Album Review 3: Comedown Machine- The Strokes

So the first in this series is the latest installment from The Strokes that came out in the early half of the last year, 'Comedown Machine'. If you Google reviews for this album, you're highly unlikely to find a positive review. This album is a turning point in my music listening habit.I started out with 'Tap Out' at around the same time when I first heard 'Instant Crush' from Daft Punk's 'Random Access Memories' and I felt like both the songs were from the same band, catchy, dance-y and really fresh. I don't want to talk about how I resisted myself from giving the whole album a try as I was quite 'busy' discovering Arctic Monkeys during the summer of 2013 and at that point The Strokes were just another post-punk band from England who made music similar to early Arctic Monkeys or The Libertines ( yeah, it's a shame, I know now how wrong I was!) to me .
I don't remember when and how I stumbled upon 'Call It Fate, Call It Karma', somewhere around July of 2013. I was totally surprised by the sound of this song. It was something so different, something I had never expected from this band ( even though I had no fucking clue about this band's music. See, how much an image of a band can keep you in dark for such a long time!) . This song was on repeat for most part of the late long summer evenings of 2013 (oh, how I remember those long never ending Finnish summer evenings were filled by this nostalgic and haunting piece of Julian's falsetto). But even till then, I was not fully getting the album. I had tried some songs like 'All The Time', 'One Way Trigger' & '80's Comedown Machine' with not much effect.




It was only after I was getting over my Arctic Monkeys phase at around the end of September (I had been playing their new album AM almost all of September). One night I was lying on bed wanting to listen something new and I opened 'Comedown Machine' on my iTunes(mostly because I knew somewhere at the back of my head that this album was genuinely good and the next band I was going to get into was definitely The Strokes). I still don't believe how it all worked out like a clockwork. First 'Welcome To Japan', followed by 'Slow Animals', 'Chances' and then 'Happy Endings'. I liked them all. I knew then and there that I had discovered something big! The rest is, as they say,' history'. Almost an year after listening 'Tap Out ' for the first time, I am here writing a whole blog about this album and I can safely say now that I totally love this album. Every song on this album, every piece of music, every lazy scream and corny falsetto of Julian.

shut the fuck up you 'critics'!

This album was a game changer in many ways. I started taking this band more seriously. Everything I know about The Strokes now is because of this album. Thanks to this record,  now I have a shitload of amazing music in my library. In my albums-of-the year review, I wrote that this was the most dance-y album of 2013( oh, those long evenings in Finland, dancing along to Happy Ending, One Way Trigger, Welcome to Japan & Tap Out while preparing my dinner!) . What surprised me were the reviews online. With no promotion and zero marketing for this album, critics were confused as to how to react with their latest release. Moreover, the fact that this record was their last effort for their long time record label RCA (even on the cover, the label name occupies more space than the band's and album's name itself), made critics take the album lightly and many of them foolishly bashed the band for such silly reasons. If I recall correctly, NME (my favorite music site) was the only one giving it favorable reviews (8/10). But I could have cared less.  

I loved this album and I will go as far as to say that this is one of their best albums ever.

that beat!

Tap Out : This one is easy to remember. The sexy opening guitar riff caught my ears, the very first time I heard it. While the synth-pop rhythmic guitar in the background makes you wanna dance, it was the shift in vocals during the closing verse that always intrigued me. A slinky, grooving riff, and a pleasant introduction to the falsetto styling that Julian will employ on many of the album’s tracks. This one reminds me of long summer evenings of Finland in 2013.

Now these lines right here, that's just me !

"Don't ask questions

Cause I don't know why

I don't listen

And I don't speak

Well, it's a talent

I don't know why"

old school

All the Time : This one took a while. Not at all my favorite and was the last song on the album that I came to actually like. It was only when I got more accustomed to Julian's rough screams and the Strokes' heavy post punk guitar riffs, I started admiring this song. You certainly have to develop a taste for this song ( which goes with most of the Strokes songs). This one is the closest thing to Room On Fire on this album! The Strokes-iest song on the album by far, garage rock taken to arena rock levels. The lyrics speak to a generation lost “living too fast ,” “living a lie,” and “never ask[ing] why.”

"You're livin' a lie

You're livin' a lie

You're living too fast

You gotta pray for the best

You never ask why

You never ask why

You're living a lie

Baby you're flying too high"

oh that high falsetto note!

One Way Trigger : It's strange how songs work. The synth-pop guitar riff that I absolutely love now was the only reason why used to skip this one before. I think I realized my love for this song once I got used to the actual sound of this whole album. Plus the chorus. Damn this chorus is good! It's so good that it makes me wanna shut it all down and move out somewhere far away. With its jittery synths and dance-y bounciness, this track sounds like an offspring of Julian’s solo album, Phrazes for the Young. Add a guitar solo that you will want to play with your mouth-trumpet and you have got one of the coolest songs on the album. This song is a gem! With music so upbeat, the chorus is really confusing. Julian is asking you to dream a dream only to shut it down!

"Find a job

Find a friend

Find a home

Find a dog

Settle down

Out of town

Find a dream

Shut it down"

the coolest song on the record

Welcome to Japan : "What kind of asshole drives a Lotus?" - really?! This song is sick! That sweet whistle melody followed by lazy Julian murmuring, this track is one of the most catchiest songs on this album. The riffing is classic Strokes, with a lifting pre-chorus build-up and a chorus that mixes the weird with the familiar. This track and 'Happy Ending' were the reason why I started taking this album seriously ( the irony being that both the songs are so fun with some serious lyrics though) .
Lines with a similar theme from All The Time, Julian is quite critical about all the time we have and what we do with it.

"If we don't watch the sun

It will rise

If we don't take our time

It's not wise"

And later, blaming everything on me and it makes me so freaking guilty of myself!

"You did it alone

You did it for fun

You did it for everyone who's on the run

You're not just a friend

You'll be born again

We'll be in this race until the very end

He lives on the phone

He cheats on his clone

You'll never believe me 'til you're on your own"

drums on this track anyone?

80's Comedown Machine: Most people relate it to the downfall of the band. How they went from the leaders of rock revival generation to a band that doesn't even tour to promote their latest album. They did no pre/post -release interviews or promotion for this album. I used to listen this song mostly on rides from my university to back home after a tiring day when I could truly feel this song. It feels like a departure from something/someone you love a lot but only for the better. Julian's voice is mesmerizing as ever.
As the song closes with following lines, oh, it's so heartbreaking at so many levels.

"So please

Run away

Runaway"

50/50 : The one with the killer guitar riff. Old school Julian screams and the most angry song on the album. Short and impossible to hate, this song is so explosive! 

I ain't judging nobody Julian!

"I will say!

I will say don't judge me!"

it's slowwwwwww

Slow Animals : Now this is where things get confusing. This track along with Chances & Partners in Crime are the songs that were the center of most discussions among the critics and fans, as if to love them or hate them. These songs are not that catchy or dance-y as compared to some other tracks on the album. But for me, these tracks are the tracks that made this album a whole lot more exciting. Three totally different songs and some crazy sound. It took me only a few listens to like all these songs. Not just the music but the lyrics too are great, even though at times it may get hard to actually interpret what Julian is singing.This melodious, crooner side of the band works, the guitar work and propulsive rhythm section add an edge that keeps it groovy. Finger-snapping good.
Some pretty groovy loathing on social mindset here!

"They're always scared of where their daughter's been

Cause who knows, she could be alone with men

They never wanna see or hear or think about again"

Partners in Crime : Love the opening guitar riff. Love the freaking amazing chorus. Love the ending, it's so different. Basically, this song uplifts your entire mood and by the end you find yourself singing along with Julian. Just love it.




Julian just can't stop taking piss out of people, seems like someone's really butt-hurt! In addition, this whole album is full of some nasty sarcasm and ironic self loathing.

" Let's all be honest

Where there's a forest

We don't belong"

where he is like," fuck it, i'll take my chances"

Chances : This is the hidden gem of this album. I just could not believe that this album could have such a song. It sounds something from outer space and is just too extra sweet!Throughout the whole album, you get a feeling of 80's music and this song comes closest in capturing that mood. Try sleeping with this song.



Haha, now this line here is so funny!

" Here's to days he decides he's got time

And he claims that it's not a surprise

When he finds out the truth's on his side"

yup, that'd be a happy ending

Happy Ending : The most catchy beat on this album. It reminds me of old Strokes. Try playing it in a big hall or room full of people. It has that futuristic and dance-y feeling of any Daft Punk record combined with the punk energy of the guys.When Julian sings “Baaaa-bbaayy!” you will too.

I'm not anyone to show you anything Julian but as you said, we all need our shadows!

"Baby, show me where to go

Some things, I don't wanna know

Baby, tell me if you're sure

I wanna die"

now on a serious note, really,
call it fate or karma or magic,
they are still here making some of the
coolest music ever!

 Call It Fate, Call It Karma : Sounds like chiseled out from some old black and white movie, Julian'sorgasmic falsetto is the highlight of this song. Fitting that the curtain song would be the slowest lullaby most unlike the band. Again, Julian's voice and lyrics are sweet and heartfelt and the accompaniment is accomplished. The album ends in a dreamworld. Oh, if only I can describe how much I love this song. This one is clearly my favorite track on the album.

Now this is so freaking depressing!

" Can I waste all your time here on the sidewalk?

Can I stand in your light just for a while?

I’ve waited around and oh no, you are are not around

I made up more time watchin’ you"

2013 was the year for Arctic Monkeys. Their album AM enjoyed global success and they won almost all the awards by the end of this year. But it's funny and strange how this album doesn't even get mentioned anywhere. For me, Comedown Machine is much better than AM(from a guy who has more than 1500 plays from AM). This is what I love about music, bands and being a fan. I consider myself lucky enough to discover this masterpiece and I know that I will continue to enjoy this music for a long time to come.

Here you can see my log of listens for this terrific album : COMEDOWN MACHINE

A snapshot of my iTunes. Well, no surprise, its a 5/5 !

And finally, here's the album. Enjoy it while you can  ;) !