The Strokes

Released: March 18, 2011

Songwriter: Julian Casablancas

Producer: Gus Oberg The Strokes Joe Chiccarelli

Happiness is two different things
What you take and then what you bring
One is pleasure, one's discipline
One's devotion, one's just the ring

Desire and reward
Long term and short term joy

Don't waste your heart
Don't waste your heart

One has nothing to do with the other
And the world is all cousins not brothers

Hard to take you off of my love
One's an instant, one takes some will
One gives life, and one makes you kill
One's the means and one's for the end

Desire and reward
Long term and short term joy

Don't waste your heart
Don't waste your heart

One has nothing to do with the other
And the world is all cousins not brothers

Don't you give in
You're beginning

The Strokes burst onto the scene at a time when rock fans were desperate for an alternative to the rap-rock that was dominating the airwaves. That the band lived up to expectations after being hailed ‘saviors of guitar rock’ solely based on the strength of a three song EP is a testament to the quality of their flawless debut, July 2001’s Is This It.

Ultimately, they are a band that truly relies on the strength of the entire lead singer Julian Casablancas, lead guitarist Nick Valensi, drummer Fabrizio Moretti, guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., and bassist Nikolai Fraiture. However, much of The Strokes' output has been influenced by the domineering vision of Casablancas' songwriting.

Before he took a small step back on their third album, January 2006’s First Impressions of Earth, and then isolated himself to record March 2011’s Angles, Casablancas was involved in almost every step of The Strokes' recording process. He wrote all of the lyrics and the music on their first two albums and was constantly involved in the mixing of the records.

more tracks from the album

Angles

From the album

Angles (2011)

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