Search - Strokes :: Hard to Explain

Hard to explain, easy to get

Clarah Averbuck | 06/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Everytime Rolling Stone or NME 'discover' the next big thing, the next Nirvana, I yawn. But this time they were right. The Strokes are in fact the best thing since Nirvana. And they don't even have an album yet! In their second single, "Hard to Explain", they prove not to be one more garage rock band from NY with pretty faces. Julian Casablancas, the lead singer, has this unique voice and way of singing that will probably drive all groupies insane. Some might say it reminds of Lou Reed when he was young, but I'm afraid to say it's even better. The Strokes are pure and simple ROCK, with no frills, special effects or any modern excuses. They sound just like a NYC 70's band, straight out of Maxim's. Well, I don't buy the "salvation of rock" crap. What does rock need to be saved of anyway? But if it did, they would be the right ones to do it."

The strokes are way cooler than you and your momma

stripe_santoro | adelaide, Australia | 08/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm mad that I can't write a review for the album yet - I got it in July. These guys rolled through adelaide recently and I caught their show. Brilliant. I've been to a lot of gigs over the years but this one blew me away. They're like the Velvets playing 150% faster, but with more of an ear to melody aka Television. Hard to Explain is probably the most immediate pop track from the album, but not much like the pop you've been hearing in the charts recently - which makes the strokes so important. Not just because the music is so great - there's loads of great stuff around if you look for it - but because they have a very good chance of being huge. And raw rock and roll in the charts is a very good thing cos it influences the kiddies in the way of the axe and keeps the oldies happy as well. If I had kids I'd make them listen to this. All the time. In fact, everyone in the world could benefit from having these songs screamed in their ear. Everyone should sing like this. I'm going to start walking around with a little amplifier with a broken speaker and yell at everyone in a new york city accent. Why? Because it sounds so ... cool. Which is also the reason you should buy this single and the album and wear leather jackets."

THE BEST AND THE WORST

laineymacd | 08/08/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Hard to explain is probably the best song by the much overhyped Strokes, NYC Cops is easily their worst. With 8th grade lyrics like "NYC Cops, they're not really smart" you have to think twice about their credibility. Televison/Richard Hell vocals, gimmmicky songs, pretty boy looks. This band has yet to display what it takes to last.."