The Strokes - 12:51

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SORRY, YOU'RE NOT THE CARS.

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought this was going to be some sort of Bible quotin' thread. Dang.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"And St. Julian raised the Holy Guitar Pedal up on high saying, 'Oh Lord, bless this thy Holy Guitar Pedal, so we may use it to blow our critics to tiny BITS...in thy mercy.'"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Where have you heard it?

― Sam J. (samjeff), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

From Isaiah;
29:24 Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, 29:25 Thus
speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in
thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah
the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 29:26 The LORD hath made thee priest in the
stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every
man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and
in the stocks.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Luke 12:51
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Exodus 12:51
And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Julian Casablancas = Ian Curtis thanks I'm out of here.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

that's weird how both passages (as far as I could tell, the only chapters that have 12:51s) end in a variant of division?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

HUR HUR MAYBE HE'LL HANG HIMSELF TOO

PS PAVEMENT RULZ

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/vramamur/The_St...rokes-12-51.mp3

I hope that link works.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:44 (twenty-two years ago)

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/vramamur/The_Strokes-12-51.mp3

try this one.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The Strokes 12:51 sez I just whooped yer ass

I actually joked that this album would be my generation's Candy-O without actually hearing it or knowing they'd stick in Ocaseky keyboards. Well hey, maybe this will end those godawful stupid VU comparisons.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Keep these Strokes threads comin'! I wanna get in the Da Capo book!

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:03 (twenty-two years ago)

ARRRRGGGHHH

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

One more time!

The whole VU thing never made sense to me. Nabisco citing the Romantics was a closer call (I still think there's more straight up synth pop influence in the end but I suppose the guitars force a different comparison.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

that de capo book haunts me every time i go into barnes and noble like the specter of evil.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

dubplatealias@hotmail.com!!! haha.

Is this song really only 2:11 long?

― David. (Cozen), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I love love love the Strokes but I'm not at all sure about this song.

― David. (Cozen), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

so, hey, did they pay you guys for that, or pay anyone for that?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

i have scribbled "PAY ME FUCKERS" in at least 50 of those things by now.

so wait...it's NOT twelve minutes and fifty one seconds long?!

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:13 (twenty-two years ago)

WOW! That song sucks.

Any other songs released?

― strokensuck, Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a live version of Reptilia floating around the web that I hear is supposed to be good.

What's the story on the Da Capo book? I'm clueless.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread sucks.

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Their best song so far.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

BUT DONUT BITCH THEY'RE NOT THE CARS

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

song is okay - a grower i think, interesting voice effect

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Singing?

― David. (Cozen), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:31 (twenty-two years ago)

YOU CAN'T DENY IT STRONGO.

(for this would mean the Strokes have a "Drive" in them somewhere)

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I like it. Cool sound, I like the keyboards, my only complaint would be the sing-songy melody is kind of slight. And they're still using that tinny effect on Julian's voice. But basically good.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

EVANESCENCE IS WAY BETTER

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Thursday, 28 August 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

BUT EVANESCENCE ISN'T THE CARS EITHER

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 28 August 2003 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

WEDNESDAY IS THE NEW TUESDAY

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 28 August 2003 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

THURSDAY IS THE NEW JOY DIVISION!

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Thursday, 28 August 2003 20:59 (twenty-two years ago)

JOY DIVISION IS THE NEW STROKES

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Thursday, 28 August 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

THE NEW STROKES ARE THE OLD STROKES

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 28 August 2003 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

THE OLD STROKES ARE THE NEW INTERPOL!

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Thursday, 28 August 2003 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

BRING BACK THE OLD STROKES, WHY CHANGE THEM, THEY WEREN'T COKE

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 28 August 2003 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I PUT THIS SONG ON LOOP FOR ABOUT 10 PLAYS AND I STILL CAN'T FUCKING REMEMBER IT

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Thursday, 28 August 2003 23:53 (twenty-two years ago)

it's a great song! it just sounds like a really good strokes song. i don't know what you were all expecting.

― minna (minna), Friday, 29 August 2003 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I wish Belinda Carlisle was singing this song. and Jane Wieldin was playing guitar too.

― Mike Taylor (mjt), Friday, 29 August 2003 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

this can't really be the whole song, that fade feels fake.

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 29 August 2003 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I PUT THIS SONG ON LOOP FOR ABOUT 10 PLAYS AND I STILL CAN'T FUCKING REMEMBER IT

Bin-fucking-go!

I heard this song for the first time today on Xfm and the first thing I thought was, "oh my god they're The Cars now!"

And' I've only heard two Cars songs. Yeah, the obvious ones.

Disappointed, but not surprised at that.

The Strokes are the US Oasis: they make uncomplicated music the populace will warm to, and instantly recognise as them, but not *really* LOVE, y'know?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Friday, 29 August 2003 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)

The Strokes are the US Oasis: they make uncomplicated music the populace will warm to, and instantly recognise as them, but not *really* LOVE, y'know?

A lot of people really loved Oasis. But musically speaking, this is still a great analogy.

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 29 August 2003 02:09 (twenty-two years ago)

(meaning, yeah, band from country influenced by certain key bands of the past from said country make something simple and pleasant enough, and score audiences on both sides of ocean)

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 29 August 2003 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

this is a pretty little song, very sad in a way.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 1 September 2003 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

no it's not spencer its a very slight song and it is sad but not in that way.

― jed_e_3 (jed_e_3), Monday, 1 September 2003 00:37 (twenty-two years ago)

its been in my head a lot this weekend

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 September 2003 00:38 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone got it on slsk/a working link to an mp3?

― toby (tsg20), Monday, 1 September 2003 05:05 (twenty-two years ago)

yes it is jed_e_3.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 1 September 2003 07:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Finally got to hear this. I quite like the guitar line and the "sound," though I agree it's a little too sing-songy. (It sounds like an even better song could have been made out of these components -- especially when you just hear the intro, before the vocals kick in.) I think, in the context of an album, it may sound even better; but, as a single, it's more like a "teaser."

(I'm also not sure about the lyrics - "We could go and get 40s?")

― Sam J. (samjeff), Saturday, 6 September 2003 18:31 (twenty-two years ago)

that lyric is perfect in a nostalgia kind of way

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 6 September 2003 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm starting to warm up to this band, but the thing i still find EXTREMELY FUCKING ODD about the Strokes' popularity juxtaposed with their music is that they sound like one guy who records catchy guitar indie pop in his bedroom. The drums sounds like a drum machine. The guitars all kinda sound like one guitar, and overrides the bass. now there's a keyboard part. and the singer is just a distorted echo in the background somewhere. Even Robert Pollard's or Rob Crow's (latest) solo stuff sounds more like a band than the Strokes.

I have no problem with this, nor the concept or fantasy that the Strokes are a just boy band that takes its fashion directives from different sources than those most mainstream, and rehearses prewritten songs for them. But at least most pop groups have some form of sparkle to them that shows a collaborative warmth and identity.

Maybe if "The Strokes" were just called "Julian Casablancas", then it would be easier to grasp...

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 6 September 2003 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

but the thing i still find EXTREMELY FUCKING ODD about the Strokes' popularity juxtaposed with their music is that they sound like one guy who records catchy guitar indie pop in his bedroom.

better than bright eyes, at least the strokes are catchy.

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:15 (twenty-two years ago)

The drums sounds like a drum machine.

Their best feature. My long standing argument that they should just ditch the guitars and go all synth remains.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

They need to keep the guitar solos! But, yes, more synths would do them good

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Sunday, 7 September 2003 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oooh, the more I listen to this, the more I like it. I'm getting SERIOUSLY jazzed about Room on Fire.

I now actually appreciate the gesture of making their Big Comeback Single so extremely modest, by anyone's standards (verse verse bridge verse done).

― Sam J. (samjeff), Sunday, 7 September 2003 21:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Just downloaded the song ... sounds like it was made for about $70 ... but sounds like the Strokes nonetheless ... Casablancas has a really fine ear for this kind of pop. Only complaint: Yeah, the Cars' were the masters of the Casio loop ... these guys aren't.

― Chris O'Connor (Chris O'Connor), Monday, 8 September 2003 07:10 (twenty-two years ago)

It sucks.

Sucks sucks sucks sucks sucks.

Let's discuss the reasons why it sucks.

1) The vocal track is the VERY FIRST TRACK, at the bottom of the song where the drum usually is. This means that the LYRICS are the FARTHEST FUCKING THING TO THE BACKGROUND OF THE SONG. This is wrong. I mean, sure, plenty of good songs have incomprehensible lyrics, but nobody ever would have figured out what Julian Vocalist Guy was saying anyway ("Hard to Explain," "Take It or Leave It"), so why obscure the lyrics further? Are they really THAT bad? Don't "sing" them, then! "Sing" nonsense lyrics instead! You can make shit up as you go along (my attempt: "I'm a moose/I like cheese/Won't you be/My mushroom, please?") and many idiot rock critics will think it's creative.

2) An organ is played. Also, it's not a real organ at all; it's a FUCKING SYNTHESIZER ORGAN. This is also wrong. Now, I'm not suggesting that all organ noises are bad - some, for instance, aren't - but this synthorganthingie isn't serving any useful purpose. A synthless band will usually only become non-synthless to add catchiness to a shitty song. The Strokes are apparently following that tradition, considering the quality of the song, yet no extra catchiness is squeezed out. This is because the synth player is playing a STROKES GUITAR RIFF (two variations of the same damn chord).

3) Continuing 2), NO part of the song is memorable or catchy. Usually, with the Strokes, the singy-hummy-mumbly part is ("HTE" again, "Is This It?," hell, the whole ITI? album), and the instruments just bang out a boring 4/4 beat. But in the case of this flaming turd, see 1).

4) Julian bothers to "sing." Reviewing 1), if the lyrics really ARE that fucking bad, why have lyrics at all? Shut up for once! Maybe you'll realize then what a shitty song you've written!

5) In addition to the synth, a guitar is played. This is wronger than 2). See, if the synth is just playing the guitar line, then also having a guitar on your song means you are employing one too many musicians. And on this song, the too many musicians are doing jobs better fit for chimpanzees.

6) It's the first single from the Strokes' new album. Normally, the first single is the best song on the album, so that consumers will think "hmmm, good song" and buy the damn album. Obviously, this song can't be the best on the album, but listeners will THINK it is, and not a single copy of the album will ever be sold. Whateverthefuck record label the Strokes are on is either collectively moronic (not likely) or making a none-too-subtle statement about the rest of the album.

7) Did I mention that it sucks?

― Lewis J. Bateman (Lewis Bateman), Monday, 8 September 2003 08:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"to add catchiness to a shitty song"

HOW FUCKING DARE THEY

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 8 September 2003 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

clearly they should be using a chainsaw and a hammer instead of a synth to ensure minimum catchiness, and the sleeve should have sharp knives and nettles all over it

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 8 September 2003 08:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry Lewis, I'm sure you're a swell guy with good taste but you've made "12:51" sound like the greatest record ever! Points 1-6 you made are like Page One of my "ideal fantasy production manual"!

― dave q, Monday, 8 September 2003 08:57 (twenty-two years ago)

God how awful would the Strokes be if they had something like a Hammond on their records? It doesn't bear thinking about.

"12:51" is OK - fanbase bands like the Strokes don't often put the best song out as a first single, they wait until after the album when the buying public have noticed them again before boosting sales with the Big Sure-Fire Hit (eg Last Nite).

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 8 September 2003 09:04 (twenty-two years ago)

'how awful would the Strokes be if they had something like a Hammond on their records?'

or even a Hammond JUNIOR!!! haw haw. (Tom- what WERE you thinking!?)

― dave q, Monday, 8 September 2003 09:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm too much of a Strokes fan to know who's in the band Dave!

(oh dear)

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 8 September 2003 09:17 (twenty-two years ago)

That Dom Passantino plays a mean synth.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 8 September 2003 09:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Strokes backlash this time around is going to be much more enjoyable than Liz Phair backlash.

― don weiner, Monday, 8 September 2003 11:37 (twenty-two years ago)

That thing everyone keeps saying is a keyboard - I assumed it was a guitar ("treated" somehow). But I guess I trust you guys' ears.

― Sam J. (samjeff), Monday, 8 September 2003 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

That's like saying an saltwater/lemon juice papercut dousing is going to be much more enjoyable than a curling iron up the pooper

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Monday, 8 September 2003 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm starting to think the word "catchy" is as subjective as "good".

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 8 September 2003 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

>>That thing everyone keeps saying is a keyboard - I assumed it was a guitar ("treated" somehow). But I guess I trust you guys' ears.

I think I read somewhere one of them saying that it was in fact a guitar.

― Love Daddy, Monday, 8 September 2003 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

(Actually Liz Phair deserves her backlash slightly more so reverse those two)

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Monday, 8 September 2003 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

The day the Strokes start using TYCO Hot Lixx synthtars is the day I give it up and give it all out for the Strokes.

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 8 September 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Normally, the first single is the best song on the album,

yeah, riiiiight

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 September 2003 22:36 (twenty-two years ago)

(The Cripples to thread)

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 8 September 2003 22:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Just got the promo CD from the record label - it lists the instrumental credits, and it's the usual 2 gtrs, bass, drums, vox. No synth.

― Sam J. (samjeff), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Yup. See, the really weird part is that the singing is coming from the guitar, just put through really modern special effects pedals. And the "synth" part is actually Julian, gargling salt water through a vocoder. Bleeding edge tech rock, I tell you.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

The stupid idiots have put up an mp3 of it on their website, too.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Yay, the cover art!

― Sam J. (samjeff), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

(But will there be a classy b&w ass photo outside the U.S.?)

― Sam J. (samjeff), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Kate to thread

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 9 September 2003 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

ARGH, ARGH, ARGH, ARGH, ARGHHHH!!!

I tried replying to this about TEN TIMES from a trendy winebar in Shoreditch last night, but their connection was CRAP. There is nothing WORSE than being summonsed to thread and being unable to spout drunken rants when you need to...

Anyway.

All I have to say on the subject at hand is this:

WHO CARES?!?!? LOOK AT HIS ASSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 12:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I heard some new Strokes song on the radio and didn't learn anything about the cool people in New York City. What good are the Strokes if they can't even manage that?

― Kris (aqueduct), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

The cool people in New York City are nostalgic for the old days. Also: the subway is a porno.

― Sam J. (samjeff), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 18:23 (twenty-two years ago)

*having just realized i've tapped into the ilxor summoning power of Greyskull*

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 19:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess the Strokes will always sound obscure the first time but the second time I heard this I made out the words "take it slow" and I guess I like it now.

― Kris (aqueduct), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

i loved "is this it" but i kinda have to agree with strongo, they're not the cars. the beat was disappointing too. i mean, they're a dance band, i'd prefer they pep it up a bit, at least for their songles.

― Felcher (Felcher), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I have almost no desire to hear this.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 10 September 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

IS THAT IT HUR HUR

and did anybody notice that their website tells their fans to call radio stations and "request" the single. how quaint.

― Dave M. (rotten03), Thursday, 11 September 2003 00:40 (twenty-two years ago)

It's really grown on me - thought it was slight the first time I heard it, but the handclaps have quite won me over. It's no more than a basic Strokes song that you can't really dance to, but it's likeable.

(although now they've put the .mp3 up on their site I will be obligated to buy either the single or the album, because to do otherwise would mean the RIAA were right. dammit.)

― cis (cis), Thursday, 11 September 2003 10:29 (twenty-two years ago)

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