If you’re like me, you really miss The Strokes. Their distinct style of songwriting, and their unique sounding vocals (courtesy of Julian Casablancas), made them one of the best bands to come out of the early 2000's. The good news though is that many of the members of the band are still making music. Albert Hammond Jr, one of the former members of The Stokes, has had real success as a solo artist. With three full length albums out already, Albert Hammond is back at it again with his latest album Francis Trouble, which doesn't disappoint.
When listening to this album it is apparent that Hammond misses The Strokes almost as much as I do. The album almost track by track has a heavy Strokes influence. Drawing inspiration from The Stokes sophomore album Room on Fire, Hammond brings back The Stokes quirky chord structure and the distorted vocals that made them famous. No song on the album makes this more apparent than “Set to Attack.” When the track begins, it has almost of the exact same sound as the song “Automatic Stop” off of Room on Fire. To add to The Srokesy vibe, Albert Hammond then comes in on vocals which clearly try to emulate Julian Casablancas, and the distorted, lo-fi, vocals that are his signature.
Even with all the mimicry of his former band in this album, it is still a very good outing. While it may not be ground breaking, it sticks to a sound that Hammond knows works, and is comfortable with. Unlike his previous album Momentary Masters which had a more spacey sound; Hammond looks back to his roots on Francis Trouble, and his eruption onto the music scene in the early aughts. This is good news for guys like me who have been anxiously waiting for The Stokes to release a new single, or give any sign that they are still working on new music. Until then, Albert Hammond Jr.’s Francis Trouble will satisfy my Stokes itch. If you’re in the same predicament, be sure to tune into INHAILER and hear some of Albert Hammond’s new album for yourself.
For fans of: The Strokes, Julian Casablancs (the singer, not the person), rocking out like it's 2003
Our take: A Strokes Album For People Who Miss The Stokes
Comments