February 2006:
Number 502
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A newsletter for the students, faculty and staff of the Collin County Community College District. Published monthly. For information or submissions, call 972.758.3849. Cougar News welcomes student and faculty submissions. Next deadline: Feb. 7. All submissions are due by 5 p.m. on the due date. Photos cannot be returned. Text should be emailed to mrobinson@ccccd.edu or sent on disk. Please submit copy that is proofed, edited and saved in Word format. Cougar News staff: Lisa Vasquez, director; Mark Robinson, editor; Marcy Cadena-Smith, contributor; Sydney Portilla-Diggs, student correspondent; Stephanie Hall, student correspondent; Jennifer Baker, student correspondent; Nick Young, photographer; Layout by Publications
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Music Review -- The Strokes
“First Impressions of Earth”
The Strokes
By Mark Robinson
Nowadays, it is easy to get all tangled up in the sticky web of celebritydom if one is inclined to … or beautiful enough.
In 2001, The Strokes seemingly glided onto magazine covers by A) having kooky haircuts and bohemian/Nü-York fashion; and B) recording music relatively foreign to the mass media and hapless wannabe hipsters across the nation.
Five years later, The Strokes have seemingly fallen out of favor with that ever-so-fickle temptress called Hype. Now, they are just a band, who will sell out larger clubs, but never really capture the media-blitz magic of 2001.
With that said, lead singer Julian Casablancas and Co. attempt to shield their eyes from the blazing spotlight which tends to envelope even the most unsuspecting of bands.
Their newest opus, “First Impressions of Earth,” is not bad, but it is not good either. The group starts off with lo-fi modern rock songs and excruciating single “Juicebox,” with the only redeeming quality is having comedian David Cross in the music video.
“Juicebox” is one big whine-fest and the only cheese is in the bassline.
However, the album takes a pleasant twist with “Vision of Division,” “Ask me Anything” and “Electricityscape.” The best track is “15 minutes” – a meandering waltz filled with Casablancas working up to a grand crescendo vocally, and the band paving a whimsical road with guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr. rediscovering their rapport.
If we learn nothing else from “First Impressions of Earth,” remember this nugget from Casablancas: “Don’t be a coconut/God is trying to talk to you.”
Two out of five paws
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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