No Rock And Roll Fun

STROKES STOKED: Ooh, the moment where we decide if they're decadent treats or disappointing twats is looming, as The Strokes prepare their second coming (or maybe their 'Second Coming'). They've been telling Rolling Stone that it's a mellower beast, with overtones of Michael Jackson (by which they mean the drums on one track sounds like the Billie Jean rhtyhm, not that there's a lot of dashing about trying to head off lawsuits). And the neighbours complained about the noise while they were making it, which we take to be a good sign.