Julian Casablancas of The Strokes says the band is unsure which direction to take their fourth studio album in, inciting in-house debate as to whether the long-player is ready for release or not.

In an interview with The Sun, frontman Casablancas said he expected the new album to be released by late 2009, but thanks to the aforementioned delays, us fans will be waiting for an indefinite period of time. He went on to say that the album is near completion but there is as yet no consensus surrounding which tracks will make the final cut.

“There is a disagreement as to whether the songs are ready. Some of the band think they are and others don’t. I’m somewhere in the middle.”

Casablancas also insisted that the distance between band members has created its fair share of set backs.

“We’re scattered everywhere, and apart from when we’re rehearsing we don’t see each other. We’re not like people who go to the movies together. It’s weird with the band, a band is actually a great way to ruin a friendship.”

A worrying thought, given that the quintet kicked off the revival of the garage rock scene as a bunch of well-schooled Manhatten kids with a knack for combining cleanly distorted 60s rock with suave, charming vocals. An official hiatus since 2006’s killer release First Impressions Of Earth have seen a few band members journey off into solo and side-project territory, with guitarist Albert Hammand Jr releasing two albums, bassist Nikolai Fraiture helming Nickel Eye, and guitarist Nick Valensi sharing his talents amongst Regina Spektor, Devendra Banhart, and Strokes bandmate and drummer Fab Moretti’s outfit, Little Joy.

Casablancas’ solo project Phrazes for the Young is penned for release on November 2nd.

- Carley Hall