New Albert Hammond Jr. Out Today

Despite the fact that there hasn't been a new Strokes record on the street in about two and a half years, that hasn't stopped Albert Hammond Jr. from keeping busy. One of the band's two guitarists, Hammond is a songwriter in his own right, and released a solo record (Yours To Keep) in the second half of 2006. The album was heavy on 70's rock influences, and on many fronts played out like a "soft" Strokes record. The signature guitar riffs were all there, but the vocals were smoother, and the production more fine tuned.

Fast forward two years, still no Strokes output, and Hammond has another record in the bins. Released today, Como Te Llama? is Hammond's latest. While the album still features Hammond's smooth vocals, the rest of the sound has drifted more towards Strokes-ville. The production is edgier and more guitar driven, and riffage is even more dominant. The songs are great, and there's no denying that Hammond is a huge contributor to the Strokes sound. That being said, we can't help but admit we wish Julian Casablancas was singing some of these tunes, instead of making shoe commercials with Pharell and Santogold. Ahem.

mp3: Albert Hammond Jr. - GfC
stream: Albert Hammond Jr. - Como Te Llama? (Complete Album, MySpace)