Angles

one of my favorite albums plus great quality!

Amazing! Exactly as expected and boyfriend loved it

The more I listen to this album, the more I enjoy songs that I thought I wouldn't ever like during the first few listens of the album. It's rare that I listen to an album and fall in love with it immediately. My favorite album of all time, Blood Sugar Sex Magik by the Chili Peppers is a perfect example of this as I couldn't get into it at first except for a few songs but now just about every track on that album is funky-licious and awesome. Anyway, back to the Strokes. Bands are always critical of their own stuff and I'm not surprised if some members of the Strokes said they aren't happy with how the album turned out. However, I'm pretty sure the Strokes would have completely scrapped this album if they were actually THAT unhappy with it. The Strokes don't seem like a band that would half-ass their work and even if they are insecure about the album, it doesn't mean that it isn't a great album. Some of the tracks on this album will be some of my favorites Strokes songs period. For example, Machu Picchu has this 80s reggae mix feel which is very unique and very cool and a perfect way to start the album. Under cover of darkness is also a great track and it's not surprising that they chose this as their first single. I realize this not really the best review as it's not that in depth but what spurred me to write this review is that it is IMPERATIVE that you give this album a lot of listens. Not just a few listens but a PLETHORA of listens. If you are a hardcore Strokes fan you will start to enjoy this album more and more without realizing it and songs that you might have been "meh" about could quite possibly be tracks that you put on repeat. LET THE ALBUM GROW ON YOU!! You won't regret it and disregard the low review on here. Some people can't handle a band changing and I feel bad for these people. Open up your minds and if you are that bummed that a band has changed their direction a little bit then just continue listening to their old stuff. The Strokes have maintained their trademark stroke-ish sound anyway...Hope you all give this album a chance if you consider yourself strokes fans!

this album is just special. it sounds great. its rock n roll and its great to play in a party atmosphere. a track by track break down. 1.Machu Picchu) an incredible 80's sounding song. great vocal. vintage (awesome) guitar. very fun. (8/10) 2.Under Cover Of Darkness) the showcase track. awesome. great guitar. the first single and best song for a reason. (9/10) 3.Two Kinds Of Happiness) talk about 1980's. this is a flat out great song. feels like an old LP from a trunk you found in steven adlers garage pre 'appetite'...just great (9/10) 4.You're So Right) not so great. seems like a RADIOHEAD wannabe track. its not a bad song, just one that does NOT fit with the album. different circumstances (7/10) on this album (5/10) 5.Taken For A Fool) great song. certainly single worthy. fun lyrics. nice sound. (8/10) 6.Games) good song. nothing great. musically ordinary yet still interesting. (7/10) 7.Call Me Back) good song. nothing spectacular. very low key. nice listen. not going to jump out at you. a nice piece in the context of the entire album. (6/10) 8.Gratisfaction) arguably the best track on the album. just awesome. it sounds like a QUEEN song in all the good ways. just an amazing track. (10/10) 9.Metabolism)good song. maybe the most musically complex. i like the strokes but it does seem like they are trying to be MUSE on this one. (7/10) 10.Life Is Simple In The Moonlight) the album is ended brilliantly. this is a great song. very good stuff and a great melody. (9/10)

The Strokes burst onto the scene with the ultra-hip debut album "Is This It" in 2001, and it seems their punishment for being popular and cool from the start is that every album since will be overanalyzed and critically picked apart like a carcass on the savannah. Their second album, "Room on Fire", was critically underwhelming, though the years since have improved the general consensus. "First Impressions of Earth" seemed to be the straw that broke The Strokes' back, however, as it was critically panned as an album made by a band that had lost the magic. So The Strokes went on hiatus, solo and side project albums were released to generally positive reviews (Julian Casablancas' solo effort, "Phrazes for the Young", was particularly excellent), and now The Strokes are back. Much has been made of the recording process, where much of the album was recorded in fragmented pieces, a guitarist laying tracks down all alone, Julian Casablancas writing and recording lyrics at a different location, giving the band only vague direction from afar in an attempt to force himself out of leading the creative process. Some band members were fine with the shift, others weren't, and generally the story of the album has been more about the peculiar way they went about recording it, and the return of the band to making music together, than the music itself. With all of that baggage, it's easy to be pensive about this release, but there's no need. The Strokes have grown as individual musicians and songwriters, but they haven't changed much, and this album sounds like the perfect bridge between the '80s-flavored "Room on Fire" and the more turgid, swirling soundscape of "First Impressions of Earth", a sentiment made by bassist Nikolai Fraiture. Lead single "Under Cover of Darkness" boils down The Strokes' entire career of sounds into one punchy, adventurous song, while "Call Me Back" sounds like the distant, better cousin of "Ask Me Anything", from "Impressions." "Gratisfaction" is The Strokes as filtered through Thin Lizzy, and "Machu Picchu" calls back the influence of bands like The Cars, who obviously made a big imprint on the quintet. Instead of a sprawling 14-track album that gives listeners more room to poke and prod, "Angles" offers up only ten tracks. The songs are generally in the three to four-minute range, that comfortable range for most pop music. The album doesn't take very many risks, but for fans of The Strokes, that sound, that mix of disaffection, punk, and synth-pop, married to undeniably hooky choruses, syncopated drumbeats, fractured guitars, and the occasional soar of Julian Casblancas' wounded vocals, it should be enough. "Angles" isn't a statement, a declaration of war or solidarity or defiance. It's just another album from The Strokes. Like the ones that came before, it's a thoroughly enjoyable album, and definitely one of the best from the still-new year. It's meant to be enjoyed for what it is, and it succeeds quite well.

This is by far the album I have been most anticipating for the past 5 years, and it did not disappoint. In my opinion, this is the first album the strokes have come out with that can appeal to the masses. It is a little bit more pop than the previous albums, but the strokes' sound remains exquisite. Although it is not my favorite album by the band, it is definitely a fun album and a must buy for any music fan. The only downer is the fact that they are now looking to cater to the masses, which means bye bye small awesome venue and hello packed stadium. For the old school fans it is bittersweet, but obviously inevitable. You cannot keep such an incredible band trapped in one scene. These guys definitely should be global, and they will be after this album, Hopefully they give us another dose before 2016. ps. If you haven't already, check out their solo projects. Albert's band, Jules solo work, fab's little joy and Nikolai's Nickel Eye all came out with stellar albums in the last 5 years. Enjoy!

I listened to this album in my car the 1st time, loved just about every song. The Strokes have such a unique sound, it has really grown on me - I was thrilled to see they had a new album out. This CD did not disappoint. They're the only band that can make the songs like that, they are really in a catagory of their own. I played it later for my husband, he didn't like it like I did at first -but now he does! The more you listen the more you love it! I always put 5 CDs on random & whenever one of the Strokes tunes from this album comes on he'll mention what a great song it is - this CD is loaded. I definitely recommend.

I really enjoyed this album. Each of their albums shows an evolution and the band trying new things. I think this one takes a slightly different direction from the previous but it's not a bas thing. You can't put out every album that sounds like it could be part of the last. You need some variation. I enjoyed it, and will be listening to this for a while. I definitely wish there were a few more songs, but I think the collection is nice. It's not a very cohesive album, but a nice mixture of different things. All of the songs have catchy tunes, guitar riffs, drum beats, or vocals. Non of the songs could be considered bland in my opinion.