Future Present Past

In a Nutshell:

Recommended for:

·  Fans of indie and alternative rock music

· People who have never heard past music from The Strokes

· Die-hard Strokes fans who never give up

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Average Rating: 5.6/10

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Pros:

·  Catchy guitar riffs

· Good Dynamics

Cons:

·  Poor production and composition

· Aimless vocals

"Future Present Past" is the second EP released by New York based rock band The Strokes. It was released through Julian Casablancas’ record label, Cult Records on June 3, 2016. This four song set is the first new music we have gotten from The Strokes since the release of their fifth studio album “Comedown Machine” in 2013 which received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike.

Julian Casablancas (The Strokes), Photo by Liliane Callegari

MELODY MAKER MARINO:

Half-Baked. That’s the general impression I get from this EP. All aspects of this new Strokes project feel like they were put together in a very half-ass way; the vocals are aimless, the composition of the songs are very simple, and the production is questionable at parts.

The first song, “Drag Queen,” has stupidly simple guitar and drum parts and the vocals are completely aimless throughout the song. Julian Casablancas sounds like he had no clue what to do for his part and just started riffing when it came time to recording. Then, the vocals get a weird, almost chipmunkish effect added onto it towards the end of the song. This did not fit in well with the song at all.

“OBLIVIUS” and “Threat of Joy” are a little more enjoyable, but not much. Still, these songs feel pretty lazy. The guitar line in “OBLIVIUS” is a little catchy, but nothing to go crazy for. There are a plethora of other Stokes songs that display much better guitar from Mr. Valenci and Mr. Hammond Jr.  “Threat of Joy” sounds the most like classic Strokes out of the three, but there is nothing special about it after that. It sounds like a less memorable song that would have been included in This Is It or Room on Fire.

In conclusion, I do not see myself listening to this group of songs in the future at all. Unless if someone broke into my house and pointed a gun at me and demanded I listened to it. I would tell him that his demands are weirdly specific, but I would probably do it because it wasn’t that bad.

But ya, I wasn’t too impressed.

Favorite Song: "OBLIVIUS"

4.5/10

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MAGICFINGERS:

I have to admit, when I first heard the news that this EP was coming out, my excitement level was 2000%. Which leads me to my first recommendation for listeners… don’t do that, set your expectations at a reasonably low level. Listening to this EP is similar to celebrating Halloween as an adult. Still a generally fun experience that brings back a lot of pleasant nostalgia, but nothing like how you remember it 10 years ago when it was fucking amazing (“Is This It”, “Room on Fire” days).

THAT BEING SAID, I think I enjoyed these songs more than most. We definitely get a taste of a few different sides of The Strokes we’ve experienced in the past. Mainly I’d say the style fits into the type of songs we heard on 2006’s “First Impressions of Earth” and 2010’s “Angles”.

In all honestly, it’s only fair to say each song had about one cool aspect. “Drag Queen” was the most forgettable, but has a cool synthy bass line. “OBLIVIUS” has a classic Strokes guitar riff that reminds us of better songs that made us love this band. “Threat of Joy” is the only song I found myself itching to relisten to. It’s got an upbeat pace and good dynamics that really carried my overall satisfaction of the release. And it’s the only song in which Julian Casablancas seemed to put much effort into the vocals.

Final Thoughts: It’s not their best work, but it’s still The Strokes. Still a lot better than 90% of the crap on the radio. They also claim to be working on more new material, hopefully that’ll be more of a top tier Strokes production.

Favorite Song: “Threat of Joy”

6.8/10

Nick Valensi (The Strokes), Photo by monophonicgirl

MOM:

Ah the Strokes, I was certainly excited for listening to their latest collection of songs. Unfortunately, I was left feeling somewhat indifferent about the EP. When listening to hit songs by the Strokes, you get a taste of the band’s sound, and also get a jittery buzz of excitement. This EP does conform stylistically with the band’s previously established sound and use of dynamics. However, none of the songs truly possess a memorable upbeat feeling. Though this element of excitement is missing from the EP, I will respect the artists’ decision to take their music in any emotional direction they wish (even though such Strokes songs are my favorite).

This EP just turns to vanilla. My first listen through, not much stood out. So, I collected myself and listened again. Second time- same shit. If you want to hangout with friends with the Strokes in the background, put this one on. If you want to get hyped, have an introspective listen, or are just picky about what you listen to, you may want to bypass this EP.

So what did stand out? The guitar riff that comes in at the last third of “OBLIVIUS” is well placed and simply fun to listen to. On the other hand, Julian Casablancas' voice does not suffice. In my opinion, he has of the best voices in modern rock. Slurred lines and well placed growls are both stylistic trademarks of his. But this album runs sloppy and lazy, even for his standards. Lazy talk-vocals are best used to place an emphasis on a moment in a song. However, in ‘Threat of Joy’, that is how the song begins, and it does not fit. Instead, it establishes an awkward mood for the rest of the song. Julian, SING! I love your voice and I want more beautiful music coming out of it.

Favorite song: “OBLIVIUS”

5.5/10

If you fancy yourself a fan of The Strokes, go to their website to buy all their crap and pay for the music most people listen to for free. I believe they play an occasional concert also, find out here:

http://thestrokes.com

You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and such things.

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Next week's review: "I, Gemini" by Let's Eat Grandma