Album of the Month: April 2020

The month of April proved plentiful for music fans. There are a couple of albums that I really enjoyed this month like Quelle Chris and Chris Keys’ Innocent Country 2 and Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters to name a few. Despite these other great albums, I decided that my favorite album of the month was The Strokes’ The Normal Abnormal. The legendary band was on a seven-year hiatus before this release due to internal struggles. In addition, after their critically acclaimed first two albums, The Strokes struggled to maintain consistency with lackluster albums to follow their stellar beginnings. Going into the album, I was curious how The Strokes have changed in seven years and if they could return to their prime form. 

The result of the seven-year wait is an album that feels extremely refreshing. The mix of modern music production technology, trademark guitar riffs, and poignant lyrics all combine to create a full and immersive listen. For example, the opening song “The Adults Are Talking” starts off with a processed and strange drum loop. Seconds later, catchy guitar arpeggios jump in with a deep growling bassline underneath. Lead singer, Julian Casablancas, starts with a rather subdued vocal performance only to explode later in the track with heart-wrenching cries. The song’s lyrics follow an angry lovers’ quarrel that bursts with emotion at its climax. Throughout the song, your ear begins to catch on that the guitar arpeggios are bouncing off each other like an actual lover’s quarrel. This creative instrumentation and songwriting are what make this album so intriguing. Mind you, this was only the first song. 

The rest of this album is jam-packed with more brilliant feats of production and songwriting. The brooding lows of “Not the Same Anymore” and emotional highs of “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus” make this album an incredible rollercoaster ride. While not every track is stellar, this a very enjoyable and consistent listen throughout. Also, the experimentation with modern production techniques is cutting-edge and new for The Strokes. The synth-driven “At the Door” is a significant departure from the early 2000s The Strokes, but nonetheless very poignant and impressive.  

The Verdict: For its excellent songwriting, refreshingly beautiful instrumentation, and The Strokes consistency throughout, I believe that The New Abnormal is April 2020’s Album of the Month.