SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE STROKES – THE SINGLES – VOLUME 01

The Strokes
The Singles – Volume 01
Sony Music Canada

Several terms have been used to describe the sound of The Strokes, including ‘indie rock’, ‘garage rock revival’, and ‘post-punk revival’. Whichever term you choose, the inescapable fact is that this New York City band was at the vanguard of the resurgence of guitar-driven rock in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The release of this box set celebrates 10 singles from the band’s first three albums. However, there are also other goodies to be had, including early versions of “The Modern Age (Rough Trade Version)”, and “Last Nite (Rough Trade Version)” which were released on UK independent label Rough Trade on an EP before their first album Is This It came out in 2001 on RCA Records. It is interesting to listen to these early cuts and hear the beginnings of what became their signature sound. Lead singer Julian Casablancas has said repeatedly that he drew inspiration from Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground, and his singing style certainly bears this out.

It is always nice to have live recordings included on box sets like this, and “Clampdown”, recorded at Alexandra Palace in London in Dec. 2003 shows that Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti, are a tight outfit as they cover this classic by The Clash.

Even if you weren’t aware of The Strokes before listening to this release, The Singles – Volume 01 is well worth a listen. This is a musically enjoyable and thoughtfully curated, box set.

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