Julian Casablancas

In an ominous monotone, the Strokes' frontman claims "timing is everything." Maybe that's why he waited so long to go solo as his fellow bandmates flourished elsewhere. Casablancas' debut comes at the close of a decade obsessed with all things retro, a fixation his band helped spark. So it's apt that he celebrates more nostalgia here -- via '80s synth pop. His lyrical wordplay retains that touch of apathetic coolness, but the black-leather rock is now neon-electro chic. Highlight "Ludlow St." adds a boozy banjo strut, while the synths and horns on "Tourist" leave you wanting more.

On their recent side projects, Fab, Albert and Nikolai tried to show they could work
outside the Strokes' neo-New Wave sound. Julian Casablancas' solo debut takes that MO to
its limit. Phrazes is like his version of Thom Yorke's The Eraser — guitars submarined by
wild-angled synths, off-kilter beats tripping up big ballads. A few songs have the old
leather-jacket kick, but things get weirder as he explores alienation from a Low... More >