“Gratisfaction” is an album track from The Strokes’ 2011 album Angles, one immediately seen as their comeback album after a five year hiatus. Some loved it; some weren’t so keen on it. I was (and still am) inclined towards the latter. Didn’t flow with me so well. But it was the first album in which Julian Casablancas allowed the other members in the band to have more freedom when it came to the songwriting. “Gratisfaction” was co-written by him, guitarist Nick Valensi, and drummer Fab Moretti and the result is a swinging three minute head-bopper that has a bit of a Thin Lizzy classic rock vibe to it.

My favourite on the album, to be sure. Julian kind of has a skipping/mumbling vocal delivery going that jumps along to Fab’s beat and Albert and Nick’s signature catchy guitar lines in the verses before breaking into loud chords amongst Julian’s sustained notes to signify a dramatic change in mood for the chorus. It switches back and forth between that dynamic before coming to a close, during which someone can be heard walking out of the studio and closing a door.

Very enjoyable. Think it had the potential to be a single. But what can you do.