The son of Gibraltarian-British songwriter Albert Hammond, Albert Jr. was sent to the elite boarding school Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland at the age of 13. While there, he met Julian Casablancas, who would go on to be a fellow band member.
In 1998, Albert met up with Julian in New York City and together they formed a band with Julian's former schoolmates: Nick Valensi, Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti.
His trademark is wearing formal suits, usually a different one for each show. Albert is usually seen playing an olympian white Fender Stratocaster, or bandmate Nick Valensi's Les Paul Jr. He is usually associated with the "rhythm" guitar portion of the majority of Strokes songs, and most solos are played by Valensi. The solos in which Albert does play are Last Nite, Trying Your Luck, Take It Or Leave It, Under Control, The End Has No End, Ize Of The World, and Vision Of Division. His solos tend to focus largely on more emotional, "bluesy"-type melodical work, and the guitar tends to have a cleaner, softer tone in comparison to Valensi's (with a noteable exception found in Vision Of Division). He often holds the guitar in a high horizontal position, similar to Bob Dylan and Ian Curtis.
Although vocalist Julian Casablancas is the major contributor to the songwriting process for The Strokes' music, Albert has been known to write a few pieces of his own. He has been credited to writing three mostly instrumental songs (Swiss Beats, Holland, and By The Way) for the bands' 2001 tour video entitled "In Transit". He had also written a song called "Elephant Song", in which Albert used when he was was required to record a song for his Sound 101 class in freshman year, using the school's recording equipment. The song was played at a few shows before the release of their first album. The Strokes were to later rerecord the song as a special giveaway for fanclub members.
Hammond released his debut solo album on October 9th in the United Kingdom. Entitled "Yours to Keep," the album features musical guests such as Sean Lennon, Ben Kweller, and even The Strokes' manager Ryan Gentles and lead singer Julian Casablancas. Bassist Josh Lattanzi and drummer Matt Romano serve as the backing band, with Albert the main singer and guitarist. It was produced by former Thin Lizard Dawn vocalist Greg Lattimer at the Electric Ladyland Studios.
Hammond played his first solo dates at the end of October in a few cities including New York City and Philadelphia. He is set to tour the UK and Europe in November and December 2006, and provides support to Incubus on their forthcoming US tour of January/February 2007.
Albert has finished working on his second solo album with the title "Como Te Llama?", which was released on 8th of July in 2008. The new CD gets 8/10 in NME! This 8th of July is incidentally the first date of his world tour, which kicks off at the Virgin Store in his hometown of NYC. Dates in LA, as well as Japan and Australia have been already scheduled. Cont.
Set To Attack
Albert Hammond Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you were excited
Waiting for romance
Someone contacted me
Lonely out on the street
There is a need to feel safe
How did we get to this place?
Rise on my back, I'll set to attack
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do with you
I was so quiet
But you were excited
Waiting for the dance
They all just waltzed in
A second behind me
I stood there like some dumb kid
The music played and the boys would take you
Far from where I was
I was still hoping that you were the victory
To what had felt like love
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do with you
Hold on
Hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on
The lyrics of "Set to Attack" by Albert Hammond Jr. are about unrequited love and the struggle to express one's feelings. The first stanza talks about how the singer was quiet while their love interest was excited and waiting for romance. The addition of a third person in the second stanza ("someone contacted me") suggests that there may have been a love triangle or outside interference in the relationship. The singer emphasizes that there is a need to feel safe, which could be interpreted as a desire for emotional security within the relationship.
The chorus of the song ("Hold on, hold on... Don't know what to do with you") expresses the singer's confusion and frustration with the situation. They feel uncertain about how to handle the unrequited love and express their feelings to the other person. The final stanza talks about the experience of seeing the person they love dancing with others while they stand alone, hoping for love to be reciprocated. The repeated "hold on" at the end of the song could either be interpreted as a plea for patience or a final declaration of surrender to the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I was so quiet
I was reserved and hesitant
But you were excited
You were enthusiastic and eager
Waiting for romance
Hopeful and anticipating love
Someone contacted me
Another person reached out to me
Lonely out on the street
Alone and vulnerable in public
There is a need to feel safe
Desiring protection and security
How did we get to this place?
Wondering how the current situation came to be
Rise on my back, I'll set to attack
Stay strong with my support and take action
I've come to take your hand
I'm here to support and guide you
Hold on, hold on
Persist and endure
Don't know what to do
Feel unsure and indecisive
Don't know what to do with you
Not sure how to handle the relationship
Waiting for the dance
Hoping for a connection through a dance or social activity
They all just waltzed in
Others found each other easily
A second behind me
Just missed the opportunity
I stood there like some dumb kid
Feeling foolish and incapable
The music played and the boys would take you
Others took advantage of the moment to approach you
Far from where I was
Separated from where I was standing
I was still hoping that you were the victory
Still believing that a relationship with you would be a triumph
To what had felt like love
To the emotions of love that were previously present
Hold on
Endure and persevere
Hold on
Retain hope and determination
Hold on, hold on
Persist despite challenges
Hold on
Remain undeterred
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Albert Hammond, Jr., Tyler Davis Parkford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maggiepuput6910
I was so quiet
But you were excited
Waiting for romance
Someone contacted me
Lonely out on the street
There is a need to feel safe
How did we get to this place?
Rise on my back, I'll set to attack
I've come to take your hand
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do with you
I was so quiet
But you were excited
Waiting for the dance
They all just waltzed in
A second behind me
I stood there like some dumb kid
The music played and the boys would take you
Far from where I was
I was still hoping that you were the victory
To what had felt like love
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do with you
Hold on
Hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on
@marcei7580
Lyrics
I was so quiet
But you were excited
Waiting for romance
Someone contacted me
Lonely out on the street
There is a need to feel safe
How did we get to this place?
Rise on my back, I'll set to attack
I've come to take your hand
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do with you
I was so quiet
But you were excited
Waiting for the dance
They all just waltzed in
A second behind me
I stood there like some dumb kid
The music played and the boys would take you
Far from where I was
I was still hoping that you were the victory
To what had felt like love
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do with you
Hold on
Hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on
@shadygroves8252
Albert has so much good solo material
He’s really consistent
@joeking433
It runs in the family.
@radekkonecko2400
You can take Albert out of The Strokes but you can't take The Strokes out of Albert
@gossqjenkins6657
Panda Bassist but Julian wrote all the music for the first two albums so he was more than "just the vocalist." So technically the signature sound most people recognize from The Strokes is Julian's sound. But still I'm not denying that all members of The Strokes are talented and have great solo work or other bands. I'm just saying that Julian did a lot with the writing and producing of the sound as a whole and not just the vocals so he had influence on Albert and all members of the band
@jorgesempere8960
Panda Bassist Don't talk if you don't know anything, Julian is not "just a singer", he has been as important to the band as Albert, he has done the most of the structures of the songs from the first album and has made all the lyrics too.
@akwilson1676
And Albert even uses the same mic effect as Julian, so that's why this sounds so much like The Strokes.
@TheJamiro365
Tommy Valley Julian wrote all the parts in the first 3 albums, guitars, bass and drums.....
@pb12661
Tommy Valley are you serious? Yes, AHJ is a very important piece of the puzzle but JC is the "genius"/driving force behind The Strokes' music. The other members of the band have said it, their music producer(s) has said it, etc. JC is the leader and wrote most of the classic Strokes songs. Also, never underestimate a vocalist. They are just as much of a musician as anyone. Their VOICE is their instrument.
@joeking433
Another phenomenally underrated song by Albert. Albert is one guy that I think solo is as good as the Strokes. In fact, his solo stuff is like the best stuff of the Strokes.
@jarrod4115
"phenomenally underrated song" this is his most streamed song on spotify right now lols