The Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr. Releasing Solo Album

The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. couldn't get his bandmates to record his songs, so he made a solo album titled Yours To Keep that will be released on Oct. 9 in the U.K. via Rough Trade.

"I did suggest my songs [to the rest of The Strokes] once or twice, and I got turned down," Hammond Jr. told NME.com. "It wasn't actually Julian [Casablancas, vocals] who turned it down, it was the other members who didn't like it. Julian writes the songs and we play them and do our thing with them."

Yours To Keep was recorded at New York City's Electric Ladyland Studios, LoHo Studios and Cabin In The City. Hammond, Jr. sang and played guitar, while bassist Josh Lattanzi and drummer Matt Romano rounded out the core band. They were joined on different songs by Casablancas, Jody Porter (Fountains Of Wayne), Ben Kweller, Sean Lennon, Chris Feinstein, Mikki James, Sammy James Jr. (The Mooney Suzuki) and Strokes manager Ryan Gentles. The album was produced by Greg Lattimer, who first came to attention as a vocalist with New York's Thin Lizard Dawn in the late '90s.

"I don't think I feel trapped in the band, but I'm definitely glad I made this record," said Hammond Jr. "It wasn't, 'I wanna get out.'

"Just sometimes after all the press and touring with each other, sometimes you want something different."

Lead single "Everyone Gets A Star" is now available to purchase through iTunes U.K. While no North American release for the album has been announced, three songs from Yours To Keep — "Everyone Gets A Star," "Scared" and "Back To The 101" — can be heard on Hammond, Jr.'s MySpace page.

Hammond, Jr. is the 26-year-old son of songwriter Albert Hammond, who's probably best known for the '70s hit, "It Never Rains In Southern California."

The Los Angeles native formed The Strokes in New York City in 1998 with Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti. Hammond, Jr. co-wrote "Automatic Stop" with Casablancas for the band's sophomore album, Room On Fire.

The Strokes played Toronto's Virgin Festival last weekend and are performing both headlining shows and opening slots for Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers across the U.S. from now through Oct. 9. Hammond, Jr. may play U.K. shows in support of his solo debut, but nothing has been confirmed.

Here are the songs on Yours To Keep:

"Cartoon Music For Super Heroes"
"In Transit"
"Everyone Gets A Star"
"Bright Young Thing"
"Blue Skies"
"Back To The 101"
"Call An Ambulance"
"Scared"
"Holiday"
"Hard To Live (In The City)"