Anyone who's read this blog would know that 2010s rock isn't my thing. Trust me. New school indie hasn't sounded appealing to me in any way since 2013. But recently, I've noticed a huge surge of artists coming onto the scene (or just creating new bands in that scene) who are truly unique and different. CRX is one of these bands. Ways To Fake ItOf course, I'll be saying that CRX sound very Strokes. But the vocal style of frontman Nick Valensi is very different from that of Julian Casablancas, and gives CRX a much tougher feel than the Strokes. The opening track of CRX really sets the vibe of the album, and even the band themselves. While Casablancas usually focuses on deep metaphors and lyrics that won't make sense on the surface. Valensi is very straightforward, which I appreciate. Broken BonesThis song sounds much darker than the opening track, and the guitar riff and percussion sound less like the Strokes. I guess that's kind of the point, though. You can't just be all Strokes all the time. While I could definitely see this riff fitting into a Strokes song, it definitely wouldn't sound the same. This song makes me want to fight my enemies in a warehouse. Give It UpThis track strays even further from the Strokes. This sounds like something from late 90s or early 00s punk rock. I'm not complaining, though. I don't think the vocals match the instrumentals very well, but that's fine. I also like the electronic elements in this song. Oh, by the way, did I ever mention my freshman year algebra 1 teacher taught math to Nick Valensi and his sister? That's unrelated to this review, but still a pretty cool fact. This song makes me feel dizzy, honestly. But in a good way, of course. AnythingThis song starts off with energetic guitar and synth which is always a good sign for me. Valensi's vocals are once again strong and energetic, which is something that makes this album really unique. I definitely have been enjoying the lighter, more enthusiastic songs on this album. This song definitely reminds me of the Strokes, and has a killer guitar solo, which is always something I like. WallsThis track has Nick Valensi's signature guitar style going full speed ahead. If I needed a song to sum up my Mario Kart experiences, this would be the song. I also noticed that the lyrics of this song really fit the fast-paced riff, considering Valensi frantically sings that he doesn't know what to make of it when everyone is faking it. And that guitar solo! Slow DownI would say this sounds a bit ska, but I'm hoping it goes somewhere else. This song reminds me of the Bravery's Above And Below. But yeah, it does sound a little ska. I can imagine hearing this in a Surf Taco in a mix of exclusively Sublime and Blink-182 (they're not ska! I know!). On EdgeThis could fit in with the playlist of old-school hard rock playing in Princeton Record Exchange tonight. This song has a nice guitar solo, and of course Nick Valensi's crunchy, repetitive vocals echoing through the whole song. UnnaturalThis album has made it very clear that Nick Valensi is straying from the metaphoric, pep-filled style of the Strokes and going for a darker, more intense sound. This song is reminding me of the Bowser's Castle level in Mario Kart Wii. That's weird, I guess, but adds to the feel of the song. One Track MindApart from the vocals, this song could very easily fit on the Strokes' First Impressions Of The Earth. Valensi's signature guitar style really shines through on this track, along with his strong and straightforward vocals. The bass on this track is also incredibly strong, as well as the percussion. This might be one of my favorite tracks on the album. Like most of this songs on this album, it has a very hard rock-esque guitar solo, which comes in at the end. Monkey MachineThis track is again very strong and has an intense, fast paced riff. The percussion is also very intense and fast paced, adding to the mood of the track. The guitar solo around halfway through the song also contributes a lot to the overall tone of this track. Overall, this is a very strong closing track to a very strong album. ConclusionIn conclusion, this album has done a great job showing Nick Valensi's potential outside of the usually upbeat tone of the Strokes. My one negative for this album is that the musical styles could have been a bit more diverse in the second half, because a lot of the upbeat vibes from the first half of the album were gone by the second half, and it started to get a bit repetitive. That's just my opinion, though, as everything is on this blog.
See you soon.
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About The AuthorLiah is a high school senior who plays guitar and loves the color yellow. She doesn't post much, but when she does, it's awesome. We promise.
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