Album: Julian Casablancas - 'Phrazes for the Young'

Julian Casablancas has one of the most distinctive vocals in rock. His sound is what has shaped The Strokes as a band, so will he be able to pull off something different for his first solo offering?

Enlisting electro beats was the obvious way to go, so expect the sound of drum machines and sythns with Strokes-style guitars a pleanty. It is very melodic and Casablancas' vocals fit really well with the uptempo and at some points euphoric music. Gone are the mumbled tones that we heard when The Strokes first album Is This It introduced us to Casablancas talents.

That said, the use of robotic-style singing on River Of Breaklights is a bit of a turn-off. Overall I found it the least likable track out of the eight, too intense and erratic for me, but it does work adding depth to the album as a whole. Each track sounds very different. Ludlow St has a strange country feel to it but top notch lyrics, opening with 'Everything seems to go wrong when I stop drinking… as soon as I get sober I remember why I drank it all away on Ludlow Street'.

More classic lines are offered up in the opener Out Of The Blue: 'Yes, I know I’m going to hell in a leather jacket/But at least I’ll be in another world while you’re pissing on my casket'. I could go on listing lyrics but I will leave it to you to pick out more corkers...

Phrazes for the Young is a great listen, but the biggest criticism is that it's too short. Eight tracks is not quite enough, it was just getting interesting! It's great to hear Casablancas letting rip and chucking in any musical sound or influence he fancies, from early house to 60's soul. There is a great sense of fun running through each track, even when it goes a bit dark and bluesy with 4 Chords Of The Apocalypse.

Albert Hammond Jr has already released solo projects and other Strokes bandmates Fab Moretti and Nikolai Fraiture have followed suit. It seems that while we wait for the fourth Strokes album, they all have a little something extra they would like to do, but not as a group. Are they trying to protect the sound and core of the band or in fact their 'brand'? Hopefully their solo projects will only add to the highly awaited fourth album from The Strokes.

www.myspace.com/juliancasablancas

Download your copy of Phrazes for the Young for £5 www.7digital.com or buy it for around £9 www.amazon.co.uk