Albert Hammond Jr. Clarifies Postponement of The Strokes’ Album ‘Reality Awaits’

Albert Hammond Jr. has explained the reasons behind the postponement of The Strokes’ upcoming album, ‘Reality Awaits’.

The New York indie band had originally planned to release their seventh studio album on June 26, but announced on June 11 that the launch would be delayed until July 24. The new release date aligns the streaming debut with the vinyl release schedule.

In a now‑deleted response to a fan on X, Hammond clarified that the shift was intended to synchronize the streaming debut with the vinyl release. He also remarked that the record reflects the sound of a “weird, young band”.

Hammond subsequently released a new collaboration with indie artist KennyHoopla, titled ‘NEW AMERICA//’, a high‑energy track inspired by 2000s dance‑punk. The song can be viewed here:

His comments echo earlier statements in which he called the album his favorite work by the group, describing it as “beautiful” and noting its growing appeal.

The remarks follow criticism from fans regarding the early singles ‘Going Shopping’ and ‘Falling Out Of Love’, particularly concerns about Julian Casablancas’ use of vocoder.

NME reviewed ‘Going Shopping’, awarding it three stars and observing that while the track “doesn’t feel bold,” it also “avoids playing it safe.” The review noted, “You couldn’t definitively place its sound on any of The Strokes’ previous six albums, but the lack of spirit and tenacity—save for a guitar solo at the end—is noticeable.” Casablancas concluded with a sardonic line, “If you’re better than me you don’t have to judge me,” accompanied by an imagined raised eyebrow.

The Strokes have already performed at Coachella and Bonnaroo, and are preparing a global tour that includes dates across the UK, North America, Europe, and Japan. This will be their first full headline run in the UK and Ireland in over two decades, featuring shows at London’s O2. Support acts will include Thundercat, Cage the Elephant, Hamilton Leithauser, Fat White Family, Alex Cameron, ÖLÜM, and others; additional dates have been added in response to strong demand.

A major New York concert featuring Beach House, TV On The Radio, and Fcukers is scheduled for October 2 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Remaining tickets are available here.

All performances will feature the band without guitarist Nick Valensi, who recently announced a temporary hiatus from live shows.

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