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".[1][2]

Future Present Past
EP by the Strokes
Released	June 3, 2016
Recorded	2015–2016
Studio	The Music Building (New York, NY) Additional recording: Red Bull (New York, NY) Electric Lady (New York, NY) East Village Recording (New York, NY) Bronson Island (Los Angeles, CA) One Way (Upstate New York) The Magic Shop (New York, NY) Arlyn (Austin, TX) The Cutting Room (New York, NY)
Length	19:27
Label	Cult
Producer	Gus Oberg
The Strokes chronology
Comedown Machine (2013) Future Present Past (2016) The New Abnormal (2020)

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".[3] "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

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	75/100[4]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
The Boston Globe	[6]
Consequence of Sound	B[1]
DIY	[7]
Drowned in Sound	4/10[8]
NME	4/5[9]
Pitchfork	6/10[10]
Whiplash	[11]

Future Present Past received positive reviews, and holds a score of 75/100 on Metacritic based on six reviews, indicating a "generally favorable" response.[4] "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.[1] 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."[9]

Track listing

Album credits adapted from Discogs.[12]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Drag Queen"	Julian Casablancas, Fabrizio Moretti, Nick Valensi	4:33
2.	"Oblivius"	Julian Casablancas, Albert Hammond Jr.	5:00
3.	"Threat of Joy"	Julian Casablancas	4:24
4.	"Oblivius" (Moretti Remix)	Julian Casablancas, Albert Hammond Jr.	5:30

Personnel

Credits adapted from EP liner notes.[13]

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

Sales chart performance for Future Present Past

Chart (2016)	Peak position
France (SNEP)[14]	144
France Top 100 (SNEP)[15]	60

References

1. Roffman, Michael (May 30, 2016). "The Strokes – Future Present Past EP". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
2. Van Dril, Eric. "Interview: Julian Casablancas on Triple J". The Strokes News. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
3. Strauss, Matthew (June 28, 2016). "The Strokes' Julian Casablancas Teases "Threat of Joy" Video, Says He Doesn't Like Playing Festivals". Archived from the original on June 26, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
4. "Future Present Past [EP]". Retrieved June 4, 2016.
5. Phares, Heather (June 3, 2016). "Future Present Past - The Strokes". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
6. Feldberg, Isaac (May 27, 2016). "Strokes resurrected on 'Future Present Past' EP". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
7. Swann, Emma. "EP REVIEW THE STROKES - FUTURE PRESENT PAST". DIY Magazine. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
8. Robertson, Derek. "EP Review: The Strokes Future Present Past". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
9. Nicolson, Barry (May 27, 2016). "The Strokes - 'Future Present Past' Review". NME. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
10. "The Strokes: Future Present Past EP Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
11. Porto, Victor (May 26, 2016). "Future Present Past EP - Strokes". Whiplash. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
12. Future Present Past EP on Discogs
13. Future Past Present (liner notes). Cult Records. 2016.
14. "THE STROKES DANS LES CHARTS FRANÇAIS" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
15. "THE STROKES - FUTURE PRESENT PAST EP (CHANSON)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 11, 2016.