The Strokes

The Strokes are an American rock band from Manhattan, New York. Formed in 1998, the band is composed of singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. They are one of the more prominent bands of the garage rock and post-punk revivals, aiding in the resurgence of indie rock in New York City.

Another garage rock revival band. Although they are from NY, their style resembles the sound of other well known UK bands. Their lyrics are eclectic and charged with alternative lifestyle vibes that leave them open to interpretation. One could safely say that it reflects the reality of life in New York, fast paced, vibrant and not fit for the faint of heart. It is not surprising that they have opened for the Rolling Stones in several occasions.

You only live once

This is a song describing what scholars calls ‘situational identity‘. Most specifically it refers to the vast universe that exists within every human being that is not defined by our traditional two dimensional view of identity, boxed sometimes within ethnicity, age or even gender. Life is to experiment, make mistakes, share those views and experiences without judgment. Instead of shutting people up in order to get along. A very worldly approach to getting along.

“Twenty-nine different attributes
Only seven that you like (oh-oh)
Twenty ways to see the world (oh-ho)
Twenty ways to start a fight (oh-ho)”

Under Cover of Darkness

This song is the creation of all 5 band members and it was years in the making. At one point they were so strained that the vocals had to be recorded separately. Yet, the finished product sounds like a well put together song from a band that stopped agonizing about every single detail. This song talks about the trials and tribulations of clashing egos in a creative environment over the years. Amazing tune!

Reptilia

An awesome tune that talks about the clashing realities of two close people when one of them is hooked on drugs. Mismatching thinking speeds and conflicting priorities. Enjoy!

“Now every time that I look at myself
I thought I told you, this world is not for you
The room is on fire as she’s fixing her hair
You sound so angry, just calm down, you found me”

Last nite

I am super curious about what she is feeling left out from. Is is a menage a trois? Is it life? The lyrics for this band are quite encrypted and can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. They irradiate a vibe of alternative lifestyle with references that act more of an inside joke. May be will never know unless we dig deep, but who has time for that in the era of instant gratification? What do you think is the underlying theme of this song?

Last night, she said
“Oh, baby, I feel so down
Oh, it turns me off
When I feel left out”
So I, I turned ’round
Oh, baby, don’t care no more
I know this for sure
I’m walking out that door

Some day

His ex says he’s lacking in depth? I wonder if she has been listening to these songs at all? May this be a case of competing definitions of depth? So many universes to explore, but some are not ready to dive in deep enough. So they blame others for the lack of something. Get your scuba gear and dive right in. You’ll be glad you did! 🙂

“My ex says I’m lacking in depth
I will do my best
You say you wanna stay by my side
Darling your head’s not right”