So,
knife down, cider open and volume up as the Goulash could wait! … My
disappointment could not have been more exaggerated if you tried as it had to
be one of the biggest piles of shit if have ever heard in my life!! – synth pop
of the highest order! (Think: Kraftwerk meets Girls Aloud and you might get the
picture)
So,
without further ado, as the less said about this pile of wank the better, let’s
go back to 2001 and reflect on a band that was a focal point of that new, hip
and cool music scene in New York – The Strokes! Not only did they release one
of the best debut albums of all time – ‘Is This It’ the band had everything! –
great lyrics, great production, hype, talent to back up the hype, two
outstanding lead guitarists, charismatic lead singer, more hype and most
important of all – influence!
Is
This It represented more than just a cool looking bunch of outcasts in The
Strokes – it started a new scene of Indie/Rock music paving the way for a new
era of bands like The Vines, Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand, Black Rebel
Motorcycle Club, The Walkmen and Arcade Fire. The afore mentioned use of
guitars was re-born and the art of guitar playing was well and truly in the
ascendancy! Influence of the guitar was back up and running!
Sadly,
for the true troubadours of this scene – The Strokes – the year is now 2013 and
it has to be said – they are sadly still living off that time and most important
of all – they’re name!
And,
four rather scrappy, poor and in some instances dire albums later they simply
haven’t ‘moved on’ at all. I’m not really saying there is a whiff of
desperation about the chaps in The Strokes, but you do get the feeling they are
slightly hanging onto past glories. Either that or they are honouring their
current record deal in the faint hopes of securing one last big pay day as they
push into their late thirties
Now,
don’t get me wrong here people as I’ve always been a massive fan of The
Strokes, but this whole scenario kind of reminds me of a famous Bill Hicks sketch
when he talks about Elvis when he died. If you’re not familiar with it, he
basically calls for Elvis to be shot dead sometime in the late fifties when he
was (as some people put it) at the height of his fame and not over weight, high
on coke and a drunken mess!
Bill’s
point was that people will remember Elvis as a young, fit, handsome and
talented man instead of the rather portly chap he was when he died.
Now,
everyone knows that apart from a very small handful, not every band/artist can
hold the title of being influential throughout ALL of their career. The Strokes
are 100% proof of this fact!
Sad
for them really as I rather like(d) them
Mol
