Track Take: "I'll Try Anything Once" (The Strokes)

In the process of making First Impressions of Earth (The Strokes' 2006 lackluster third studio album), Julian Casablanca decided to record his thoughts about relationships and life with the solitary help of a keyboard. While the sound of this demo hardly resembles the quintessential Strokes rhythm and energy, it captures a level of purity only available from the under-produced track. As an early take of the first track of the album, "You Only Live Once" (one of the few truly great songs featured on First Impressions), Julian's voice isn't covered by fuzz. He is not concerned with sounding cool or being perfect; he is just recording his thoughts and ideas. The fresh quality matched with the thoughtful and universal lyrics is celebrated by the popularity of this demo. What makes this track so exciting and listenable for long time Strokes fans, or casual contemporary music collectors is that it is vulnerable. The honest vulnerability with an enjoyable melody was replaced with forgetful complaining on the tracks of the studio album. I can only hope that their unnamed 2011 project returns the five NY natives to their danceable and relatable roots.