Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.So many negative noises have been made about Angles from critics and the band (guitarist Nick Valensi admitted "I feel like we have a better album in us"), that its actually-not-badness comes as a pleasant surprise.
It doesn't help that it starts so appallingly. Opening track "Machu Picchu" sounds like the sort of thing the Strokes' successors Vampire Weekend might have left on the cutting-room floor. Thereon, they find their feet via the safe familiarity of lead single "Under Cover of Darkness". There are a couple of other misfires, but "Taken for a Fool" is a fine piece of work, "Two Kinds of Happiness" is an exercise in Cars-style power pop and "Gratisfaction" a Thin Lizzy-like romp.
Coming from a band who blatantly don't want to be a band any more, Angles is inevitably disjointed. But it's not disastrous.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments