Angles

After Is This It got them slapped on magazine covers across the globe and hailed as the saviors of good ol' fashioned rock ‘n roll, The Strokes spent the better part of a decade seemingly unsure what to do next. After two mediocre LPs and a flurry of side projects (the best being singer Julian Casablancas' underrated synth-pop experiment Phrazes For The Young), the band has finally regrouped in a meaningful way with Angles, their first record in five years and easily their strongest since the debut. The ten-song collection sincerely courts the interest of old fans, with the smashing lead single "Under Cover of Darkness" re-capturing the youthful spirit of "Last Nite" and the laid-back jangle of "Someday." Much of the album's appeal comes from its back-to-basics feel: it's been years since the band embraced a recording quality this raw, allowing Casablancas' louche croon and Albert Hammond, Jr.'s noisy soloing to return with a vengeance. But Angles makes itself relevant in 2011 by pushing the band into some new/old directions. Opener "Macchu Picchu" hits with a reggae-punk vibe reminiscent of The Clash, while "Games" earnestly chases an 80s feel, bass throb, airy synths and all. With Arctic Monkeys fading, The Libertines missing in action and the White Stripes gone, perhaps these model-chasing punks really were the saviors of indie rawk after all.