Remember this name, Luke Rathborne, trust me, it won’t be the last time you hear it. A 22 year old native from Maine, now residing in Brooklyn, Luke brings a sound which heavily resembles the Strokes with a more roots approach. After reading his bio, this guy doesn’t shy away from hardships. At the age of 18, moved to NYC where he couched surfed intermittently and ended up making home in an abandoned theater. I was fortunate to catch him opening for Noah and the Whale at the Troubadour earlier this week as he quickly mesmerized the audience with energetic vocals and crisp guitar licks. I immediately sensed his passion for the music he was playing as he evidently thrives in front of a live audience. The track which stood out from his set the most was Dog Years which puts things in perspective when the hook emerges:

This is the Dog Years, don’t let it go on by.

This is the Dog Years, don’t let it take you down to size.”

The lyrics really put a great outlook on life especially for those who are young at heart. The best moments of your life can happen so quickly within the Dog Years, this track only inspires everyone to make the most of the life you live and never look back. Luke Rathborne will be opening for the Strokes at SXSW, so you know once he’s exposed to the masses in Austin, he will be on everyone’s radar for 2011. Give the rest of his EP a listen as Mr. Rathborne will be a fixture by the end of the year.

- Joel

Luke Rathborne – Dog Years

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After five years apart, The Strokes have returned. The New Yorkers’ careers have been marked by many of the pitfalls that hamstring so many of their ilk- drug problems, rehab, etc. It’s all part of being a rockstar, and somehow one feels that the art would suffer without the lifestyle to inform and inspire it.

Now that three of the five Strokes are married with kids, it wouldn’t be that surprising if their music began to reflect their new-found stability; a safer, edgeless, sound, more at home in Westchester than Downtown Manhattan. Thankfully, with each new leak from their upcoming album, Angles (set for a March 22 release), that possibility seems less and less likely.

Yesterday, The Strokes released two more tracks from Angles. “Machu Picchu” and “Taken For A Fool” are markedly different from the earlier leaks, giving us further insight into the New York group’s new sound.

At first, “Taken For A Fool” almost sounds like Gorillaz cover. The bass line and back beat screams “Feel Good, Inc,” until the chorus washes it all away in a garage-rock wave of distorted power chords and grungy vocals. The contrast between the different sections of the song is wonderful- the shoulder tightening tension of the verses building perfectly into the anguished release of the hook.

“Machu Picchu” has more of a ska feel- the jangly guitars, the driving beat, Julian Casablanca’s narcotic vocals. It’s reminiscent of The Clash, in the best way possible.

Both tracks are up-beat and danceable, but this is rainy day dance music, perfect for long, grey Thursdays when the sky opens up and seems like it won’t ever close. Get off the couch, plug in your speakers, and shake off some of those early spring blues.

The Strokes – Taken For A Fool

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The Strokes – Machu Picchu

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via New York Pudding

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By now I’m sure most of you have heard about the new Julian Casablancas album Phrazes For The Young, and if you’ve heard the whole thing I’m curious to know what you think about it. I posted 11th Dimension and we all know how great that song is but I can’t say the rest of the album had the same impact. It’s a decent album but aside from that song, Left & Right In The Dark and say maybe two more there’s just nothing that standout to rave about. Don’t get me wrong, I like the album but I may have to listen to it a little more to really understand it.

With that said, I thought it would be nice to go back to 2001 for a second and post a little post-punk/garage rock revival for your Thursday morning. The new Julian Casablancas still writes incredible songs but I have to say the energy and sound he was so meticulous about creating back in those is second to none. The vocals seemed to blend in better with the production and everything came together to give you that unique experience that pretty much created that garage punk movement at the time.

Someday is my favorite track from The Strokes extremely hyped and critically acclaimed LP, Is This It. No special fx, no lasers, no spaceships, just rock & roll. I’d like to elaboraterate more but have way too much on my plate today, enjoy a break from the space age.

The Strokes – Someday

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Julian Casablancas – Left & Right In The Dark

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Julian Casablanca is an incredible writer, this songs lyrics for example are packed with enough gems and insightful quotes to keep one coming back for days. Those of you who know Julian as the song writer/lead singer of The Strokes will immediately notice that this is something very different.

And you hear, what you want to hear
And they take what they want to take
Don’t be sad, won’t ever happen like this anymore
So whens it coming? This life’s new great movement that I can join
The warning here
Your faith has got to be greater than your fear.”

That last line is truth is musical form. I don’t know if it’s like this with most people but I feel like I have some of my best conversations listening to music. You know how break up with someone and then all of a sudden every song on the radio sounds like it’s talking specifically about your situation and emotions at the time? Well, it’s like that for me too, except all the time and the spectrum is far broader then love songs. Anyways, it’s 10 am and I’m just getting home from last night and need to rest. That said, I’ll leave you guys with some more lyrics to chew on and a great song, enjoy.

Drop your guard, you don’t have to be smart all of the time
I got a mind full of blanks
I need to go somewhere new fast
And don’t be shy, oh no, at least deliberately
No one really cares or wanders why anymore
Oh I got music, coming outta my hands and feet and kisses
That is how it once was done
All the dreamers on the run”

Julian Casablanca – 11th Dimension

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