Angles - The Strokes
User Score
7.5 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 138 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 117 out of 138
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 138
  3. Negative: 9 out of 138

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  1. ricktizzle
    Apr 10, 2011
    3
    I had a feeling this was not a great record when the band reported that they were recording without Julian for a majority of the sessions. The result is exciting at times, interesting at others, but overall this album never really gets going. "Taken for a Fool' and "Under Cover of Darkness" sound like The Strokes at their best, but the rest of this album is forgettable. Hopefully, extensive touring will help them regain their swagger and comeback album #2 will be a much more impressive effort… Expand
  2. highwiredays
    Mar 30, 2011
    4
    Gone too long, the second track on this album is AMAZING but I had to replay it about 100 times because all the other tracks on this album are just bad. Weak, no power, WHAT HAPPENED?? I hope thy return with a vengeance after this because they really need to do so.
  3. Dec5
    Mar 23, 2011
    3
    I kept trying to dig this album because I dig The Strokes. I enjoyed Julian Casablanca's solo album, Phrazes..., more and I thought that had some real misses. From what I've heard this was the groups first real collaborative effort, as the prior albums were mainly brainchildren of Julian. It feels like it a collaboration album, with the songs competitive and discordant with one another. I'm slow on music and I'll probably 'figure it out' and enjoy it later, but right now it has me scratching my head.… Expand
  4. seldom
    Mar 25, 2011
    3
    I first saw their appearance on SNL. Under Cover of Darkness and Life is Simple in the Moonlight sounded a bit more commerical then usual but still like, ok, they're back, let's listen to the new work! In the last decade the Strokes were one of the bands who saved rock n' roll, after all. When I first listed to the whole album I was simply shocked. The opening track Macchu Picchu was fitting perfectly for a new Franz Ferdinand single while You're So Right for a Radiohead one! Games seemed to be probably a nice electropop song, ok for a Julian's solo album but, what about rock n' roll? Then, when Metabolism sounded like Muse, it turned into a nightmare, I just could not believe my ears.
    After the initial disappointment and some further listening the feeling of an album that will not last long aroused anyway. Let's hope this will not be the way the band wants to turn into... they announced they will be back recording for the fifth album immediately, in April! I'm scared!    … Collapse

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 41
  3. Negative: 1 out of 41
  1. Filter
    May 10, 2011
    60
    The result is mixed and at times strained, but a spark still lies within.
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  2. American Songwriter
    May 2, 2011
    60
    When all is said and done, Angles could make for an exciting introduction to a new chapter for The Strokes, or it could be a disappointing swan song.
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  3. Q Magazine
    May 2, 2011
    80
    Angles fits 10 songs into a brisk 34 minutes and doesn't waste time gunning for gravitas. [Apr 2011, p.92]
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