Phrazes For The Young - Julian Casablancas
User Score
9.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 63 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 63
  3. Negative: 1 out of 63

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  1. VinnyG
    Jan 20, 2010
    10
    Great! I bought the deluxe version with 11 tracks and the last three tracks are some of my favorites. I really like this CD because it's varied, interesting, very catchy all while maintaining a likeness to The Strokes, yet sounding nothing like the strokes (confused? lol). I hope it does well!
  2. Bruno
    Jan 26, 2010
    10
    Nice Surprise. Different from everything is being done and with that strokes feeling.
  3. DJL
    Jan 20, 2010
    9
    Pretty kickass Strokes album if you ask me. The album doesn't conjeal that well. But as a stab from frontman Julian I consider it a resounding success. It's best moments are as good as The Strokes.
  4. BRandonD
    Nov 4, 2009
    9
    Fantastic. Better than the last Strokes record, and a future classic such as Room on Fire.
  5. Jesse
    Nov 4, 2009
    9
    The new strokes album it is not. what it is however is fantastic collection of head-bobbers and introspective thinkers from a guy who has never show us this side before. well done.
  6. TrentM
    Nov 5, 2009
    10
    Excellent album. Some beautiful melodies and some poignant lyrics. Very pleasantly surprised. Best Casablanca's written record since "This is It:"
  7. JamesR
    Nov 7, 2009
    10
    A fantastically ambitious album, if a little flawed. Highlights include Glass, 11th Dimension, River of Brakelights & Tourist. I feel that the genre style of some songs are inconsistent with the rest of the album. This is most apparent in 4 Chords of the Apocalypse & Ludlow St. However these two songs have points strong enough to more than justify their inclusion on the album (4 Chords... solo, Ludlow St.'s Chorus) and eventually grew to be loved. Ridiculously catchy hooks as well as some ambitious musicianship mean I'm going to give this a 10 for effort alone, as well as many, many plays.… Expand
  8. RyanC
    Nov 19, 2009
    10
    Great record. Best of the solo Strokes records by far and just as good if not better than FIOE.
  9. GregoireR
    Nov 25, 2009
    9
    Long awaited album. Slowly bringing you right back to where you were when the strokes were playing years ago. And then adds another layer of emotion. New ones. Good ones. 8 tracks carefully crafted not by pride nor by marketing.
  10. TerranceG
    Nov 4, 2009
    10
    Julian's awesome solo attempt breaks the long-lived pattern of crappy albums this year. To Julian: Thank You Sir, May I have Another.
  11. AlanL
    Nov 4, 2009
    10
    The album went beyond my expectations. I love it! I just bought the album yesterday and I can't stop listening to it.
  12. Cheerdealer
    Jun 16, 2011
    10
    I think a metascore of only 72 for this album is a big mistake, it should be up the 85/90 at least, then again, critics don't go well with people opinion, this album is so creative, complex, and full of catchy melodies and interesting lyrics, Julian's voice shines all over the album, my best track should be "Glass", excellent melody, great album.
  13. JawsPapi87
    Oct 19, 2011
    9
    Julian Casablancas takes a huge step from his vocals in First Impressions of Earth to this album, where he seems twice as energetic and happy about making music. This album, like the first two Strokes records, has no weak tracks that stand out (my personal favorite being River of Brakelights). It is 40 minutes and 8 tracks of nonstop emotion and Julian shows off his greatest talent in music, which is songwriting.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    In the end, deliberately(?) tinny tracks such as 'Glass' sound like sketches in search of a full band. Hopefully, said band will soon oblige.
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  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Recorded under the radar with producer Jason Lader and Bright Eyes collaborator Mike Mogis, it’s a strange little album, just eight songs long but deceptively dense with ideas.
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  3. Slant Magazine
    70
    Phrazes represents a creative departure for Casablancas and another milestone for his band--marking a point where they've produced more quality albums by themselves than as a group.
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