The New Abnormal Is The New Normal - The Strokes Return to Form

Photo Credit: RCA Records

Appropriately Named Appropriately Timed, Appropriately Packaged, Appropriately released Strokes goodness.

Let me start with this disclaimer: I have been a fan of the Strokes since a little after The Modern Age started circulating.

The formulaic interplay between two clean but slightly over driven dueling guitars; efficient but hyper present bass lines and a drummer who’s gift for rigid subdivision betrays an unhealthy fascination with drum machines would be enough to garner my fandom. But to then add the know-it-all wild child with a penchant for nuance in his lyrics as a front man? Now I’m a fan with regular expectations of greatness. The band’s releases are near mathematic perfection as a stylistic choice.

Who does that? Bach and these guys…

It’s now 19 years later, and I have never been disappointed. The New Abnormal (the almost presciently named album from Nikolai, Nick, Albert, Fab and Julian) was released brilliantly. The album cover art is Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Bird on Money (1981).

Even on a digital marketing level this album is a master class in how things should be done in 2020.

Songs from the album began leaking to me on my Apple Music account over a month before the full album was released. Songs would literally appear in Siri curated playlists, and Julian’s delivery on unfamiliar material immediately got my attention.
The first song to arrive was "At the Door", and the arrangement immediately slingshot me back to Julian’s song Glass on his Phrazes for the Young (2009) solo album. It delivers brightly constructed synths arranged as a pad for Julian’s trademark casual-until-its-time-to-soar vocal style.

That deft leak was followed by "Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus", and to me the album became an immersion experience in all of the best parts of 80’s music. The song has it all: roller skating rink ready bouncing synths, four on the floor, a legitimate almost Human League-like lead line that never stop sounding like Julian. (Imagine Stephon from SNL read that last sentence…and the writing magically becomes better).

But when the album finally got released, I wanted the experience of the needle drop of the first track to the fade out of the last. What I got was better than I would have expected even after being given the sneak peeks.

"The Adults are Talking" is pure The Strokes at their sugary pop best. If you’re a Strokes fan, and you didn’t see that the clean and melodic aesthetic of The Cars is an element in the chemical compound for their signature sound…I don’t know what to tell you. But Julian makes it a little clearer with his flawless channeling of the late Ric Ocasek in the coda / ad lib fade out of the song. The homage was noticed and appreciated. Also, it is literally impossible to like "One Way Trigger" off of Comedown Machine and NOT like the chorus to this song.

That’s not where the genius homages end. "Bad Decisions" with its heavy drums and heavily chorused clean guitar on the left and steady driving bass transports me to a Modern English recording session for the verses….before becoming The Modern Age era Strokes for the chorus.

I will not go track for track. But I will say that every track delivers a complete experience. I can’t say enough about how Nikolai Fraiture’s bass playing on this album.

Now it was important that I start this review off by declaring my admiration for this band because while I did objectively listen to it before reviewing; I wanted fans of this band to know they are going to get what they want.

After all:

• I love Julian’s solo stuff along with his Daft Punk, Lonely Island and Pharrell cameos.
• I loved Albert’s solo albums.
• I think every time Nick Valensi and Sia work on a recording the song is an instant addiction to me.

While the group has never let me down, I haven’t always agreed with every creative direction they chose to navigate. And I will say that fans who do not allow a group to grow beyond their favorite tunes do a disservice to artists who are always looking for the best experience to share with their more loyal listeners.

For the Strokes growth never seems to leave behind those who admire their commitment to the craft.

Right now while many around the world are living in lockdown making their peace with what appears to be our new normal, The Strokes aptly titled The New Abnormal is recommended for helping to cope.

(p.s. look up the lyrics to the entire album…. They do not disappoint)