The Strokes - side projects

I've been thinking about another side project post for a week or two now, but hearing River of Brakelights by Julian Casablancas is what really decided me. This was supposed to have been posted on Wednesday but, obviously, it wasn't. Apologies for a nearly empty week.

As you've probably guessed this post is going to be about side projects various members of The Strokes have engaged in, and I've also put in some songs they've guested on.

First off, lead vocalist Julian Casablancas. It makes sense, at least to me, to start with him because his album is due to be released on 2nd November (in most of Europe anyway. If you're in North America you'll have to wait until the 3rd). I get paid just before the release date, I'm choosing not to believe that's a coincidence.

Anyway. His solo album is called Phrazes For The Young. Go here and visit the official site. You can pre-order the album here.

Here are a couple of tracks from the album to tide you over, although you've probably already heard them. If you haven't heard them before, well, they're probably not what you expect:

11th Dimension (I know I've posted this before but that had the last few seconds chopped off, this one hasn't.)

River of Brakelights

There's no other solo material released, but here are another couple of non-Strokes tracks he's been involved in:

My Drive Thru - Julian Casablancas, Santogold and Pharrell Williams. If you don't know already this was made for Converse as some sort of centenary celebration. I'm not a huge fan of the song, but it is really catchy and I've had it stuck in my head for days.

Sick, Sick, Sick - Queens Of The Stone Age feat. Julian Casablancas on backing vocals and guitar.

Rhythm guitarist Albert Hammond Jr is the most prolific of The Strokes in terms of solo material. He's released two albums, Yours To Keep (buy)

Hard To Live In The City
Scared (linking in nicely this features Julian Casablancas on bass and backing vocals)
Postal Blowfish US bonus track.

and

¿Cómo Te Llama? (buy)

GfC.

Drummer Fabrizio Moretti's side project Little Joy sees him join up with Binki Shapiro and Rodrigo Amarante. He plays guitar and piano as well as his usual drums. So far only one, eponymous, album has been released. It's a perfect happy summer album. Or I assume so, we don't have summer's in Britain anymore. Anyway. It is a very enjoyable album (buy).

No One's Better Sake
Brand New Start

Little Joy also recorded a Daytrotter session which you can download here. Sadly it's only two songs, but they are two effortlessly enjoyable songs and they're free so it's hard to feel shortchanged.

He also plays drums on The Neon Neon song Dream Cars. Neon Neon are a side project of Gruff Rhys of SFA (it also features producer Boom Bip). See how neat it all is? And you thought these were just random fanboy rants.

Bassist Nikolai Fraiture recorded as Nickel Eye. Again, so far, just one album, The Time of the Assassins (buy). Like Little Joy it's a different sound from The Strokes, much folkier. Nikolai plays guitar and does lead vocals as well as playing the bass, the other band members being Joel Cadbury, Jamie McDonald and Brett Shaw.

It seems to divide opinions quite sharply, so listen to the tracks and make your own mind up:

Brandy Of The Damned
Back From Exile

There's also a Daytrotter session for you to check out here, with 4 songs from the album.

Lastly lead guitarist Nick Valensi. When Phrazes For The Young is released he'll be the only member of the Strokes without a side projet album released. He has however contributed to a couple of recordings. As well as playing on Little Joy's album he appears on these two tracks:

Better - Regina Spektor (guitar)
Shabop Shalom - Devendra Braveheart (guitar and backing vocals)

That's pretty much it. A long post, much longer than I intended. Thanks for sticking with me through to the end, I hope you enjoy the songs.

As a final treat here's The Strokes doing New York City Cops live, joined on stage by the king of side projects, Jack White:

New York City Cops - The Strokes feat. Jack White.