The Strokes may just be the most acclaimed New York garage rockers of this decade, and during the band’s hiatus, each member, except for guitarist Nick Valensi, has participated in other musical projects.

Julian Casablancas, the lead singer of beloved indie-rock band The Strokes, has just released a solo album called “Phrazes For The Young,” which came out in late October.

Although it may be Casablacas’ first solo album, it isn’t the first solo project that has emerged from the members of The Strokes.

Rhythm guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. has released two solo albums, drummer Fabrizio Moretti released an album with his other band, Little Joy, while bassist Nikolai Fraiture released an album under the moniker of Nickel Eye. They have all been keeping busy musically, and it was only a matter of time until the creative front man Julian Casabalancas took center stage.

“Phrazes For The Young” is highly reminiscent of the prolific front man of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke’s solo album “The Eraser,” released in 2006. Like Casablancas’ solo effort, “The Eraser” was similar to Radiohead, but still had plenty of Thom Yorke’s personal music influences. While “Phrazes” has some Strokes influences, in the end remains very much his own.

Julian’s solo work sounds similar to The Strokes, just with more complicated song structures and vibrant synth elements. Casablancas still maintains his instinctive ability to write catchy choruses over garage-rock riffs. However, with his complete creative control he incorporates new elements that would have been out of place on any Strokes song.

Album opener “Out Of The Blue” is the only song that really sounds like The Strokes, and with that said, it certainly belongs as the lead-off track. This way it can be seen as the transition from The Strokes to Casablancas’ solo work, easing everyone into his new sound.

The first single off the album, “11th Dimension,” is the best way to get a grip on what Julian’s solo output is like. Synths and Caribbean-like percussion drive the song to epic heights and he is able to capture a nightlife atmosphere and make the song simply irresistible with his pop sensibility.

Casablancas doesn’t just stick to writing catchy rock songs, yet writes more complicated ones with shifting song tempos and unusual song structures. One example of this is “River Of Brakelights” where Julian seems most like Thom Yorke with the song’s dark turn of vocals.

“Glass” is ballad-like, allowing Julian to breathe musically, expressing himself in a way that he would only be able to on his own. The song is very carefully crafted with many different sounds and details that can be stumbled over if one does not listen closely enough.

With songs like “Tourist,” it is evident that Julian Casablancas has found his own voice and identity.

Even though “Phrazes Of The Young” is only 8 songs deep, it is probably the perfect length. The album is not short, but it doesn’t outstay its welcome on the listener’s ears with filler.

This is a step forward for Julian as an artist, and a promising future for continuing his career in music, even if it isn’t with The Strokes.

The Strokes have not released an album since they released their third album “First Impressions Of Earth” in January of 2006. Since then, the band’s future has been uncertain. They are rumored to be working on a new album right now. If the members keep releasing such great solo albums, who knows when we will see The Strokes truly back together.