With the Strokes taking a break until February—and their songwriting largely on hiatus since 2001—the boys have bolted for the relative security of the side project. Of course, there’s guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. and his well-received solo albums, most recently ¿Cómo Te Llama?. Then this summer—while Julian Casablancas, Pharrell, and Santogold shilled for Converse —we learned about drummer Fabrizio Moretti and bassist Nikolai Fraiture’s new ventures.

Recorded material has recently surfaced from both of these guys and, surprisingly, it doesn’t suck, at least not entirely. Fraiture’s band is a collaboration with Regina Spektor and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner (who’ve gotten at least as much billing as the Stroke) called Nickel Eye (get it?).  read more »