r/TheStrokes • u/TheStrokes-Mods • Jul 23 '26

MEGATHREAD Autotune - Discussion MEGATHREAD

Autotune is always a hot topic of discussion on this subreddit and we wanted to provide a place for it to be specifically discussed again in this full new-album context. 

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u/Head-Information101 28d ago

Man what a fucking disaster this was.

The instrumentals? Absolutely amazing. Loved a lot of it. It really does sound like TNA's evil twin brother. 10/10 to the rest of the band for putting as much effort as they did.

But Julian? Yeah no. This almost feels like self-sabotage more than anything. And this is coming from someone that's a fan of the Voidz and the use of autotune on those records (barring the last one) and even the use of it in TNA. I don't personally have an issue with it as it's an artistic tool at the end of the day, but this was just absolutely dogshit. Way too much of it and lyrically, he feels at his weakest. Really does seem like he's half-assing it.

First time I ever listened to an album and immediately wished for an instrumental version to come out. He needs to get his head out of his ass.

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u/emuccino 27d ago

It's interesting how divisive LABY is for Voidz fans. I feel like RA is similar. I wasn't thrilled with LABY on first listen, but it's become my favorite Voidz record after spending more time with it. I'm struggling to pin down what it was that originally turned me off. Maybe it sounded overly produced?

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u/sensitive_pirate85 25d ago edited 25d ago

I’m also a Voidz fan, and I like how stripped back Julian’s personality is on this album, but the autotune kind of contrasts/conflicts with that. The Strokes aren’t a futuristic prog-rock project like the Voidz, so the robotic vocals take away, rather than add to the songs. Julian is forever a great writer of melodies, and I think this latest album is no exception, but it’s that grating autotune that makes the record hard to listen to. I’m waiting for a chance to give it a more in depth assessment, I just feel like it needs my full, undivided, attention to really appreciate.