Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young

It has been almost four years since The Strokes last released an album together (2006's 'First Impressions of Earth'), and although they keep promising a new record is on the way, we've seen solo LPs from all but one of the band in that time (even two in the case of guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.). Frontman Julian Casablancas is the fourth to go it alone on 'Phrazes For The Young'.

Although he single-handedly wrote most of the band's past material, this first release is by no means a simple rebore of their shining moments. Take '11th Dimension' for instance, a vintage Detroit techno bass-line flirts with organs and New Order-guitar riffs, or the jumping drum machines and bluesy slacker-folk of early Beck on 'Ludlow St.' The electronic slant is a theme Casablancas is keen to return to throughout, such as in the jittering bleeps of the urgent 'River Of Brakelights', or the prog-rock synths of 'Tourist'.

At times, this is obviously the work of Casablancas and no greater example than this is the driven chugging guitars of opener 'Out Of The Blue' - the most-Strokes soundalike of the collection. But it's the melodies that give it away, those unashamedly catchy melodies that caught the attention of rock and pop fans in the first place, are displayed on each and every song.

Slammed for their recycling of the same style across three albums, it does raise questions as to why The Strokes don't mix things up more when the experimental ideas are blatantly there. Perhaps the band are using Julian's solo effort to test-the-water of where to go on their next project together?

At only 8 songs, 'Phrazes For The Young' is not lacking in ideas - its diversity is what makes the CD that much more appealing. It does however, have a rushed almost incomplete aesthetic - a feeling felt further by the at-home style production and recording. But this raw DIY slant is what gives these 40 minutes a more authentic feel than anything his day-job band have released since 'Is This It'.