Albums you need to hear now

Julian Casablancas

“Phrazes for the Young”
(RCA)
It would be easy to dismiss the Strokes frontman’s solo debut as too hip and quirky to either engage or relate to. After all, Casablancas’ band got famous on punchy yet detached retro rock fireballs, pushing indie cool into tight pants before it was the thing to do. And on “Phrazes,” Casablancas embraces the trendy synth sound while writing and orchestrating every moment on the record, from guitar solos to unusual drum beats. Surprising verdict: Potentially Casablancas’ most interesting music yet, with danceable melodies (like “11th Hour”) that are sweeter and stranger than what we’re using to hearing from this guy. “4 Chords of the Apocalypse,” a gentle groove that floats along organ bubbles and escalates to arm-swaying bliss, is like the last dance at prom you always wanted, while “River of Brakelights” takes a cue from Thom Yorke’s fondness for repetition while spicing up a track that could work on a Strokes album … if they recorded it in the middle of a space race. The album’s a little fussy, emphasizing blips and clicks when a slightly cleaner take on modern pop might hold together better (“Ludlow St.” is an intriguing mess, but a mess just the same.). But you can’t go wrong with the ‘80s-loving shimmer of  “Glass or the fiendishly catchy “Left and Right in the Dark,” which feels like tapping your foot on the curb after work, waiting for the light to change so you can do something fun.

Posted Nov. 2 by Matt Pais

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