Albert Hammond Jr has reflected critically on The Strokes’ 2011 album *Angles*, saying it was “all over the place” and that making it felt like work. His comments underline the difficult circumstances surrounding the band’s return after a five-year gap, and help explain why the record remains a divisive entry in their catalogue.

*Angles* was The Strokes’ fourth studio album and arrived after the group had pursued separate projects. Its recording was marked by a fragmented process, with singer Julian Casablancas recording parts separately and Hammond Jr dealing with addiction; bassist Nikolai Fraiture had also described the experience as “awful”. Despite the band’s reservations, the album produced singles including ‘Under Cover of Darkness’ and ‘Taken for a Fool’.