Product Description

'Yours To Keep' is the debut solo album from Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. Whilst there are obvious comparisons to his day job in The Strokes, there is more than enough melodic alt-pop here to interest fans of artists such as ElliotSmith and Ben Folds as well as your average NME-reading indie kid. Includes the single '101'.

Track Listing

1. Cartoon Music For Super Heroes
2. In Transit
3. Everyone Gets A Star
4. Bright Young Thing
5. Blue Skies
6. Back To The 101
7. Call An Ambulance
8. Scared
9. Holiday
10. Hard To Live (In The City)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27987 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-09
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
There's always a moment of nervousness when a member of a hugely successful band cuts loose and makes a solo record. Even if the move doesn't point to an imminent break-up - and very often it does - there's always the worry that the project will be somehow under-par. Albert Hammond Jr., guitarist for NYC starlets The Strokes, has re-assured the public that he isn't about to quit the band - which leaves us only with the issue of calibre. Having already knocked up writing credits with the band (most notably "Automatic Stop" on Room on Fire), it would seem Hammond has good reason to pursue his personal muse. On the other hand, it's well known that some of the material on Yours To Keep has been rejected by the band in the past. Lead single "Everyone Gets A Star" could have been one such rebuff. With its choppy guitar and jangly chorus, it has all the hallmarks of a Strokes tune -just not as good. Unfortunately it's one of the best tracks here. While Hammond undoubtedly has good guitar skills, is capable of writing catchy tunes, and even has a reasonably listenable voice, there's a listless, half-hearted aura to the album that even guests like Sean Lennon, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas or Fountains of Wayne's Jody Porter can't break. A brave attempt, but a premature and largely unsuccessful one. -- Danny McKenna

Customer Reviews

Free from the world
Albert Hammond Jr. is best known as the lead and bass guitarist for the Strokes. But don't let that influence your expectations for his solo debut "Yours To Keep." On his own, Hammond turns out a totally different album: a shimmering, creative little pop collection that dips into lean rock'n'roll and vintage sunny pop.

It starts on a note that's very Beach Boys -- sunny, psychedelic-edged, and slightly sleepy. "Goodnight, I said to you goodnight/Dream of all the impossible/And you wake you see/That all these dreams aren't fake/They're real/Not impossible," Hammond croons in a slightly sleepy voice.

All that changes with "In Transit," the most Strokesian of all the songs -- a peppy, uptempo guitar number with slightly rebellious lyrics. But with "Bright Young Things," the style switches back to a circling guitar melody and a sunny musical edge, some folksy ballads, catchy rockers that bloom into peppy pop, toe-tapping acoustic plucks, and ringing songs about vacations in Jamaica.

Despite the variety of styles, Hammond actually does a pretty good job keeping a signature "sound" in these songs -- something a bit happier and slightly wistful than the Strokes. It does have a bit of a split personality, between rock and sunny pop, but I suspect it's something that Hammond will iron out in future albums.

The music has plenty of guitar -- both acoustic and bass -- both in lean sinewy riffs and in circling melodies. But Hammond and a variety of musicians (including Sean Lennon, Julian Casablancas, Ben Kweller, and Sammy James Jr) wrap the songs in a thin layer of other instruments -- tinkly melodica, ukelele, rippling keyboard, and some brass. There's even whistling at one point.

Hammond's voice is kind of scratchy, but it's still pretty pleasant to the ear. And he throws a lot of passion into his singing, whether it's a murmury croon or a belt-out wail. "And you will only hold me/If I will never tell you it would end/And you will never have me/Cause you were only wanting to be friends/And you will always hold out till he gave out."

"Yours To Keep" is a triumph for Hammond -- a solid, shimmering album that straddles between pop and rock. Definitely a good listen, but not for people seeking another Strokes album.

Very Good
This is a very good album. One criticism is that none of these songs would look out of place on a strokes album, and if the strokes went for a softer sound, this is probably what it would sound like.

However, having said that Hammond is evidently a talented guy, and the album stands up on its own next to any of the strokes albums. (Except 'Is this it', nothing compares to that!!)

Small but near perfectly formed
Fair enough, not music to change History but neither's the Lemonheads' or Brendan Benson's, say. Like both of those acts, though, Albert Hammond Jr's bright guitar pop is warm, sweet, and very companionable. If it was a person, you'd want it to be your friend. Worth having - you may be surprised how frequently you find it back on your stereo.