Considering that from that highly overdeveloped state that is the United States, when it comes to music, nothing better than the Green Day comes out, the Strokes could be considered geniuses. Facing the reality, they are not geniuses, I would say no. But they are good, that's for sure.
Two years earlier, they had pulled out of the hat a mega-album that was amazing, here they level themselves with the terrestrial world, three years later (that's this year) they will fall below the acceptable, and then bye-bye. I find myself reviewing this album which, in my opinion, unjustly hasn't been reviewed yet, so I am faced with a record not worthy of too much praise, but it's unfair to defame it. The peak is reached quite soon, indeed the track no. 2, Reptilia, is perhaps the best piece written by these shady New Yorkers.
For the rest, the album flows quietly, a definitely pleasant listen, with songs like "meet me in the bathroom" and "the way it is" that would invite to be listened to again. So we are far from the glories of "Is This It", but we stay afloat, which in this period is not bad at all.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 What Ever Happened? (02:57)
I wanna be forgotten
And I don't wanna be reminded
He said, "Please, don't make this harder."
No, I won't yet.
I wanna be beside her
She wanna be admired
He said, "Please, don't make this harder."
No, I won't yet.
Oh dear, is it really all true,
Did they offend us and they want it to sound new?
Top 10 ideas for countdown shows
Whose culture is this and does anybody know?
I wait and tell myself, life ain't chess
When no one comes in, and yes, you're all alone.
You don't miss me... I know
Oh, Tennessee, what did you write?
"I come together in the middle of the night."
Oh, that's an ending that I can't write
'Cause I've got you to let me down
I wanna be forgotten
And I don't wanna be reminded
He said, "Please, don't make this harder."
No, I won't yet.
I wanna be beside her,
She wanna be admired.
He said, "Please, don't make this harder."
No, I won't yet.
02 Reptilia (03:42)
He seemed impressed by the way you came in
"Tell us a story, I know you're not boring"
I was afraid that you would not insist
"You sound so sleepy, just take this, now leave me"
I said: "Please don't slow me down if I'm going too fast"
You're in a strange part of our town
Yeah, the night's not over
You're not trying hard enough,
Our lives are changing lanes
You ran me off the road
The wait is over
Now I'm taking over
You're no longer laughing
I'm not drowning fast enough
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"
I said: "Please don't slow me down if I'm going too fast"
You're in a strange part of our town
Yeah, the night's not over
You're not trying hard enough,
Our lives are changing lanes
You ran me off the road
The wait is over
I'm now taking over
You're no longer laughing
I'm not drowning fast enough
03 Automatic Stop (03:27)
So many fish there in the sea
I wanted you, you wanted me
That's just a phase, it's got to pass
I was a train moving too fast
Didn't understand what to see
Yeah, then I got a different view
It's you now
Wait, I'm not gonna give you a break
I'm not your friend, I never was
I said, wait, I'm not gonna give you a break
I'm not your friend, I never was, no
So many fish there in the sea
She wanted him, he wanted me
That's just a phase, it's got to pass
I was a train moving too fast
Yeah, I know you warned me
But this is too important
And now I got a different view
It's you
Why can't you wait? I'm not gonna give you a break
I'm not your friend, I never was
I said you, wait, I'm not gonna give you a break
I'm not your friend, I never was
05 You Talk Way Too Much (03:06)
Now we're out of time
I said it's my fault
It's my fault
Can't make good decisions
It won't stop
I can't stop
Give me some time, I just need a little time
Give me some time, I just need a little time
Give me some time, I just need a little time
Give me some time, I just need a little time
You talk way too much
You talk way too much
It's only the end
It's only the end...hey
We don't get the news
He says why not?
Why not?
Forget what you heard
'Cause it won't stop
It won't stop
Give 'em some time, They just need a little time
Give 'em some time, They just need a little time
Give 'em some time, They just need a little time
Give 'em some time, They just need a little time
You talk way too much
You talk way too much
It's only the end
It's only the end as you know it
You're not supposed to say that
you taught me too much
Is this how it ends?
Is this how it ends?
06 Between Love & Hate (03:16)
Watched her as she wiped her eyes
You don't make me sorry
Now iI know
Uh that you never, listened, listen
Thinkin 'bout that high school dance
Worried 'bout the finals
Yes I know
You feelin' lonely, oh lonely so lonely
Never needed anybody
I never needed anybody
I never needed anybody
I never needed nobody
Don't worry 'bout it honey
I never needed anybody
I never needed anybody
It won't change
Now am I wrong
Don't say you're in love with me
I said I was fine
It's just the second time we lost the war
She'd be in the kitchen
I would start the fire
But those days are gone
I tend to walk and give up, give up
P.S. if I may ask why
When will they get tired
We stayed up, all nite
Tryin', tryin'
Never needed anybody
I never needed nobody
I never needed anybody
I never needed anybody
I don't worry 'bout it honey
I never needed anybody
I never needed anybody
It wont change
Now am I wrong
Don't say you're in love with me
I said I was fine
The second time we lost the war
This isn't it (huh)
07 Meet Me in the Bathroom (02:58)
When they say promises
They mean promises.
They'd say, "that's ok,
Long as we can celebrate"
You see, my uncle would say
Things would change when he's dead
"Meet me in the bathroom"
That's what she said
I don't mind, it's true
Never was on time
Yes, I once was mine
Well, that was long ago
And darling, I don't mind
Yeah, we were just two friends in lust
And baby, that just don't mean much
You trained me not to love
After you showed me what it was
Now she's staring wide-eyed
Can't close her eyes
Anywhere is fine
Just don't waste my time
You see, my uncle would say
Things would change once he's dead
"Meet me in the bathroom"
That's what she said
I don't mind, it's true
Never was on time
Yes, I once was mine
Well, that was long ago
And darling, I don't mind.
Yeah, they were just two fucks in lust
Baby, that just don't mean much
You trained me not to love
After you taught me what it was
08 Under Control (03:06)
i dont wanna waste your time,
i dont wanna waste your time.
i just wanna say. i've got to say.
we worked hard, darling.
we dont have no control, we're under control.
i don't wanna do it your way.
i don't wanna do it your way.
i dont wanna give it to ya, your way.
i don't want to know.
i don't wanna change your mind.
i dont wanna change the world.
i just wanna watch it go by.
i just wanna watch ya go by.
we were young, darling.
we dont have no control,
we're out of control.
i dont wanna do it your way.
i dont wanna do it your way.
i dont wanna give it to ya, your way.
i dont want to know.
i dont wanna change your mind.
i don't wanna waste your time.
i just wanna know you're alright.
i've got to know you're alright.
you are young, darling,
for now but not for long.
we're under control.
09 The End Has No End (03:08)
One by one, ticking time bombs won
It's not the secrets of the government
That's keeping you dumb
Oh, it's the other way around - wait...
What's that sound?
One by one, baby, here they come.
He wants it easy; he want it relaxed
Said I can do alot of things, but I can't do that
Two steps forward, then three steps back
...Alright
"Won't you take a walk outside?"
-Oh no.
"Can't you find some other guy?"
-Oh no.
"1 9 6 9 what's that sound?"
-Oh no.
Keeping down the underground
Oh no...
The end has no end the end has no end
The end has no end the end has no end
He want it easy; he want it relaxed
Said I can do alot of things, but I can't do that
Two steps forward, then three steps back
It won't be easy
"Won't you take a walk outside?"
-Oh no.
"Can't you find some other guy?"
-Oh no.
"1 9 6 3 what's that sound?"
-Oh no.
Keeping down the underground
Oh no...
The end has no end the end has no end
The end has no end the end has no end
The end has no end the end has no end
The end has no end the end has no end...
11 I Can't Win (02:58)
That was you up on the mountain
All alone and all surrounded
Walking on the ground you're breaking
Laughing at the life you're wasting
One, two tries won't do it
You do it all your life and you never get through it
Everything they had to say
Had been erased in just one day
Good try, we don't like it
Good try, we won't take that shit
I can't win.
Things in bars that people do
When no one wants to talk to you
Failing can be quite a breeze, he
Told me that these girls were easy
Happy that you said you'd mount me
Felt unlucky when you found me
Some nights come up empty handed
Yes, I'll take it
Wait now, by the sidewalk
Hold on, yes, I'll be right back
I can't win
Yeah, I wait for something
Cool it, we won't take that shit
Good try, we don't like it
Hold on, yes, I'll be right back
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Other reviews
By Sallu
In this album, it is really Casablancas' voice that expresses itself fully, hoarse and deep, sharp and angry, melancholic and dreamy.
So what’s changed? Simple, the Strokes! They have matured, both musically and lyrically.
By themadcaplaughs
I just can’t stand The Strokes, no use denying it, so I want to say this album is bad without having listened to it!
It turns out it confirms exactly what I thought: I can’t stand these Strokes!! LONG LIVE PREJUDICE
By GATTINATOR
That crazy and fizzy style is still there but rock'n roll is missing!
It's certainly not an album worthy of a 5, not even a 4.