The Strokes Release New Single

LISTEN: The Strokes Debut New Single

Today The Strokes released "Under Cover Of Darkness," their first single in almost five years. The song is currently available on the band's new website though the server promptly crashed upon the moment of the song's release and has been finicky all day.

The tune is almost a Burroughsian cut-up of their previous singles and shows the evolution of the band to interesting effect. The start is immediately peppered with "Someday"-brand whimsy, a spy-film guitar a la "Juicebox" makes a cameo. "Under Cover Of Darkness" effortlessly weaves together the full lineage of Strokes touchstones without sounding like a tired retreading of the past.

As a band whose members have proved themselves as talented solo artists in their own right, The Strokes do well to keep the song from overflowing with ideas. The most noticeable additions to their are the backup vocals which serve as a subtle complement to the expanded vocal range that Julian Casablancas has fully settled into. They hit high notes in the chorus that would've been unthinkable for The Strokes circa 2001.

"Under Cover Of Darkness" will be available as a free download for 48 hours. The album, 'Angles,' will be released March 22.

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