Album: The Strokes, Comedown Machine (Rough Trade)

The NYC trustafarians belatedly realise coolness exists beyond 1979. Comedown Machine is, essentially, The Strokes' 1980s album. Electro-funk opener "Tap Out" has you checking that you're playing the right band, and only a couple of tracks follow the New Wave guitars and down-the-phone vocals template. "Chances" feels like a tribute to Reagan-era ballads and "What kind of asshole drives a Lotus?" may be Julian Casablancas's greatest lyric.