Nickel Eye — The Time Of The Assassins

Strokes bassist Nikolai Fraiture has used his band's significant hiatus to follow the lead of every one of its members — form a band that still sounds vaguely Strokes-ish. In this case, the act is called Nickel Eye. Fraiture's laid-back, nearly lackadaisical delivery swims with eyes half-closed over roughed-up acoustic guitar riffs and terse backing arrangements provided by members of English rockers South. Fraiture's deft touch is laid bare on standouts "Back From Exile" and "Dying Star." The latter features a stuttering and infectious guitar riff courtesy of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner. Fraiture's at his best on The Time Of The Assassins' more up-tempo material, but even the minimalist guitar/harmonica ditty "Fountain Avenue" won't elicit a skip reflex. Nickel Eye proves Fraiture's as comfortable in the spotlight as he is keeping time in the shadows.

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