Julian Casablancas' Quest for Enlightenment Ends in Sonic Madness

On his third album with the Voidz, Julian Casablancas embarks on a quest for deeper meaning and spiritual enlightenment, but the result is a meandering stream-of-consciousness journey that leaves listeners bewildered. Titled Like All Before You, the album is a culmination of Casablancas' experimental efforts to push the boundaries of his music and delve into the mysteries of existence.

From the outset, it's clear that Casablancas is aiming high, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources, from philosophy to psychedelia. However, in his attempt to create a soundscape that's both profound and innovative, he ends up crafting a sonic slog that's more exhausting than enlightening. The album's pacing is plodding, with songs meandering aimlessly without any discernible direction or purpose.

One of the major issues with Like All Before You is its utter lack of focus. Casablancas' lyrics are a jumbled mix of abstract musings, pseudo-intellectualisms, and vague allusions to various philosophical and spiritual concepts. His vocals are often detached and lacking in conviction, making it difficult to take his introspective ramblings seriously. The music itself is equally unfocused, veering wildly from one genre to another without any clear sense of cohesion or direction.

Despite its ambitious intentions, the album ultimately feels like a self-indulgent exercise in excess, with Casablancas' experimentation bordering on the pretentious. The Voidz' sound is often overwrought and unnecessarily complex, with too many layers of instrumentation and production tricks that only serve to muddy the already murky waters. The result is an album that's more bewildering than breathtaking, leaving listeners feeling like they're stuck in a never-ending labyrinth of sound.

In the end, Like All Before You feels like a misfire, a well-intentioned but fundamentally flawed attempt to create something truly innovative and groundbreaking. While Casablancas' quest for deeper meaning is admirable, his execution falls woefully short of his ambitions, leaving us with an album that's more slog than symphony.