Comedown Machine Explained

Comedown Machine
Type:studio
Artist:the Strokes
Cover:The Strokes - Comedown Machine.jpg
Released:March 26, 2013
Recorded:October 2011 – January 2013
Studio:
Length:39:49
Label:RCA
Producer:Gus Oberg
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Prev Year:2011
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Comedown Machine is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Strokes. It was released on March 26, 2013, through RCA Records.[1] The band decided to pull a media blackout for the album, with no promotion in the form of television appearances, interviews, photoshoots, live shows, or tours. The cover artwork was designed to resemble an old RCA tape reel box.

Comedown Machine received mostly positive reviews from critics, and was placed at number 41 on the NMEs list of the "50 Best Albums of 2013".[2]

Promotion and release

Before the release of the album the song "One Way Trigger" was released as a free download and was made available for streaming via YouTube[3] and SoundCloud,[4] and as a free download via the band's official website on January 25, 2013.[4] Julian Casablancas posted a stylized lyric sheet for the song, designed by long-time collaborator Warren Fu, on his official website on January 30, 2013.[5] "All the Time" was released as a digital download on February 19, 2013[6] and later released as a 7-inch single on April 20, 2013 and contained "Fast Animals" as the B-side.[7]

Reception

Critical

Media response to Comedown Machine was generally favorable; the aggregating website Metacritic reports a weighted average rating of 68%, based on 44 reviews. "Whether you're in an Is This It vortex or not, this is The Strokes and they've returned with their most thought-provoking, strange and sexiest record yet," said Kieran Mayall of Clash magazine.[8] James Skinner of BBC Music added, "Although plenty of the group’s signature sounds are present and correct, they form the backdrop to an unexpectedly wide range of styles and approaches."[9] In contrast, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone questioned why the album was "an official Strokes album instead of another Casablancas solo album."

Commercial

Without much promotional effort, Comedown Machine entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 10 but became the band's first album not to debut within the top three. The album did, however, give the band their fifth consecutive appearance in the top ten.[10] Likewise, it reached No.10 in the US with an entry sales week of 41,000 copies, the band's weakest performance since Is This It in 2001.[11]

Personnel

The Strokes

Production

Design

Charts

Chart performance for Comedown Machine!Chart (2013)!Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[12] 9
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)10

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Strokes Announce Fifth Studio Album, 'Comedown Machine' . Billboard . January 30, 2013 . March 1, 2013 . May 9, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180509220401/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1536264/the-strokes-announce-fifth-studio-album-comedown-machine . live .
  2. Web site: NME's 50 Best Albums Of 2013 - NME.COM. NME.COM. NME. 26 November 2013. 1 October 2016. 9 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150109113029/http://www.nme.com/photos/nme-s-50-best-albums-of-2013/326689/1/1#10. live.
  3. Web site: The Strokes - "One Way Trigger" (Audio). YouTube. Google. 30 June 2015. 11 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711232327/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj6MJDpfjFA. live.
  4. Web site: Listen: The Strokes' New Song "One Way Trigger". Battan, Carrie. January 25, 2013. Pitchfork Media. 30 June 2015. 26 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150526084032/http://pitchfork.com/news/49301-listen-the-strokes-new-song-one-way-trigger/. live.
  5. Web site: Check Out the Strokes' B Movie-Style Lyric Poster for "One Way Trigger". Snapes. Laura. Pitchfork. 30 January 2013. Pitchfork Media. 30 June 2015. 5 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150505212213/http://pitchfork.com/news/49366-check-out-the-strokes-b-movie-style-lyric-poster-for-one-way-trigger/. live.
  6. Web site: The Strokes Announce Fifth Studio Album, 'Comedown Machine'. Lipshutz, Jason. January 30, 2013. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509220401/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1536264/the-strokes-announce-fifth-studio-album-comedown-machine. 9 May 2018. February 23, 2013.
  7. Web site: The Strokes reveal new single B-side 'Fast Animals' - listen . . March 25, 2013 . March 30, 2013 . March 28, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130328113622/http://www.nme.com/news/the-strokes/69383 . live .
  8. Strokes - Comedown Machine . Mayall . Kieran . March 18, 2013 . . March 18, 2013 . March 21, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130321112114/http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-strokes-comedown-machine . live .
  9. Web site: The Strokes Comedown Machine Review . James Skinner . March 19, 2013 . . March 19, 2013 . March 25, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130325230234/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/4q3q . live .
  10. Web site: PJ & Duncan top the Official UK Singles Chart with 'Let's Get Ready To Rhumble' . March 31, 2013 . March 31, 2013 . . April 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130402175242/http://www.nme.com/news/ant-and-dec/69491 . live .
  11. Justin Timberlake's '20/20' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 . . Keith . Caulfield . April 3, 2013 . April 4, 2013 . April 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130406043115/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/1555877/justin-timberlakes-2020-spends-second-week-at-no-1-on-billboard . live .
  12. Web site: The Strokes - Comedown Machine . . April 4, 2013 . April 8, 2013 . May 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130501050611/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/279770/products/music/1010367/1/ . live .

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