I Don't Want To Grow Old

Last week, Pitchfork opened its review of Julian Casablancas' debut solo album by comparing his underwhelming recent performance on "The Tonight Show" with the incendiary debut his old band, the Strokes, made on Letterman in late fall 2001. Once again, Pitchfork was right. (As proof of its influence, the day the review was published, there were dozens of comments on YouTube for the first time in a long time, mostly affirming, if not outright copying, what Pitchfork's critic wrote.) The Strokes' performance was ridiculously incredible. Heading into the guitar solo, Casablancas swats down his mic stand ferociously; when he returns to sing, he tugs at his shirt collar just as maniacally. Around him, his band mates rip through their parts with such wonderful nonchalance -- an easy mannerism to execute when you don't have to play more than four notes in a song.

"Is This It," the Strokes' first record, isn't a perfect record musical note for note, but it most certainly captures a period of time perfectly. Late fall 2001, when the city was fragile from the Sept. 11 attacks, yet bursting with all this creative energy, bitter and growing, its cool neighborhoods not yet caricatured and pervasive -- that's "Is This It." No record released since then has encapsulated a moment better than they did. It's certainly a contender for a generation-defining record.

Casablancas was 23 years old at the time of the Letterman performance; the rest of the band was about the same age. I don't want to quickly judge his most recent output because I've barely heard it. But, at the same time, to be so relevant and untouchable and vigorous at that age, and then defined by it and forever compared to it, is as good an argument as I've heard for wanting to remain in one moment forever and never grow old. My friends and I occasionally discuss bands that have improved through their careers -- a harder feat than the opposite trajectory. Though if the start is so incredible, is it so bad to be born fully formed and at one's peak?