movie trailer, is anti-drinking, and is more cinematically synth-poppy than you expected.
There's gonna be a "special series of U.S. dates" followed by a proper solo tour later this year. Keep you posted. For now, keep your eyes on juliancasablancas.com.
Posted at 2:00 PM by amrit in Video
Tags: Julian Casablancas | The Strokes
Can't believe he's colaborating with Vangelis
Score = 7
The art there stands out compared to alot of things I see...I wish the video and music matched it...it might as well be Modern Guilt...
Score = -13
Modern Guilt stands out compared to a lot of music I hear
Score = 11
I'm pretty excited. So far ALL of the other Strokes side projects have disappointed me immensely, lets hope this doesn't.
Score = -18
who?
Score = -14
the music sounds a lot like something Ratatat would release. Still intrigued regardless.
Score = 6
Yeah hopefully it's one step closer to a collaboration between the two...his voice would fit their sound so well, I think that would be great for both artists respectfully
Score = 3
I've been surprised at how much I've liked all of their solo stuff, particularly Little Joy.
I'm curious what this one will be like, e.g., how much distortion on his voice.
Score = 8
Mmm aside from Albert Hammond Jr. which I think did amazingly well, all their solo projects have been pretty good. But I don't know about this...I'd much rather see a Strokes album out.
Score = 10
CITIES WILL RISE AND FALL. PEOPLE WILL LIVE AND LOVE. UNIVERSES WILL BE BORN AND DIE. THE FOUNDATION OF REALITY ITSELF WILL BE SHAKEN BY THESE GLIDING SYNTHS AND TRIUMPHANT BEATS. THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER
BY THE JULIAN CASABLANCAS SOLO ALBUM.
Score = 14
Julian wakes and rises from his bed as he runs his left hand through his perfectly distressed hair while reaching for his cheetah print silk underwear. He feels the shag carpet in between his bare toes and smiles. Graciela raises her head from the pillow as he walks towards the solid gold dresser to grab his cigarettes and sunglasses. Out of the corner of his eye he catches his reflection in the full-length mirror and he whispers,
"Who do you think you are?"
He turns to Graciela as she brushes her hair and says,
"Julian Casablancas, bitch."
Score = 20
Better than the (500) Days of Summer trailer.
Score = 14
holy crap moonmaster... B4-4!!!!!!! hahaha!!!!!!!!!!!
Score = 2
8 songs qualifies as a "full length" these days, huh
Score = -18
wow you are either clueless or very young, LOTS of classic LPs have 7, 8, 9 songs max
Score = 9
yeah or! they call it an ep
Score = -13
Not to compare the two, but Led Zeppelin IV was 8 tracks and that turned out pretty well.
Remember, Quality not quantity.
Score = 16
An album isn't defined by the amount of tracks on it, but by it's running time.
Most LPs fall between 30-80 minutes, while an EP would generally be 15-30 minutes. There were a number of Krautrock and Prog albums in the 70's that were only three or four tracks but the tracks themselves would be over 20 minutes, making the albums pretty damn long. Look at at any mid-period Yes album for instance, or anything by Sunn O))).
Also, Wolf Parade's "At Mount Zoomer" was only 9 tracks but two of them were 6 minutes long and the last one was over 10.
Plus, it ruled.
My point is: Shut up.
Score = 12
An album is definitely not defined by it's running time, either.
Score = -1
I am optimistic! ... if only for the visuals.
Score = 3
I don't know...that really lacks a sense of something...the music clearly doesn't fit that cover...the "cinematic" lost in translation city of blinding light thing...
Score = -4
Spiderman...spiderman...
Score = -3
The Nickel Eye side project is the best of the bunch, imo. These guys are so talented.
Score = 3
its got my attention...
Score = 3
I'd do him
Score = 15
I realize that he writes most of the strokes songs on keys and the such, but his voice was meant to be accompanied by a guitar... im not sure why hes doubting this.
Score = 3
Is this it?
Score = 31
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8Zrhw6u-Nw
Score = 8
Interesting that he's coming out with a side-project, considering he keeps repeating that he's got "nothing to say".
Oh well, might as well milk the trend of the moment.
Score = -11
the art is reminiscent of strokes' album booklets, esp for first impressions of earth. i love all the solo stuff, especially little joy, and i'm not holding my breath for another strokes record. it seems like they're all moving in different directions (besides fab and nick valensi) and have maybe outgrown each other
Score = 1
Fuck this guy, yeah you heard me.
Score = -28
I would happily fuck this guy.
Score = 22
let's see...your band debuts in 98 which makes all your fans 29 now. And you think they want to hear a solo album by your lead singer ten years later? what a joke.
Score = -44
Yeah, if a band has been around longer than 5-6 years in the public eye, they may as well fall off the face of the earth. Why would you want to show any loyalty and follow a band/artist longer than that? Why would someone want to make music after they are 30 anyway? I mean, I would rather listen to some Animal Collective, since it is hip to do so, and be the same person bashing them in a few years when it isn't hip to like them. Go AC!
Score = 15
let's face it, the strokes should never have been famous in the first place.
JULIAN CASABLANCAS IS THE NEW AXL ROSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Score = -36
I don't even like The Strokes, or Julian Casablanca. I really don't think he is that talented at all. I was just commenting that it is ok to like a band or an artist, even if it isn't trendy, and It is ok to grow with them even if not deemed socially acceptable to do so (hello all you Pitchfork readers!) Oh, and how is Julian like Axl Rose? He isn't putting out a solo record under the Strokes name, hasn't gone into hiding for several years, doesn't wear an awful wig with cornrows in it to cover up the fact he is bald... I don't get it.
Score = 4
1. they both promote ridiculous products, Axl with Dr. Pepper and Julian with his Converse ads.
2. they are both nothing without their backing bands.
3. I don't really care. I just like seeing the hipsters getting emotional about their indie bands.
Score = -18
you're so above it all
eat a dick, whoooooooooodie.
Score = 5
I have a bunch of friends in high school who also realize that Is This It? is a classic without playing all of its songs on Guitar Hero. The Strokes are still awesome.
Score = 2
that's because the name "The Strokes" on the side of Guitar Hero would not help sell the game. No one would know who they are. Listen to the Velvet Underground or Iggy Pop or The Cars who are the originators, not the imitators.
Score = -5
these guys have been stringing us along for too long, why can't they jus get together and make a freaking album already or break up? I used to be obsessed with these guy's music, now they're just a faded horny teenager memory for me.
Score = -3
The Strokes were a cool band that put out 2 good albums what seems like many years ago. They were at the forefront of a back to basics movement by mining 70's and 80's sounds. They were also in the right place at the right time.None of this would make me think any band member would be capable of putting out anything worthwhile on their own. And it looks loke none of them have.
Score = -18
JULIAN CASABLANCAS IS THE NEW AXL ROSE!!!!!!!!
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!
Score = -26
Your opinion on the music aside, these comments are getting extremely annoying.
Score = 1
thanks for commenting on how annoying comments are.
Score = 0
I think this is quite brilliant, mind you it's only a snippet, and no vocals, but I love the visuals, the concepts, and the sound - seems like some distant cousin to a lot of their album artwork, as someone already mentioned, and a lot like their Tron-inspired video for 12:51...very nice.
Score = 8
wow...brotha got a ratatat record aye?
Score = 0
julian is holding a 12-string guitar
Score = 1
Is This It? and Room on Fire are both classics. I challenge anyone to come up with another band from the early oughts that is still worth listening to. The Strokes were definitely in the right place at the right time but they also wrote great, catchy rock songs. So, eat it, haters.
Score = 7
People who don't like "Is This It" don't like Rock 'N Roll.
Score = 12
since when was Stereogum about rock 'n roll?
Score = -1
You're right. It isn't and never was. And that's unfortunate.
Score = 1
sorry, but the album title is TERRIBLE
Score = -3
It's cool to like The Strokes again? I can't keep up with this shit, I keep missing the memos :/
Anyway I'm excited!
Score = 1
This is exactly what I have been preaching about. Who gives a flying fuck if it is "cool" or not to like someone? Make up your own fucking minds Pitchfork Nation!!!!!
Score = 7
Ditty Mao!
Score = 0
How about you just give us some new tunes instead of bazaar faux-movie previews everyone will forget about in a few a days, Mr. Casablancas?
Score = -1
Has anyone ever wondered what the music would sound like if Julian Casablancas, Nikolai from Nickle Eye, Fab Moretti of Little Joy, Albert Hammond, Jr. and another guy with a name equally as cool as the others' got together in a studio? Crazy idea, I know. And unfortunately it doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon either!
Joking aside, however, this project looks like it's going to be awesome.
Score = 4
this is easily the coolest thing ive heard in a while, well, besides this.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fY3b9r4b5w and like you always say, if you arent listening with headphones, well then...
Score = 3
Julian from the Strokes doing a solo record would be an interesting news item, if the year was 2002.
Score = -9
that sounded fucking AMAZING.
i cant wait for this to come out.
wow.
Score = 3
im looking forward to this
Score = 1
I'm writing to you all from all the way in Iraq where I am currently serving a tour of duty here and where our internet is limited....to state one thing that Julian Casablancas means the world to us soldiers and all three Strokes albums and his single are the most played stuff around here...I find it funny how people criticize his timing for putting out a solo album...why does that even matter? Shouldn't you be glad the man is putting out music in the first place? Never mind the fact, he had a wicked alcohol and substance abuse problem since his teens that nearly killed him and that was the main reason for the break after "First Impressions" and that his marriage was the only thing that saved him and helped him get clean...but that took a few years to do...if you were a true Strokes fan you would know all about Julian's imfamous abuse...its amazing the guy is still alive and making music in the fist place. Yet, you want to complain saying he should have put out the solo album years ago and then died of drug and substance abuse so that we could sit here and all say "Man, I wonder what he could have accomplished if..." Or debate if he was a genius or not by the fact he only put out a couple records.....so then what are we arguing the fact that he should have been like all other early 2000's bands (minus White Stripes) and only put out one or two records and we would have appreciated him more? I hate to say this but the fact that people aren't loyal to bands and music anymore is what killed this industry! The fact that they call Julian unoriginal but yet rather listened to guys using Auto-Tunes to program their singing on songs thus creating the fact they aren't even actual singers....but yet you still listen to that plastic soul! And oh by the way to the person who says Julian is unorginal I hate to tell you this but all of rock n roll is unoriginal...all of it can be traced back to the blues and slave songs from the delta all of it has been copied and done before and recopied...these days it's all about taking that copied material and twisting it and forming it into a little bit of personal creativity that determines who is ahead of the class or not...and let me say that Julian does a great job at that....to me he is the last of the rock stars and to us soldiers out here...he is our hero! I grew up on the Strokes and proud to say that! I've seen them in concert and seen Albert solo in concert and have his solo stuff.....the fact that people say oh is it cool to be a Strokes fan now sickens me...or to say they have no originality are the same people who go buy T-Pain's auto tunes, Radiohead's christmas snuff, buy the latest t-shirt of the Artic Monkeys at Hot Topic only to throw it in the trash when they find out they aren't trendy anymore, or are the same people who wear Ramones T-shirts on like they are punk and haven't even heard a single song by them.....that is what is killing music.....Julian is the last gasp of truth and fresh air!
Score = 0
Julian Casablancas is a lyrical genius, always has been. I'm definitely excited about this solo project.
Score = 0