CD OF THE WEEK:Angles Rough Trade****
In many ways Is This Ithad much of a cleansing effect that The Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocksand Nirvana's Nevermindhad on previous generations. The 2001 release saw many a musical tyro trade in their turntables for a guitar and presaged a new era of skinny jean indie white boy rock. Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines and Arctic Monkeys were all propelled by The Strokes' backdraft. Is This Itremains one of the decade's best albums.
But just as The Stone Roses couldn't outdo their excoriating debut, The Strokes struggled with their totemic status. The follow-up albums – Room on Fireand First Impressions of Earth– had nowhere near the same penetration in a marketplace now populated by their many copyists. It's an unenviable task being the "band of a generation", and little wonder they went Awol, contenting themselves with a very mixed bag of solo projects.
Early reports of the studio sessions for Angleswere of hostility and resentment between band members, and with producers coming and going it did seem a bit like the Last Chance Saloon for all concerned. But Anglesworks splendidly, and is a salutary reminder of how adept they are at shaping indie-pop moments. With the songwriting now a more democratic affair, there's a welcome change in tone here with the opener Machu Pichu– which sounds a bit too much like 10cc's Dreadlock Holidayduring the intro – being almost sunny and fun. The single, Undercover of Darkness, finds them back in classic Is That Itmode and playing to their considerable strengths.
There are plenty of short, sharp shocks on this tight, 10-song affair, such as Taken for a Fool, which has a beguiling playfulness about it. They even get away with being a tad experimental on You're So Right.
Closing track Life Is Simple in the Moonlightis the most relaxed they've ever sounded. It's almost as if they've given up trying to be the Is That Itband and are just concentrating on making very good music. About time. See thestrokes.com
Download Tracks: Undercover of Darkness, Taken for a Fool, Life Is Simple in the Moonlight
