Albert Hammond, Jr.: ¿Cómo Te Llama?

Albert Hammond, Jr. has proven two things since first unleashing his debut solo album, Yours to Keep, in late 2006. First, unlike his bandmates, the Strokes rhythm guitarist turned singer/songwriter isn't at all about creative downtime. In the time between the band's most recent release and now, Hammond has delivered two solo albums, Yours to Keep and the recently released, ¿Cómo Te Llama?

Secondly, the 28-year-old California born musician has again proven that just because you aren't in the forefront of a band, doesn't mean you aren't oozing with musical talent. In the case of Hammond, though at times a contributor to the Strokes' song writing, he has generally stayed out of the limelight, giving way to Julian Casablancas' lyrics and Nick Valensi's rifts. As a result, while a founding member, it wasn't until the Strokes took their still ongoing hiatus that Hammond gave the music world a glimpse of just how much talent he had to offer.

Initial reaction to Hammond's Yours to Keep was mixed. Some believed it as the product of a bored musician, while other saw it as something to hold them over until the Strokes actually got their act together. But it wasn't until people actually sat down and listened to the album's simple, yet captivating sounds that they actually realized not only just how good the music was, but how much the talent filled the relatively unknown rhythm guitarist. Though consisting more of innocent lullabies and bittersweet wordplay, than the ruckus chords and clever hooks that have come to define the Strokes, fans embraced the album, critics hailed it.

Accordingly, the anticipation to Hammond's follow up was much different. Hype replaced questioning, excitement superseded, even paused, at least for a moment, the calls for a new Strokes album. How would the simple rhythm guitarist turned singer/song-writing respond to the attention?

With an album even better than the first.

Only unlike Yours to Keep, ¿Cómo Te Llama? offers a musician more confident, both willing to put his skills front and center and take a chance. Sure, Hammond's sophomore effort still features the mind-numbing harmonies and equally elegant guitar work that made Yours To Keep a pop lover's dream - they appear within the first 30 seconds of the album's first track, Bargain of a Century. Yet another 30 seconds later, sweet is replaced by spunk, and Hammond provides his first hint of what is to come.

¿Cómo Te Llama? is essentially the best of both world, combing the sweetness of pop with the punch of punk. Is This It? guitar rifts become intertwined with simple lullabies, while passionate, Casablancas-like vocals are just as common as the engaging, warm harmonies that first introduced us to Hammond on Yours To Keep. Victory At Monterey blends the bounce of Arctic Monkeys guitar rifts with the a simple, yet equally powerful vocals, while GfC would make any Strokes fans stop to make sure that fourth studio album still hasn't come out yet.   

Yet before we were able to get to caught up in the comparisons and memories, Hammond reminds us just whose album we are listening too. For seven minutes, Spooky Couch puts the head bopping on pause, giving way to what is ultimately an intimate instrumental showcase of the Californian's true talents. Backed by string accompaniment, Hammond produces music that while not all overly complicated, or even that special, still causes quite a bit of awe and speechlessness as the young singer/songwriter makes his way through a collection of different styles and sounds.

Borrowed Time, a blend of reggae and punk that would make even the great Joe Strummer proud, follows, offering further reminder of Hammond's willingness to deviate and experiment. But then, like a snap of the fingers, yet another Strokes-approved melody takes over. What follows is much of the same, a hodgepodge of varying styles and sounds, intertwining behind the vocals of a rhythm guitarist turned solo artist delivering a project that fans of all tastes and genres can enjoy.

With each spin of ¿Cómo Te Llama?, that Strokes hiatus becomes more and more bearable. In fact, you almost hope it keeps going, if for the only reason, to hear what Albert Hammond, Jr. can come up with for #3.