I know what you mean. I was a fan of The Strokes when they first came out, but I somehow lost track of them after ROF. TNA pulled me back in, so I went back to listen chronologically/to fill in the gaps of what I’d missed. (It was a lot! And one of the only good things to come out of my 2020.) I joined the sub before I listened to CM, so I definitely expected to either love it or hate it based off of the posts I’d seen here.

My reaction wasn’t that extreme. I do like it - it’s a solid album. I find it hard to rank their discography in general - my opinion kind of changes depending on my mood. I think I’d be a little more disappointed if I had followed their career in real time, but I agree with the general consensus that it’s more consistent than Angles. The only thing I’d probably change is Julian’s vocals - they’re so soft. And while I don’t mind the falsetto, I prefer it when he sings with a deeper register.

But don’t be afraid! If you like their other stuff, you’ll come to like CM too. Like others said, it might take you a few listens to appreciate it, but I’d recommend listening to the album in its entirety instead of skipping around. I think that helped me to vibe with it more. Best of luck!