The Strokes | A

Taking a major hiatus and two long years to complete production, The Strokes have finally released Angles with more spunk then ever. In an attempt to make the album more of a collaborative effort, frontman Julian Casablancas took a step back from the songwriting position. The other band members rose to occasion, as each three-minute track on Angles is fun and electrifying. When listening to the album for the first time, it is extremely exciting to hear the new sounds The Strokes explore.

With thrilling guitar riffs and crazy keyboards, the opening track, "Machu Picchu," is the highlight of the album. Sticking with soft rock yet almost reggae beat, "Machu Picchu" flourishes at its urgent, upbeat chorus. The first single off of the album is titled, "Under Cover of Darkness." The track has soaring vocals as Casablanca sings, "We've got the right to live, fight to use it/Got everything and you can just choose it, /I won't just be a puppet on a string." Its catchy melody and powerful energy calls into remembrance the sounds of the group's older music.

On tracks like "Two Kinds of Happiness" and "Games," The Strokes experiment with a new sound and attempt to integrate the use of synthesizers into their typical rock sound. The almost robotic "You're So Right," is the most outlandish song on their album. Wavering on the edge of techno, the track goes overboard with wary skits and anxious drums.

This time around The Strokes produced their own album, making Angles a science experiment for the band. With extreme highs and minimal lows, their experiment deserves a pretty high grade. They've definitely proved themselves dexterous artists with the writing and production of Angles.