We all know the ‘we couldn’t be arsed and just wanted to give our record company something so we can get out of our contract’ approach bands sometimes take with albums. Yes, the ‘pretend we’re happy with the album in interviews’ angle just to get through it and then later disown the album. So, what are we to think of The Strokes now that they have their new album out and guitarist Nick Valensi apparently hated making it?
In a long interview with Pitchfork, Valensi has slagged off his band mates’ solo efforts, saying “I’m not a huge supporter of side/solo stuff. I’m of the opinion that you’re in a band and that’s what you do. If there’s leftover material and time, then sure, by all means. But if you’re playing material that you haven’t even shown to your main band and you’re just sort of keeping it for yourself, I’m not a big fan of that.”
He then went on to say that he hated making the album because front man Julian Casablancas didn’t want to come to the studio – he sent his vocals in remotely by email. Valensi said “I won’t do the next album we make like this. No way. It was awful– just awful. Working in a fractured way, not having a singer there. I’d show up certain days and do guitar takes by myself, just me and the engineer. Some of the third album was done that way, but at least we were on the same page about what the arrangements and parts were. Seventy-five percent of this album felt like it was done together and the rest of it was left hanging, like some of us were picking up the scraps and trying to finish a puzzle together.”
Guys, you haven’t put out a decent album since your debut and while we have high hopes for the new one, get your shit together and don’t break up – we need you!
