With our column, ***VS.***, our team takes a moment to pit two related artists against each other in a sonic battle to the death. We directly compare releases by these two artists and judge them based on first impressions, musical and lyrically merits, critical and commercial reception, and subjective uniqueness. The artist whose work distinguishes itself in the majority of these categories will be crowned victorious.

Expectations:

In this episode of VS., prepare to be astonished by a dramatic and spiteful showdown between two bandmates trying to distinguish themselves as the true musical genius of the immensely influential, not-so-indie indie legends, The Strokes. In the ring today we have Virtue, the 2018 Cult/RCA release by Julian Casablancas-led The Voidz, going head-to-head with Francis Trouble, the fourth solo studio album from Albert Hammond Jr., also released in 2018 through Red Bull Records.

As a pair, these two have accomplished feats unbeknownst to most of humanity. Their talents combined with those of Valensi, Moretti, and Fraiture greatly impacted a generation of musicians and music fans. But with the band struggling over the years to keep up with its great self-imposed expectations, both Casablancas and Hammond Jr. have taken strides to create meaningful art under their side project monikers, without the tremendous pressure of putting The Strokes brand name on the package.

Going into this scrap, I believe expectations are higher for Julian and his Voidz. I say this because he’s still trying to prove that he can be enthusiastic about his work in an unironic way. His trademark ‘IDGAF’ attitude could never protect his passion project from scrutiny. His solo catalog has so far been intriguing but inconsistent, and the world awaits his magnum opus. Is it Virtue?

Meanwhile, AHJ is slowly and steadily getting better with each release. We know his album could easily be better than Virtue, giving him a good chance of winning this matchup, but we don’t expect to be blown away by Francis Trouble.

Round 1

First Impressions:

Virtue

Our first taste of the latest from Casablancas is “Leave It My Dreams”, which in retrospect, is one of the best songs on the album, and one of the group’s best songs ever. It reminds us just enough of The Strokes’ signature sound while incorporating softly refreshing synth chords. Alongside funky psychedelic sound and vocal effects, Julian successfully croons us into submission and we enjoy every second of it. The cover art for the album is undeniably cool, with colors and visuals that nod to the likes of Joy Division and Daft Punk.

Francis Trouble

The lead single from AHJ’s effort is “Muted Beatings”, and it’s completely… fine. In retrospect, it is not one of my favorite tracks off the album, but still, I have nothing against it. It’s a decent song with twangy guitar parts, a high-effort vocal performance, and of course, somewhat ‘muted’ and rigorous rhythms. The cover art for Francis Trouble is eye-catching, with bright complementary colors and a comic-style cartoon of AHJ. The rough-style font and overall look match the aesthetic of the music to come.

Winner: The Voidz

Round 2

Music:

Virtue

This album’s greatest upside is also a downside for many listeners. Each song is equally complex and equally different from the last. Aside from maybe the opening song, you won’t get much out of it unless you are practicing active listening. The heavy rock and electronic sounds are generally dark and brooding with an occasional patch of light. At times I thought of Daft Punk, and other times I thought more of Nine Inch Nails. At times I thought of Mac DeMarco, and other times I thought more of Tom Morello. The diversity of styles found on Virtue is sure to keep you guessing, which can be fun and frustrating. Of course, “Leave It My Dreams” is a great track but “All Wordz Are Made Up” and “My Friend the Walls” are also memorable.

Francis Trouble

AHJ does what he does best on this album. That means catchy guitar melodies layered over unrelenting rhythmic chords. His vocal performances are more than capable of supporting his instrumental prowess and he has a knack for creating dynamic soundscapes. Although, it does often sound like he’s either yelling or whispering and never truly finding the right tone. The only other downside is a lack of differentiation between tracks. “Far Away Truths” and “Set to Attack” are obvious standouts, many others prove to be forgettable. Despite the occasional inability to demand attention, the overall listening experience of this album is thoroughly pleasant and enjoyable.

Winner: Albert Hammond Jr.

Round 3

Lyrics:

Virtue

Aside from a few moments, this album is very outwardly focused. You could go as far as saying it’s political in a broad sense. Casablancas’ lyrics are pessimistic, and dark, often referring to the corruption and lies of government, the negative impacts of corporations on society, police brutality, and white guilt. The most personal these songs get is in reference to the lost innocence of childhood and the fear of going through life playing things too safe, never taking any risks, or standing up for what is right. Ultimately, it feels like Casablancas’ conclusion is to say ‘fuck it’, everything is in shambles. He feels like a puppet only doing what people expect of him, and now he’s over it, he doesn’t wanna be here anymore.

Francis Trouble

At first listen, many of the lyrics off this album suggest that Francis Trouble is a breakup record. AHJ’s writing suggests ‘nothing lasts forever’ throughout the narrative with mentions of mixed signals, unrequited feelings, and existential dread. The truth is (and I was surprised to learn this), the album was inspired by a lost twin who died due to miscarriage while Hammond developed in the womb. Knowing this bit of information completely changes the way a listener interprets Hammond’s message. The overall tone could certainly be described as stoic. To summarize might be to say that life is hard and that’s just the way things are, let’s scrape some joy out of it and keep going. But there is also noticeable incorporation of thoughts like ‘what could have been’ and ‘if only things went a little differently’ woven into the motif.

Winner: Albert Hammond Jr.

Round 4

Uniqueness:

Virtue

In a nutshell, Virtue is undeniably unique. It showcases a wide arsenal of sounds, ideas, and influences. It is as far from boring as you can get... but, it can be overwhelming. A lot is going on here. If I had the task of putting this album into a genre, I would call it something like ‘dystopian-beach-rock-grunge-synth-pop’. The Voidz seem to be experimenting on every aspect of this record. That being said, it was extremely fascinating to hear all these different elements come together in the occasional moment of clarity.

Francis Trouble

As expected, this album gives you what you expect. It is high quality, modern guitar music. It’s fast-paced and energetic with songs reminiscent of classic jams by The Strokes, Jack White, and the like. The record is a step forward for AHJ and is by no means a rehash of old ideas but he’s certainly not experimenting the way Casablancas was on Virtue. It only takes a few listens to understand what’s going on here.

Winner: The Voidz

Round 5

Reception:

Virtue

The internet’s busiest music nerd declared Virtue a ‘light 8’ on The Needle Drop. Pitchfork described the album as a “sludgy psychedelic sesh that occasionally coheres into surprising moments of clarity and radiance,” with a rating of 6.9/10. The team at Stereogum was impressed by how Casablancas “took a wrought-iron narrative arc with an inevitable conclusion and... changed it.” NME gave the album 4 stars out of 5 and called it an easier listen in comparison to the group’s last effort Tyranny. The Guardian’s critique was less forgiving, anointing the record with 1 out of 5 stars, saying there is a “fine line between ‘eclectic’ and ‘utterly incoherent’, and this falls a long way inside the wrong court.”

As of June 2020, Virtue has amassed approximately 42 million streams on Spotify, with an average of about 2.8 million streams per song. People are either enjoying it or giving it a chance at the very least.

Francis Trouble

Pitchfork was slightly more favorable to AHJ, giving Francis Trouble a 7.2/10 and calling it “some of the brightest and scrappiest music he’s ever made.” NME matched their Virtue score with 4 stars out of 5, and described the album as a “bright blast of radiant, prismatic indie rock.” Drowned In Sound was elated with Hammond’s work, saying “the heavenly levels of joy and bliss he’s able to impart prove the purity of his talent and the worth of his experience,” also tagging it with an 8/10 rating. DIY Magazine landed on 4 stars out of 5, Francis Trouble “rings with renewed energy.” And lastly, PopMatters stated, the album is “simply a lot of fun. Hammond’s songs are written at a breakneck pace with an emphasis on melody and propulsion above all else.”

As of June 2020, Francis Trouble has amassed approximately 33 million streams on Spotify, with an average of about 3.3 million streams per song. Despite its overall lower amount of listens as a whole, it seems to be preferred by listeners on Spotify over Virtue when taking into account the number of songs on each record.

Winner: Albert Hammond Jr.

Reality:

Virtue is 15 songs and about 58 minutes long. Francis Trouble contains 10 songs and about 36 minutes of music. The harsh reality is that both of these albums are frankly too long. That being said, they both have astonishing bright spots, and both could’ve been cut into absolute gems with a bit of pruning. Virtue made more of a statement, Francis Trouble was more of an expression of emotions. Casablancas pushed his limits, and Hammond Jr. progressed his abilities. Ultimately, AHJ’s album was more listenable which found it favor with critics and fans alike, as well as myself.

If you’re here because you love The Strokes, and you’d like to hear some music that is true to what made that band special, Francis is your man.

Champion:

Albert Hammond Jr.

Cover photo by Raph_PH