Somewhat underwhelming return from one of the noughties' most hyped rock & roll saviours. The first single from The Strokes' 'difficult' second album is understated in the same way that Hard to Explain was as first single off their debut. This time round, the Valensi-Hammond Jr trademark twin guitar riffage is accompanied by a synth which is pure new wave, circa Blondie's Always Touched by Your Presence Dear.
The song itself is not particularly inspired, however; Julian Casablanca's voice is sunk behind everything else almost as if he's conscious of having given the song's best tune to the synthesizer, and with the song clocking in at a curt two-and-a-half minutes, it's all over before it registers any significant impression.
There's enough here to suggest that Casablanca et al still have some tricks up their sleeves - I found the handclapped middle eight a treat which is all too rare on records these days. But this is by no means classic Strokes and I hope the new album delivers more than this single manages to muster.
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