AMG Review of First Impressions of Earth

Heather Phares
All Music Guide

A mix of quintessential Strokes songs and daring experimentation, First Impressions of Earth features "You Only Live Once," which is everything a fan could want from a Strokes song: a joyful melody, skipping rhythm, and cheerfully snotty lyrics. "Juicebox," meanwhile, mixes a bassline nicked from the "Peter Gunn Theme" and ragged grunge before landing on a soaring chorus; love it or hate it, the song has unforgettable boldness and creativity. While jaded lyrical territory is nothing new for the Strokes, there's a new depth to the ennui; on the blasé ballad "Ask Me Anything," Casablancas repeats "I've got nothing to say" so often that the listener has no choice but to believe him. However, the band regains its fire on "Ize of the World" and "Razorblade."