strokes

what have you been listening to, profcrispy? for some reason i've been listening to the strokes' most recent album first impressions of earth continuously. i hear it more and more as a classic of this moment. every single song is strong melodically and thematically. it's like the stripes but with a different set of references, but no less completely mastered and represented. the opener, "you only live once," for example is an inverted tribute to keith richard. you also hear the doors and u2. i hate u2, but i love casablancas "on" u2. yes i have heard brummie lout/geniuses arctic monkeys. then i put on the strokes again. obviously the strokes face every prim-rocker's dilemma: develop melody and polish but still play with focus and restraint this side of pretension. a dilemma that accompanies becoming a truly excellent player or producer.