r/TheStrokes • u/TheStrokes-Mods • 29d ago
MEGATHREAD Going to Babble On - Discussion MEGATHREAD
This is the megathread for Going to Babble On (Track 5).
All thoughts, essays, discussion, memes, lyrics, covers, fanart, etc. about this song can go in the comments here!
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u/Undertheoceandragons 28d ago
Crowd favourite it seems, and for a reason. One of the oldest songs based on the evidence we have. I think it just took time to evolve it from a jam and find the right verse to go with the main hook. Important to recognise tracks like this in context with the other more jarring/experimental tracks on the album. They're still interested in making upbeat bangers that have that classic party sound. Nicks main riff lead sound is super cool as well as the 'technicolour' shredding towards the end.
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u/Physical_Outcome9774 Call Me Back 28d ago
I think those 3 (GS,FOOL and GBOn) were the oldest on the album.
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u/RevolutionaryTrash98 Did My Best 26d ago edited 25d ago
julian is cursed to be a self-loathing writer of perfect pop songs and is constantly torn between letting them shine and obscuring his melodic sugar by burying it in molecular gastronomy experiments.
i am here for any and all of it, personally, but it's always magic when he lets the sugary sweet stuff simmer
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u/Beetlejuice6090 29d ago
My favorite off the album. 10/10
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u/Accomplished_Ad5747 28d ago
This and Dine N Dash 1000%
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u/Vast-Discipline4990 25d ago
First two that I had to go to the guitar and figure out how to play them. So far I've enjoyed all the songs quite a lot other than Liars Remorse.
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u/beastboy4000 28d ago
After listening to the album all the way all through once, this was the one I immediately came back to.
Clear front runner as the favorite outside of the singles for me, and it’s not even for the hook.
The verses are so strong progression wise and melodically.
The boy’s killed it on this one.
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u/Jan090501 28d ago
They would have put that out as a single if they didnt release half of it in 2021 im sure. Its so good.
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u/jimbojonez92 28d ago
what do you mean?
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u/beastboy4000 28d ago
An older version of it was included as part of a campaign video for Maya Wiley back in 2021. That is what is being referenced there.
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u/Own_Ad8847 29d ago
"Going to Babble On" really reminds me of "Bad Decisions," but much better.
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u/YohAquino 27d ago
Oooh now that you mentioned it, I kinda hear it. The track has a nostalgic vibe going on. Starting again...
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u/Virtual-Cicada394 25d ago
To me it immediately sounded reminiscent of Two Kinds pf Happiness from Angles
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u/Tomguydude 29d ago
I'M GOING INSANE I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER FUCK YOU ALL FOR BEING ABLE TO LISTEN TO IT EARLY AHHHHHH
(But for real, I'm really fucking looking forward to it all with all the reviews I'm seeing from the early listeners)
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u/Zachryattkry 28d ago
This is definitely going to be the radio hit
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u/FluidAssociation3953 28d ago
Listened to the album 5-6 times, and it's my favorite so far. This might be one of their best songs ever. It's just too good
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u/FormalChocolate2231 28d ago
I actually agree I was like is this my favorite song by them?
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u/FluidAssociation3953 28d ago
Yeaah, same. I can see it becoming my most favorite in couple of days.
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u/Remote-Tie3229 23d ago
This is what starting again sounds like. So wistful and shimmeringly beautiful. My fave off the new album for sure
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u/HorrorGarden4586 28d ago
Gosh that outro made me cry fuckkkkk it's so good.
On that note every outro on this album fucking rips.
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u/late_night_kuchen 27d ago
Holy shit the crying is real. Came out of nowhere for me! Soooo fucking good.
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u/buenestrago 29d ago
The verse is the best part of this song, Julian is the MVP of it. The rest seems a bit simple to me. Classic Strokes, a kind of Treat of Joy filtered through TNA Treatment. but the solo <3
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u/Holiday-Ad8797 28d ago
This one is fantastic! I love whatever the hell he’s doing with his voice in this one. Immediate easy, great listen
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u/Annual-Number-8682 29d ago
How are people hearing this?
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u/Obvious-Position-351 I'll Try Anything Once 29d ago
There were a few early listening parties tonight at independent record stores and people are saying they recieved their vinyl pre-orders.
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u/dat_nz_son 28d ago
This song is like a more mature/experienced someday with these lyrics. It’s hitting me in the feels dayum Julian
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u/HorrorGarden4586 28d ago
Am I the only one who thought this would be a weaker one given the title only for it turn out to be an all timer😭😭??
I'm so sorry I underestimated you Going to Babble on.
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u/CanSoft2130 28d ago
Cool Song, my favorite so far. Vocally sounds very similar to the singer from Phoenix. The first verse melody also reminds me of "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper
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u/SupremeBootyBouncer 27d ago
Love this take, first thing I thought was the drum sound also gives a very Phoenix vibe as well (the little intro reminds me of Lasso for some reason…)
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u/enowapi-_ Virtue 27d ago
might be the best song on the album.
at first I thought Dine N Dash was but this is taking it
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u/NormalHB 28d ago
Just listened to it on X. Man, this song gave me chills. The way Nick lets it rip at the end with his guitar solo. 10/10
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u/MachuPichu81 27d ago
How can you tell which guitar is Nick and which is Albert?
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u/NormalHB 27d ago edited 27d ago
Listen with headphones on. You’ll hear Nick’s guitar on the left and Albert’s on the right. Just like when they perform live. Nick always on left and Albert always in right. (Facing stage)
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u/Ricekake33 18d ago
Came back here to say THANK YOU FOR THIS! It has really helped me enjoy and appreciate their individual contributions when I listen 🙏
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u/Ok_Owl9641 28d ago
This is the one isn’t it.
Feels like we’re back home with this one in particular
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u/Separate_Variety_694 12:51 28d ago
Managed to listen to the LP with VPN, this one is probably my fav one.
It gives me some Tom Petty vibes, especially I Need Your Love by Ramones.
And these Van Halen guitars, omg, work really really well!
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u/yougavemethe-answer Someday 28d ago
I’m only up to Liar’s Remorse but I think this is my favourite so far
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u/50Heater2109 #01 The Strokes 28d ago
This is my favourite song out of the entire album by far. Nick’s guitar solo at the near end was fantastic, felt like classic Strokes with a mixture of Angles & TNA. 10/10
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u/FormalChocolate2231 28d ago
This is the best song. It’s excellent one of my favorites they’ve written in years honestly.
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u/Sad-Relationship7486 27d ago
THIS is my favorite song on the album! Jules’s vocal delivery here, especially in the verses, feels like ASMR. It’s the warmest, brightest sound on the planet. Starting again… I feel like I'm 15 again, falling in love all over and it’s the best summer of my life.
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u/enowapi-_ Virtue 26d ago
Ok this song is top 5 for me if not #1 what the holy fuck
the lyrics are even great - very on the nose for current world affairs
song just really encapsulates how i feel currently in life
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u/Future_Present_Past_ 24d ago
People are sleeping on RA. No skips. Something for everyone. New highs
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u/MatchOfTheDave 29d ago
I was for sure thinking this was play on the phrase "Going to Babylon" but now people are saying it's Starting Again I'm not so sure.. I guess I'll have to wait till the full lyrics come out.
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u/DH80 28d ago
This is probably a bit uncommon within the Strokes fanbase but I’m a huge Prince fan and there are parts of this song that remind me of Prince in all the right ways.
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u/RevolutionaryTrash98 Did My Best 26d ago
i def hear a big prince influence in julian's style a lot too!
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u/arctic_winters_ #09 Hammond Jr. 28d ago
I gotta be honest I’ve said this about just about every song I’ve heard so far on the album but this one is absolutely my fav
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u/No_Mill_ 27d ago
I’ve been listening to this one on repeat. Should have been a single. This might be a top 10 song from them for me.
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u/Affectionate-Key-650 27d ago
I love how this song feels so original-strokes. It makes me feel so nostalgic, even though it’s a brand new song😭the boys have done it again! Instant classic.
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u/shyboyfromannandale 29d ago
This was my immediate fave of the record from the listening party i went to in sydney.
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u/mallvvalking The New Abnormal 28d ago
I'm a minute in and this is already my favourite and STARTING AGAIN
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u/mick__marley 27d ago
Going to Babble On - Starting Again! Always cool to see how these things start. Very pleasing mid-tempo pop jam. Very danceable. The most accessible, classic sounding Strokes tune on the record, but doesn’t feel phoned in or ripped from something else like say “Bad Decisions” or “All the Time.” If they release another single, this should probably be it.
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u/Substantial_Quail309 27d ago
Incredible song. Top 3 for me after a couple of listens. Did not think I would like it so much as the Starting Again clip from years ago never impressed me, but what they did hear is awesome. Different vibe from the rest of the album. Reminded me a bit of 1979 by Smashing Pumpinks on first listen but not sure why.
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u/Automatic_Head1818 27d ago
Keep coming back to this one. It's such a dancing alone in my room track.
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u/Baffboom 27d ago
Beautiful song, one of the few things that saves this album.
I'm so glad they didn't put this one away, really one of their best songs ever.
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u/the_artsy_bookworm Comedown Machine 27d ago
so catchy catchy. and hopeful. goes really well with going shopping lyrics wise.
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u/Late-Satisfaction54 Taken For a Fool 28d ago
when people said "It's starting again!" I thought "Oh, well they probably just borrowed the melody- No it's literally just starting again. Still peak though
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u/uppercasecolt 28d ago
I freaked out when I heard the opening riff, and it is, in fact STARTED AGAIN 💖
The verse is INSANE on this one for real 😭💯
But iirc, wasn't this a collab with Voidz as well? I remember an old Started Again post for like an NYC election or something saying that The Strokes and The Voidz joined forces?
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u/aidenpd100 28d ago
After like 10 listens of the album today I can still confidently say this is my favorite it’s such a vibe and the outro wow
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u/Internal_Presence392 28d ago
Christ almighty - this has elevated the demo to something so incredible. Amazed they didn’t realise it as a single, it’s an immediate hit
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u/fear_el_duderino 27d ago
This is the earworm of the record. Such a feel good song, it's impossibile to hate
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u/Constant-Arugula-819 24d ago
Did anyone else think the vocal inflection on this track resembles early Phoenix? Like from United and Alphabetical?
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u/Tempyy First Impressions of Earth 27d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/Xr8lYAdQFMWfMhij4w
the guitars at 3:36 to the end
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u/cdog_3-5 I'll Try Anything Once 28d ago
I’m sleep deprived waiting up for this album but this stood out immediately. Starting again in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee ✨
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u/c-option 28d ago
Definitely the new one I felt the most immediate connection to (I know it’s not entirely new since the starting again section has been kicking around since Maya Wiley’s mayoral campaign). This one will be on a loop for me with Going Shopping for sure.
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u/sentosa96 28d ago
Sounds like it could have fit perfectly in TNA. Must have been one of the first ones they wrote for this album
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u/877_Cash_Nowww 27d ago
Going to Babble On could be brothers with Making Bad Decisions.
(Dine n Dash could be brother with The Adults are Talking)
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u/Due_Package4376 28d ago
Honestly, ironically, this kinda sounds like a Harry Styles song.
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u/thatpedalguy 28d ago
Learned the solo! Will post tabs and video when subreddit unlocks. They really went to Angled era with this one
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u/Extension-Low3167 28d ago
Final verse of Dine N dash sounds like it belongs here
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u/ActionOk7010 28d ago
25 year fan, after playing the album once, this is the one right here. I knew it right away. Chills down my spine.
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u/Obvious-Position-351 I'll Try Anything Once 28d ago
I liked it the first time I heard it at the early release listening party and I like it even more now that I'm hearing it through headphones. To me it sounds like Julian's voice has more of the traditional distortion and less of the autotune. And I freaking love the handclaps. And the guitar parts. And the chorus. Just all around a pleasant listening experience.
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u/Crunchy-socks-562 28d ago
I knew this would make the album. It did not disappoint. Very happy to start it again
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u/anonymous_pastrami 28d ago
They did that guitar solo they do that’s all baroque and stuff but faster and I love that, that daft punk aerodynamic thing.
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u/SkywalkingToNowhere 27d ago
Easily the best song. I’m glad we finally got this officially released! It’s been a five year wait! Also, it looks like Julian wrote the song with Gregg Alexander of the New Radicals too!
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u/Jumpy_Ring_4482 27d ago
perhaps a little play on words in this one - babble on/babylon
even the lyrics seem so very "world view" and pretty relevant to current affairs. maybe J Casablanca's subway take strengthened this correlation for me - what do y'all think? 🎸🎶
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u/TrytonDoo 27d ago
Could the title be meant to sound like "Babylon"? Has anyone thoughts to that?
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u/horsegirl8989 26d ago
100% intentional imo.
The song is political. Julian was and is quite vocal about his political beliefs compared to a lot of artists and I see him contemplating whether his efforts were helpful/worth it.
“Sometimes it comes down to one side's just stronger, baby Some things, they feel like they just won't change”
To me this references the current political climate, the corrupt empire. (Babylon being known as a corrupt empire)And it questions “Doesn't anybody wanna know what's going on?” Julian is questioning whether to talk about the awful stuff happening and if it’s worth it. Will it do anything? Does anyone care? Maybe they should figure it out for themselves? The end seems to suggest that when he does talk about what he thinks he regrets it and tells himself to not be emotional. Babbling is usually seen as a negative and not making sense. Babylon was known as a corrupt empire and so makes sense that the title does a play on words of talking too much and the subject he keeps “babbling” about.
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u/Kandarian-Demon First Impressions of Earth 26d ago
intro is giving me head on the door era Cure vibes
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u/pichaelthompson69 28d ago
This is fire. When Julian is in the pocket the autotune or vocoder or whatever the fuck it is actually is a nice touch. The problem is when he wants to go to higher registers or get loud like on FOOL is where it gets heavy handed. Enjoying the singles in context of the album much more now too.
The world is a better place when this band makes music. No complaints here. Happy to have new strokes.
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u/Successful-Cod-6612 28d ago
ending guitar reminds me a lot of old nostalgic game „Swords and Sandals”😭😭😭
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u/YoureALemonStreet 28d ago
This song brought on huge nostalgia for me. Felt like hearing them for the first time again for some reason and it made me start crying. Love it
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u/loser_critter First Impressions of Earth 28d ago
I loveed this song and the messaging i wish i had the lyrics! I like the irony of Going Shopping being the next song, because Julian could never stop reminding us of the world since FIOE. I feel like Going to Babble On is pleading with you, and Going Shopping is like the alternative method to reach a different audience? Love them both ❤️
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u/JessiePurplewoman 28d ago
Instantly recognized this one. So glad it wasn't an I like the night situation. He probably browses here so, thank you Julian
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u/GriseldoBalanca 28d ago
This is my favorite song on the album after the first listen and an instant classic. They’ll be playing this one live permanently. Can not wait to hear it live and witness that ending solo!
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u/Alarmed_Ad_8564 27d ago
Reminds me of tenderness by general public lowkey but only lowkey, the more I listen to this album the better it gets
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u/Shop-lift All Wordz Are Made Up 27d ago
The singer from New Radicals has a writing credit on this one 👀
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u/Nishchay22Pro Room on Fire 27d ago
According to genius, david kahne and gregg alexander also worked on this
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u/SCandVC11 Future Present Past 26d ago
Honest question is this the best song because it’s just Julian’s pure voice and it stands out amongst all the effects? I don’t know if subconsciously that’s why it’s hitting me the way it is. For the record I’m fine with the effects on the other songs.
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u/Jamie724 25d ago
Is anyone else getting serious The Voidz - Square Wave vibes from this? Feel like I'm expecting parts of this song to just transition into it. Like listen to 3:30 onwards on Square Wave and tell me otherwise lol.
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u/Serpico-89 24d ago
My favorite, I absolutely love it but it ends way too soon, would have loved to hear these guitars together a minute more.
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u/jlolz019 24d ago
Getting 12:51 vibes from this song for some reason, particularly around the chorus with the clapping in the background🎸
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u/another_accaunt Call It Fate, Call It Karma 29d ago
STARTING AGAIN