THE STROKES DEBUT NEW TRACK + MUSIC VIDEO FOR “BAD DECISIONS”

Legendary New York Rock outfit The Strokes are undoubtedly back and have released a new single “Bad Decisions” accompanied with a surreal inspired music video. The video, directed by Andrew Donoho, is a parody-like retro film mocking the infomercials of television’s past and stars the band members themselves. Well, kind of. Watch the visuals below to know what would happen if we lived in a world where we could clone The Strokes at the push of a button.

The usage of face images of the band members in their youth imposed on cloned bodies for sale seem fitting to a band who is consistently linked to their youthful and now nostalgic narrative. Although, in this particular case, the visual aesthetic sits fittingly to the track that actually does sound like a revival and return to a vintage sound the band is so well known for pioneering. Mix it all with a healthy injection of 80s synth and new wave pop, via comparable sounds from New Order and Billy Idol (who is credited for composition on the track likely due to the sampling of “Dancing With Myself”), they instantaneously have themselves a hit.

After debuting initial teasers of new music at an intimate benefit show at the Wiltern in Los Angeles mid-2019; inquiries launched from every angle of the indie world, as were discussions of what it all meant. Coming off of an era of side projects from various band members; was the band finally reuniting for more than a one off performance? Were we going to get new music anytime soon? Fast forward many months of waiting, those questions remained unanswered until early 2020 at their New Years Eve performance in Brooklyn, New York. Julian used his stage banter at Barclays Center to announce that The Strokes have been unfrozen and will have a new album coming out later in the year.

Last week, The Strokes took the stage at a Senator Bernie Sanders rally concert in New Hampshire with a few more announcements that laid many wondering minds to rest. During their set, which included a unique performance of New York City Cops taking place in the face of Police Officers, they debuted an animated video short which previewed new music and broadcasted that their new forthcoming album, The New Abnormal, will be released on April 10. Following their highly discussed performance, the first official single from the project “At The Door” and its accompanying full length music video were released and made available across streaming platforms.

The magic the band maintains, can be viewed with the back to back release of its two newest and diverse in sound singles they have recently released. The Strokes are displaying a strong entrance back to the music scene that plays on the flexibility their signature sound grasps that has maintained maleable and transcended through various decades and side projects, all without losing its core essence. The forthcoming album is incontestably possessing a magnitude of sound waiting to be unleashed from one of the most iconic bands of the recent decades.

The long awaited album marks their sixth studio album for the band, and their first in seven years. Recorded at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu, California with the help of famed producer Rick Rubin, The New Abnormal will be released via Cult Records/RCA. And if the album cover looks a bit familiar, it may be due to the cover artwork borrowing it’s aesthetics from Jean-Michel Basquiat‘s famed painting, ‘Bird on Money.’

THE NEW ABNORMAL TRACK LIST

The Adults Are Talking Selfless Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus Bad Decisions Eternal Summer At The Door Why Are Sundays So Depressing Not The Same Anymore Ode To The Mets

Ahead of the album’s release, which is now available for preorder, The Strokes are slated to play a run of very special shows across the U.K., Europe and North America which precede a numerous amount of recently announced U.S. dates and Festivals across the globe later this year. You can find and purchase tickets here.

THE STROKES LIVE

February 14—Berlin, DE—Columbiahalle

February 18—Paris, FR—Olympia

February 19—London, UK—The Roundhouse

February 24—Belfast, UK—Waterfront Hall

March 5—Vancouver, BC—Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena*

March 9—Seattle, WA—WaMu Theater*

March 14—Los Angeles, CA—The Forum*†

*with Alvvays

† King Princess