For those of you who pissed and moaned that The Strokes 2003 sophomore release Room On Fire sounded too much like their debut record for its own good, I guess we have you to thank (or as I like to look at it, to blame) for First Impressions Of Earth, The Strokes long awaited third album. Amid constant label pressure I'm sure for a more radio friendly sound, long time producer Gordon Raphael was dumped by the wayside for Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck). But after not seeing eye to eye with the boys in the band, Godrich was eventually sacked in favor of David Kahne, (Tony Bennett, Sugar Ray) a major label slickster that decided that Julian Casablancas' vocals and lyrics should be cleaner and more front and center here than ever before. Whoops!

And now we see the great wisdom of Raphael, credit the man for knowing from the start that Casablancas' songwriting and vocal skills are not meant to bear up under the scrutiny of the bright spotlights, hence their trademark "music up front and vocals in a garbage can a few steps back" which proved to be the perfect formula. Tragically on First Impressions Of Earth, Kahne brings forth Casablancas' voice to dangle on a hook for all the world to hear in all its "ragged glory," and more often than not, we the listeners are forced to grind our teeth and bare it. This is never more evident than on tracks like "On The Other Side," "Vision Of Division" and "Fear Of Sleep," three of the worst tracks in Strokes history.

But what has always made The Strokes so impressive and special is the very tight and muscular musicianship between Valensi, Hammond Jr, Fraiture and Moretti and First Impressions Of Earth is no different. First single "Juicebox" and "Heart In A Cage" are filled with crunchy guitar goodness and album opener "You Only Live Once" and "Razorblade" show that The Strokes know how to shift the balance to ride on a wave of musical melody as well. First Impressions Of Earth does have good moments to be sure, but it's far too long and full of filler (and Casablancas' obnoxiousness) to stand along side their two previous above-awesome works Is This It? and Room On Fire. Here's hoping that the Stroke of genius, Gordon Raphael will return to the fold and restore the band to it's former balance of power.