Review: Julian Casablancas, 'Phrazes for the Young'

Review: Julian Casablancas, 'Phrazes for the Young'

Review: Julian Casablancas, 'Phrazes for the Young': Aidin Vaziri | Nothing on Julian Casablancas' first solo album reminds you that he's the lead singer of skinny-tie wearing New York rockers the Strokes. OK, his bleary voice - less processed, more confident - is familiar, but its surroundings mark a far cry from the efficient, propulsive clatter of his group's signature tune, "Last Nite." Half-inflated mariachi horns wrap around the slow-moving "Tourist," shrill synthesizers punch the air on the Tubeway Army-inspired "Glass" and "4 Chords of the Apocalypse" isn't quite the distortion-drenched guitar freak out you hope for, but rather a wobbly piano ballad set to amateurish laptop beats. Casablancas' desire to experiment is fine, but barring the buoyant opening track, "Out of the Blue," this mainly serves to heighten the anticipation of his inevitable return to the day job.