By Fans of The Strokes may remember when lead singer Julian Casablancas strayed away from the band to release solo album “Phrazes for the Young” in 2009.
Casablancas has once again ventured into a side project, this time backed by The Voidz.
“Phrazes” was heavily influenced by synthpop and new wave, the release embodied sounds familiar to fans of music from the ‘80s.
Casablancas latest exploration, which is stylized as Julian Casablancas + The Voidz is titled “Tranny,” and it is more erratic in its emulation of various genres.
Music throughout the album clashes from start to finish.
Its inconsistencies should be jarring, but it offers so many unique sounds that will surprise listeners who will be thrown off by things such as radio broadcast soundbites.
This release in no way reflects any similarities to The Strokes, except for Casablancas’ sometimes sloppily delivered lyrics, which should be expected.
The listener will only faintly recognize Casablancas in this new sonic environment.
“Take Me in Your Army,” initiates the album with a syncopated industrial beat that is grim. Again, Casablancas’ voice is slurred and muffled.
Some songs like “M.utually A.ssured D.estruction,” resemble metal and thrash with Casablancas’ vocals raging.
The track “Where No Eagles Cry,” begins with a baseline you could typically hear in a punk song, but eventually erupts with catchy and repetitive synth beats.
The longest track on the album is “Human Sadness;” it is symphonic and mellow, the perfect change of pace for an album with so much rage.
It’s difficult to judge a musician’s solo work because of predetermined notions of sometimes iconic music staples; the results are often received with mixed feelings.
Casablancas’ voice tunes the album in unison, but by comparison resembles a twisted alternate reality in which The Strokes are incredibly depressed and even a bit demented.
Overall, Casablancas delivers a refreshing experience that is completely distinct from anything he has ever released.
