Album Review: CRX - New Skin

When The Strokes opted not to tour following 2013's Comedown Machine, guitarist Nick Valensi was left itching to hit the stage.

He conceived CRX as an excuse to do just that. It's no surprise then that the outfit's debut LP brims with fiery energy and swagger. Producer Josh Homme's influence is evident in the deliciously sludgy bottom-end of tracks like Broken Bones, and Valensi's vigorous guitar work underscores his direct vocal hooks ("I don't know what to make of it / When everyone is faking it" - Walls) with pure excitement. Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, New Skin is an invigorating hot-take on modern rock and roll.