Future Present Past

Future Present Past is the second EP by American band the Strokes, released on June 3, 2016 through Cult Records. The title represents each song: "Drag Queen" refers to the "future", "Oblivius"—the "present", and "Threat of Joy"—the "past".

Music videos
On June 2, 2016, the band released a lyric video for "Drag Queen", featuring various vaporwave-themed GIF animations created by the artist KidMograph/Gustavo Torres, and edited and arranged by Liz Hirsch.

Initially "Oblivius" was to have a music video, but Casablancas later stated that it was "shut down" by the band's publishers as it became "too political". "Threat of Joy" was chosen instead, and was shot by the band's frequent collaborator Warren Fu. Fu stated that the plot had been written with two days' notice, and features a tongue-in-cheek look at the failed attempt to make an "Oblivius" video as its "MacGuffin". It was released via Noisey on June 28, 2016.

A lyric video for "Oblivius" was the EP's final, and was released on July 12, 2016. Like "Drag Queen", it features vaporwave-themed GIF animations created by KidMograph/Gustavo Torres, edited and arranged by Liz Hirsch.

Reception

Future Present Past received positive reviews, and holds a score of 75/100 on Metacritic based on six reviews, indicating a "generally favorable" response. "Mystery has forever shaped the mythology behind the Strokes, and they're rarely so forthcoming. Which is why Casablancas' peculiar transparency is one of the more alluring accomplishments," said Michael Roffman of Consequence of Sound. Barry Nicolson of NME added that, "Perhaps the highest compliment you could pay this EP is that if you didn't know who it was and had no preconceived notions about what it should—or shouldn't—sound like, you'd think you had stumbled across something very special indeed."

Track listing 
Album credits adapted from Discogs.

Personnel
Credits adapted from EP liner notes.

The Strokes
Julian Casablancas – vocals
Albert Hammond Jr. – guitar, keyboards
Nick Valensi – guitar, keyboards
Nikolai Fraiture – bass guitar
Fabrizio Moretti – drums, percussion

Production
Gus Oberg – production (1–3), mixing (1 and 3)
Ben Baptie – mixing (2)
Dave Kutch – mastering
Phil Joly – engineering
Chris Tabron – engineering
Fabrizio Moretti – remix (4)

Design
Max Krance – cover
Liz Hirsch – layout and design

Management
Ryan Gentles – management
Richard Priest – management
Jack Rovner – management

Charts

References

Category:2016 EPs
Category:Cult Records EPs
Category:The Strokes EPs
Category:Concept albums