Julian Casablancas said at Coachella that the new music was meant to alienate the right people. If that meant that all those who have been convinced of their need for a succession of shiny happy pop songs to get them to work and who wish for the early days of the Strokes with the same fervor usually reserved for the opening of a new Starbucks nearby, then yes, this album will alienate people.
Or it could provoke the indulgent pat on the back – it’s new, it’s bizarre, well done mate, now where’s the next Strokes album, blah blah blah.
But just listen.
