I've only listened to the second album once, about a year ago. But what always struck me about the first album was the dry, punchy drums, mid-rangy bass guitar, and "plink plink plink" of the guitar much more than the vocal effect.

It’s like the whole album was recorded through a tin can telephone

I liked that first Strokes album (and still do) but I didn’t like the second one at all, nor anything they did after.

The new Idles album is great and really reminds me of this band & album (produced by Albini):

Never heard that record. I’m all in on this. Very Jesus Lizard.

I knew you'd like it And apparently so did Albini because he asked the band to be the opening act for Shellac on their European tour. I don't remember the exact year but it was maybe a decade ago. If I remember correctly the band had basically already broken up by then but went on to the tour because Albini personally asked them to join.

Seconded.

i wonder how many people on RM would have climbed aboard the Idles train and really started listening to them if not for jeff ament

If someone were to design a band with the aim of specifically repelling me, Idles is pretty close to what I'd imagine they'd come up with.

I mean, honestly now:

What band would you love based on looks alone?

A-fucking-men

Yeah, I just can't get into Idles. Nothing to do with how they look though, but I kinda take spenno's point.

Dammit now I’ll never be able to unsee that

Idles are fine. They look fine. The Angus Young schoolboy thing is objectively the most embarrassing look in rockn'roll history. Who cares.

ill give the new album a try just because of Jeff A, but i cant get into these guys at all.

I don’t hate them, but I also don’t love them. Surprisingly without an opinion here. They sound like a band I would have loved to death in my mid-20s, but it’s just not the type of music I gravitate to anymore.

Go shovel some snow, old man!

no i'll pay my neighbor to do that!