Seems a bit late for Julian to finally be getting around to releasing a video for “11th Dimension”, the new wave-y lead single to an album that feels like it was released eons ago (actually, it’s only been two months…but still).
Nevertheless, we’re thankful to be reminded of the track’s effervescent greatness again via the clip, which, like “Dimension”’s production, serves a hodgepodge of ’80’s film and music video influences (from it’s soft-focused haze to the Tron meets Jacksons’ “Can You Feel It” special effects), with a plotline as goofy and confusing as the song’s befuddling lyrics.
Catch the video below followed by a bonus offering of Julian’s dreamy demo version of The Strokes’ “You Only Live Once”.
Like Julian Casablanca’s previous solo album pre-tease “11th Dimension”, “River of Brakelights” bubbles with so many musical ideas (at times sounding like you’re stuck in between two or more different radio stations), it’s a bit tough to take a liking to it on first listen.
But even with it’s (somewhat overly-)manic pace and ever-evolving musical tricks, we’re still captivated by “River” enough to re-digest it over and over, piecing together the bits of lyrics that we can make out so we can figure out what the hell the song’s supposed to be about, while finding some solace in the post-”Getting the hang of it/ Timing is everything” sections where Julian’s voice soars to the high heavens over a rush of driving guitars and rapid drum work.
As sigh-assisted frustrating as it is strangely alluring, “River of Brakelights” will likely be one only hardcore Strokes/ Julian fans will adore, but it surely won’t stop the rest of us from staying obsessively tuned into what else the increasingly curio Phrazes For The Young has to offer.
Arriving mere months before the planned-for-early-2010 premiere of The Strokes’ long-awaited fourth studio effort, “11th Dimension”, the first taste of Julian Casablancas‘ October-set solo debut Phrazes For The Young, is possibly one of the happiest-sounding things to have ever met our ears, satisfying our long-held curiosity for what a JC project would be like.
In the perky alternate universe of “Dimension”, Casablancas’ backing Strokes are replaced with a bunch of eye-lined, asymmetrical-hairdo-ed android musician-bots with the seemingly central goal of crowding the singer’s familiar lackadaisical croon with a gleeful meshing of as many ’80’s electronic pop sensibilities (a neon-lit carnival of various synth/ keyboard melodies, those wiggly guitar lines, the drum machine’s relentlessly tinny pummel underneath…) as possible in one arrangement.
That the song is nearly overwhelmed with too many great half-ideas, both in it’s ever-evolving production and the occasionally awesome Casablancas lyrical couplet (“I just nod/ I never been so good at shaking hands”) only makes it more exciting to indulge in on repeated visits, birthing a new “favorite” moment with every successive listen.
It’s an unexpectedly exciting jump-off for a solo career we always kinda wished for, but never thought we would actually receive (at least, this soon), supplying us with enough of a Strokes-y feel to keep us quenched until the new group album drops, while being “different” enough to assure us that we won’t be all Stroked-out when that fourth album release date does reach fruition. Perhaps most importantly, it provides continued solid proof that the next time the band want to go forever in between albums, we’ll no doubt be kept entertained between all the members’ respectively pleasing side-gigs (with Phrazes possibly being the one that ends up besting them all, that is, if “11th Dimension” turns out to be the album’s tone-setter and not the exception).
What will you come away with after listening to “Boombox”, a two-or-three giggle-inducing (Fingerless gloves! HA!!!), “cautionary tale” collaboration between SNL-affiliated funnymen The Lonely Island and Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas (from the trio’s new release, Incredibad)?
An undying need for some accompanying visuals.
Re-assertion that whether played dead-serious or for laughs, White boy raps on electro-dance records will never transcend hopeless corniness.
The inability to get the imagined stench of “bland sauerkraut and boiled goose” from out of your nostrils.
The re-invigorated wish for track-stealer Casablancas and Co. to deliver us a new Strokes album…like immediately.
Fond memories of “The Bartman”, followed by the oh-so-depressing realization that yes…you are old.
As nice as it is to get free music, think of how much better your soul would feel if you purchased it the old-fashioned way.
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(MP3 posts are for promotional and/ or previewing purposes only; if any artist or their representation wish to have the links removed, contact me and I will happily comply!)
Seems a bit late for Julian to finally be getting around to releasing a video for “11th Dimension”, the new wave-y lead single to an album that feels like it was released eons ago (actually, it’s only been two months…but still).
Like Julian Casablanca’s previous solo album pre-tease 
Arriving mere months before the planned-for-early-2010 premiere of The Strokes’ long-awaited fourth studio effort, “11th Dimension”, the first taste of 
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