While it may be hard to believe that it’s been nearly 8 years since the release of 2001’s seminal, post-punk/garage rock classic Is This It, it may be even harder to believe that The Strokes have all but fallen off of the musical map since announcing an “unofficial” hiatus after recording 2006’s First Impressions of Earth. During this hiatus, however, it hasn’t been hard to find the retro-New York City sound dwelling just beneath the radar as practically every member of The Strokes have delved into their own personal sketchbooks to produce solo albums and critically acclaimed new acts. Albert Hammond Jr. released a well-received solo album, Nikolai Fraiture has been hard at work with Nickel Eye and Fabrizio Moretti has Little Joy. The question that plagued the minds of New York street-dwellers however, remained what would become of the group’s eclectic frontman, Julian Casablancas. Well, leather-jacketeers, the wait is now over.
Pitchfork was among the first to cover a press release sent out by Casablancas, advertising his solo-debut, Phrazes for the Young, being released by the singer’s own Cult Records ( via RCA) and is due this fall (official release date TBA). In a separate press release, Cult confirmed that the album will be an 8-song album, recorded in Nebraska, LA and, of course, New York. Tentative song titles were released, but no actual audio clips as of yet. Titles included songs that no doubt cull the New York City street culture include “River of Brake Lights, “Glass” and “Ludow St.”
Casablancas has launched an official website, but the only content to be found is the below “trailer” of sorts for Phrazes. The trailer conjures thoughts of late 70’s/80’s, technicolor sci-fi movies and moves at a breakneck pace with some hints at Casablancas deeming himself the next Jazz Singer via some very Neil Diamond-esque imagery. However, if the trailer is any indication of the album's sound, fans are in for a synth-pop journey that could extend Casablancas' repetoire far beyond just the voice of a mainstream, garage-rock band.
Casablancas has also stated that he's interested in playing some "intimate stages" across the US to debut the material, but has plans for a national tour afterwards. No tour dates have been set as of yet.
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