The Strokes’ new indie rock album “The New Abnormal” was released on April 10. The album incorporates both gloomy and upbeat elements, giving it a unique atmosphere that will attract a variety of listeners. Photo fair use of Pitchfork.com
A perfect fit for the current abnormality of the world due to COVID-19, The Strokes’ new album, “The New Abnormal”, mirrors the world’s current tone while offering a surreal diversion from reality.
The Strokes released their new indie rock album “The New Abnormal” on April 10. Combining melancholy vocals with layers of electronic sounds, the album provides a mesmerizing escape from reality as the world settles into its own “new abnormal” amid the outbreak of COVID-19.
The band previously released some of the album’s songs as singles — “At The Door”, “Bad Decisions” and “Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus” — starting in February, their first releases since 2013.
The thoughtful combination of songs presents an imaginative atmosphere, allowing listeners to get lost in lead singer Julian Casablancas’ immersive vocals and tune out the world around them.
In songs like “Ode To The Mets” and “The Adults Are Talking”, a wandering guitar and percussive elements define the band’s transportive melodies, while slower songs such as “At the Door” have simpler instrumentation and the lyrics are emphasized. This adds enough variation to the otherwise consistent album in genre and audience.
The album’s lyrics reflect on some of the band’s history, evoking nostalgia, while other songs such as “The Adults are Talking”, which examines social superiority, explore more complex societal issues that add to the album’s allure.
But above all, the album is powered by its dichotomy. The band achieves an air of gloom through the use of emotive, almost melodramatic vocals and lyrics while it is equally rooted in a solid beat and instrumental progression comparable to more upbeat rock. This contrast creates a Strokes-specific unpredictability, giving each song momentum to keep listeners engaged.
This duality reflects the global climate in a way, as many find themselves invested in both fear and hope during these uncertain times.
By experimenting with different musical elements, The Strokes have constructed a work of art that echoes the world’s tone while simultaneously providing a dreamlike escape from the realities of COVID-19 — a feat that highlights the purpose of the entertainment industry as it finds its normalcy in 2020.
