THE DEATH OF THE MIX TAPE
​
Picture
  • Blog
    • Wordpress Feed
  • REACHING OUT:
  • SHOW PICS
  • MY TOP 100 SONGS OF ALL TIME

YOU DON'T MISS ME, I KNOW( OR THE TOP TEN STROKES SONGS)

9/18/2015

0 Comments

 
For many people, there was no better representation of the Garage rock movement of the early aughts than the could care less cool of NYC punks the Strokes. Five trashyish fellas who could also play turned out to be one of the defining bands of the decade, and along with Casablancas and Hammond, Valensi, Fraiture and Moretti managed to not care all the way to the top. Now, some albums are stronger than others, but this is a band that has managed to strive even when albums sometimes fall flat. Here’s their ten best tracks, from ten to one. Enjoy

10. Juicebox, First Impressions of Earth
I first remember being pumped about this record because at the time, I thought that “Room on Fire” was garbage(More on that later), and I was really pumped to see them bounce back. Anyway, the song has a really nice and thick guitar part, and while the drums aren’t full in your face, they measure up nicely and enhance the track, especially during the chorus. Hammond and Valensi both really do well on guitar here, and because of the back and forth, it’s able to make the song all it’s meant to be.

9. What Ever Happened, Room on Fire
So yeah I hated this album for some reason for years, and then one day shortly after seeing them at Shaky Knees I tried again. And I was blown away. This entire record is dope as fuck, but there’s no other way they could have started this record and had it been any better. Again the guitar parts glisten in the gutter, and Julian’s worn and husky voice belts out the vocals like noone else in modern rock can do. The bridge near the end of the track during the “You don’t miss me part” is wonderful, and makes you shake your hips while I remember that “I want to be forgotten and I don’t want to be reminded.”

8. Machu Picchu, Angles
The opener from one of their least lauded albums, “Machu Picchu” is a departure of sorts, but it still manages to sound like the Strokes. I don’t honestly think they can make themselves sound un-strokes like, but this song and record as a whole really serve as a good departure and reminder that they can actually do more than a few things well. The beat prevailing through the background and the slightly filtered vocals add to the 80’s feel of the song, and even though Julian’s vocals are a little muddled, it genuinely feels like the band is spreading their wings and making an album that was out of the ordinary.

7. Under Cover of Darkness, Angles
From the opening guitar chords and the pounding drums, this track has classic Strokes written all over it. One of the best songs on this often overlooked record finds us at number seven on the Top ten countdown of the best Strokes songs, but it’s true beauty lies in the chorus. Seriously it’s perfect. It’s a track that remains for me a song about lost love, and the mistakes you make during your life. You can feel the frustration throughout the song, and when the chorus kicks in again, the notes Casablancas is able to hit really set the song up to be great. I just picture someone bidding adieu and vanishing “”Under Cover of Darkness.”

6. Reptilia, Room on Fire
Opening with this song at Shaky Knees without a doubt had a major role in me surrendering to the brilliance that is “Room on Fire,” but the song is so much more than that. So many of the lyrics see JC at his off the wall best, and lyrically it might be my favorite song. When he bellows out “I thought I told you this world is not for you,” you really feel the tension in one of the murkiest of situations, but even on top of that the instrumentation kills it repeatedly. It’s a great song, full of massive hooks, and when this record came out, even though I wasn’t a super fan, people were rightfully thrilled that the Strokes were back with vengeance.

5. You Only Live Once, First Impressions of Earth
Another one that may not always be mentioned among their best sees us at Number five. For me it’s a track that’s musically chipper and upbeat while still maintaining somewhat dark lyrical content. The drums are on point throughout, and the guitar parts only help to move the song along on a upbeat rollercoaster. This album isn’t their best, but it’s certainly not their worst. Quite a few songs on this record have become standards, but I think more than any other song, “You Only Live Once” stands as the best.

4. Someday, Is This It?
It’s very hard to figure out how to mix songs and still be fair when making these lists, and it’s doubly hard in regards to a band who made two albums back to back that are utterly brilliant. “Someday” kick off the “Is This It?” phase of the countdown with a jingly arrangement and gravely lyrics that all play a part in marking the importance of the Strokes. One of the smallest but best parts of the song without a doubt is the minimal yet funky bass hook in between the first and second choruses. It’s a blink and you’ll miss it section, but it works brilliantly in keeping the spirit of the song on course while the band transitions.

3. Taken for a Fool, Angles
No idea why, but when I first heard “Taken for a Fool,” off of 2011’s “Angles,” I was completely blown away and as you can see by it's placement on this list, it’s easily one of the best songs they’ve ever written. As a person who’s worked in the service industry I can perfectly relate to the “Monday and Tuesday is my weekend” line, and throughout the song I can’t help but think the lyrics and the way the vocals are mixed really have a sweet, charming quality to them. This album is a bit more polished than other releases, but when it plays into the album in the way it does, you can’t really complain.

2. the Modern Age, Is This It?
This was a hard choice between one and two, but since I can’t do a tie, this song remains at number two. The marching quality of the song is there from the offset, and the drums are the major star of the opening section. Quite simply everything works here. From the drums, to Hammonds guitar and Julian's squirrely voice it all fits in a nice midnight NYC bow that permeates with classic hooks and a sense of I give no fucks I’m here to play rock n roll. This song exemplifies what they as a band do so well. One of the best parts of the track is the chorus, and what makes it so great is how easy it is to sing along to. That doesn’t happen in every Strokes song, so when it does happen you have to rock it out.

Hard to Explain, Is This It?
I’m sure many people will gripe at the absence of ‘Last Night” and “New York City Cops” at the top of the list, but for my money no song the band has ever created stands as tall as the perfect in every way “Hard to Explain.” Years ago I had a friend who told me he was speeding down the interstate on New Year's Eve and as he was viewing the fireworks filling the sky, this song was playing and rocking his world. I still think about this nearly every time I hear the song, and while it’s not my memory, it perfectly describes the intensity and driving nature of the song. Musically it’s brilliant, but lyrically it’s perfect in almost all ways. The play on words is great and when  Julian sings “I like it right here but I can not stay,” you feel the pain of leaving a wonderful place, and while you will always love it, it’s time to depart and continue on your journey. Sometimes life is just “Hard to Explain,” which is why we have music. Thanks for reading, see you Monday.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Landon Murray is a music connooisseur who craves sounds of all shapes and textures. He's seen over 2000 bands and looks forward to welcoming you into his world of sound, 

    Archives

    December 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    30 Seconds To Mars
    90's Rock Bands
    ALIVE 2007
    Al Jourgensen
    ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE
    Animal Collective
    Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavillion
    Anti-Christ Superstar
    Antics
    Arcade Fire Suburbs
    Arcade Fire Top 10
    Armenian Rock Music
    ART OF COMPOSING
    As The Palaces Burn
    Avalanches Since I Left You
    Badmotorfinger
    Beach House
    Beastie Boys Ill Communication
    Beck Odelay
    Best Albums Of 2015
    BEST ALBUMS OF 2020
    Best Albums Of The 1990's
    Best Albums Of The 2000's
    BEST ALBUMS OF THE 80'S
    Best Albums Of The 90's
    Best Bjork Songs
    Best Black Sabbath Songs
    Best Concerts Of 2015
    Best Converge Songs
    Best Driving Music
    BEST KILLERS SONGS
    Best Lamb Of God Songs
    Best Metal Albums
    Best Metal Albums Of The 2000's
    Best Slayer Songs
    BEST SONGS OF 2020
    Best System Of A Down Songs
    Bjork Homogenic
    Black Sabbath
    Bon Iver
    Bounce Music
    Canadian Music Duo
    Children Of The Grave
    Chris Cornell
    CHVRCHES
    Comeback Albums
    COURTNEY BARNETT
    Cradle Of Filth
    Daft Punk Great Album
    DAFT PUNK LIVE
    Dan Deacon Best Songs
    Dan Deacon Interview
    David Bowie
    David Bowie Guests
    Death From Above 1979
    Deftones
    Dimmu Borgir
    DISINTEGRATION ALBUM REVIEW
    EAGLES OF DEATH METAL
    FLAMING LIPS
    FOLKLORE ALBUM REVIEW
    Foo Fighters
    FOO FIGHTERS COLOUR AND THE SHAPE
    Great Albums Of The 90's
    Great Driving Records
    Great Interpol Tracks
    Great Southern Trendkill
    Halloween Weekend
    HANS ZIMMER
    Heartbroken Love Songs
    History Of Black Sabbath
    History Of Pantera
    Homogenic Songs
    Iceland Singer
    IDLES
    Interpol Best Songs
    Iron Maiden
    Jane Doe
    Jeff Buckley
    Joshua Homme Queens
    Judas Priest
    Kevin Parker Genuis
    KILLER MIKE EL-P
    Killswitch Engage
    LATERALUS ALBUM
    Liam Finn
    Loveless Great Album My Bloody Valentine
    M83
    MASSIVE ATTACK 100TH WINDOW
    Massive Attack Best Album
    Mastodon Leviathan
    MC HAMMER 2 LEGIT TO QUIT BAD VIDEO
    Mechanical Animals
    MEGAN THEE STALLION
    Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness
    Meshuggah Nothing
    Michael Jackson Dangerous
    Ministry
    MUMFORD AND SONS BEST SONGS
    Muse Top 10 Songs
    Neutral Milk Hotel
    New Orleans Music Festival
    New Orleans Republic
    New Wave Of American Heavy Metal
    Nineinch Nails
    Nine Inch Nails Sad
    Nirvana In Utero
    Nothingface
    Nothingface Violence Review
    Outkast
    Ozzfest
    Ozzy Osbourne Vocals
    Panda Bear
    Pantera History
    Paranoid
    POLITICAL RAP
    Portishead
    PORTISHEAD DUMMY
    Post Rock New York
    Queens Of The Stone Age Great Albums
    Queens Of The Stone Age Top Ten
    Queen Triumphant Songs
    RADIOHEAD Best Songs
    Radiohead Ok Computer
    RADIOHEADS BEST ALBUM
    Radiohead Top Ten
    Rage Against The Machine Debut
    RAMING DJAWADI
    Randy Blythe
    Reign In Blood
    ROBERT SMITH
    RUN THE JEWELS
    RYAN ADAMS
    Salem Metal Converge
    Shaky Knees Festival
    Shaky Knees Music Festival
    Shameless Love Of Taylor Swift
    Slayer
    Smashing Pumpkins Best Songs
    Songs For The Deaf
    Songs For The Deaf Queens Of The Stone Age
    Soulfly
    Soundgarden
    STORY OF NINE INCH NAILS
    Superunknown Album
    Tame Impala
    TAME IMPALA LONERISM
    TAYLOR SWIFT
    The Beatles Driving
    THE CURE
    THE CURE BEST SONGS
    The Downward Spiral Great Album
    THE KILLERS TOP TEN
    The Physical World
    The Strokes
    THE WEEKND
    Thrash Metal
    Tony Iommi Guitar
    TOOL
    TOOL GREAT ALBUMS
    TOOL TOP TEN
    Top 10
    TOP 40 ALBUMS OF THE 2010's
    TOP SONGS OF 2015
    Top Ten Bjork Songs
    Top Ten Black Sabbath Songs
    Top Ten Interpol Songs
    Top Ten Lamb Of God Songs
    Top Ten Ministry Songs
    Top Ten Slayer Songs
    Top Ten System Of A Down Songs
    Toxicity
    TRENT REZNOR
    Triumphant Songs
    Turn On The Bright Lights
    Tv On The Radio
    Type O Negative
    Valentines Day Songs
    Vinnie Paul Drumming
    Voodoo Music Experience
    Warpaint
    Watch The Throne
    Weezer Blue Album
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs Best Songs
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs Top Ten Songs
    YOSHIMI

    RSS Feed


    Are you looking for the old Wordpress blog posts?
    Wordpress Feed

Background Image
Site by Shake&Blur
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.