Phrazes For The Young

Julian Casablancas | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: October 30, 2009
• Label: RCA Records Label
• Copyright: (P) 2009 RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
• Total Length: 39:49
• Genres:
• ASIN: B002TJK7E4
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,649 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I would actually give it 4 and a half stars, November 3, 2009

By 

Lukasz Gilewski - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phrazes For The Young (Audio CD)

Not many albums out there like this today. Awesome blend of pop, synth, rock, classic, r&b, and just about anything else you can think of. The lyrics are often good, sometimes great, sometimes lacking. The solos range from VERY GOOD (Glass) to VERY BAD (River of Brakelights). Julian is obviously the brains behind The Strokes, and his solo effort completely overshadows any of the other members' works. This man is just on another level.
1) Out of the Blue - Good lyrics, decent music, sounds like something you would find on a Strokes album except for the added synth. Good way to open up the album but nothing really too special. 8/10
2) Left & Right in the Dark - One of my favorite tracks on the album. It has a very catchy chorus and really does well in building up energy. This is one of the poppier sounding songs on the album. 10/10
3) 11th Dimension - Awesome first single. Really shows Julian knows how to write a very radio friendly dance track that makes you want move around a bit haha. The lyrics on this one are among the best on the album. It seems to reflect a lot of how Julian was a shy person and all that stuff. 10/10
4) 4 Chords of the Apocalypse - This song kind of reminds me of a bluesy Beatles song, especially around the chorus. The music isn't anything that really jumps out at you but the lyrics are decent and the overall mood of the song really breaks up the album pretty well. 8/10
5) Ludlow st. - This was one of the songs used on the preview video for the album, and as such I expected it to be a stand out track. It's not. If there was one song I could do without on this album, it would be this one. Not to say it's a bad song, but following 4 Chords up with this track doesn't make much sense to me. Ludlow st seems to be building up to something the entire track but it never gets there. It reminds me a lot of "On the Otherside" off "First Impressions of Earth" so if you like that, maybe you'll like this? 6/10
6) River of Brakelights - Although I didn't love it right away, this is probably my favorite track on the album at this point. The solo is AWFUL but the rest of the song more than makes up for it. The lyrics are the best of the album, the music is awesome, the way it builds is awesome, Jules' screaming the chorus is awesome. Great song. 10/10
7) Glass - Probably my second favorite track on the album. This one was also used on the promo for the album but unlike Ludlow st, it definitely lives up to my anticipation of it being a stand out track. The lyrics are pretty good, the beat is great, the solo is AMAZING. This songs creates a very cool atmosphere and that's where it really stands out. 10/10
8) Tourist - Although I don't love the chorus so much, the verse is awesome. The beat is amazing on this one, it's a great track to close the album out on. Kinda makes me wish there were more than 8 tracks. 9/10

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Take your time..., November 3, 2009

By 

M. Winterroth (Hoboken, NJ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Phrazes For The Young (Audio CD)

...with this album and give it a chance. Upon first listen, it may seem a bit discombobulated and perplexing, but after a few takes, I realized this could be the album I have been waiting for in 2009. It is haunting and epic, but please don't go in thinking this is the next Strokes album without the rest of the band -- this is a great experiment that stands by itself, for itself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You weren't expecting it to be this good..., January 2, 2010

By 

OwenLondon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phrazes For The Young (Audio CD)

What a complete surprise this album turned out to be; from the opening chords of ''Out of the Blue'' (my favourite cut on the album) to the galloping first single ''11th Dimension'', the Strokes frontman has managed to produce a non-Strokes album with some of the best of their elements intact. The expected guitar angst has been traded in for electronic elements and it sure as hell works-- that's not to say there are no guitars because they're on here but playing second fiddle to everything else instead. Excellent production and Julian's pitch perfect vocals make for an album I expect to be on the player for a big chunk of 2010. ''Ludlow St'' is the only track that sounds like a b-side or bonus track; the rest more than holds its own. An excellent debut solo offering from Mr. Casablancas.