'101' or 'Back to the 101' depending on where you look on the net is The Strokes' guitarist Albert Hammond Jr.'s latest release off of his solo album 'Yours to Keep'. The original release date for the album was October 9th through Rough Trade Records in the UK, but now the single '101' is being officially released on November 27th.

Since The Strokes are a fairly new band I was a bit surprised when I had first heard that Albert Hammond Jr. was going solo. The more I thought about it though, the more it felt like a good move on his part - especially after hearing the tracks made available on his myspace page. If anything, because the tracks are so good, this just seems to add another dimension to The Strokes' music.

The album was produced by Greg Lattimer (Thin Lizard Dawn) and recorded at the Electric Ladyland Studios in New York City.

Pretty cool that he decided to record at Jimi Hendrix's old studio. I wonder if Albert realizes that the release date of '101' also coincides with Jimi Hendrix's birthday.

Watch Albert Hammond Jr's video for 'Back to the 101':

Musical guests featured on the album include Sean Lennon, Ben Kweller, The Strokes' manager Ryan Gentles, Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne, Chris Feinstein, Mikki James, Sammy James Jr. (The Mooney Suzuki) and The Strokes' frontman Julian Casablancas with Josh Lattanzi (Bass) and Matt Romano (Drums) as the backing band to Hammond on guitar and vocals.

Albert Hammond Jr. will be on tour in Europe until the end of the year and will be supporting Incubus on tour in 2007.

For the latest tour dates and information go to Albert Hammond Jr's Myspace Page

By: Jenny May