The Strokes

The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. will release his solo debut, "Yours To Keep," Oct. 9 in the United Kingdom via Rough Trade. There are no plans to release the set in the United States at present.

The 10-track set features guest turns from Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas as well as the band's manager, Ryan Gentles, plus Sean Lennon, Fountains Of Wayne's Jody Porter, the Mooney Suzuki's Sammy James Jr. and Ben Kweller.

Hammond, who handles most of the singing himself, is backed on the album by bassist Josh Lattanzi and drummer Matt Romano. Gentles said some live shows are a possibility in the United Kingdom. Asked to describe the sound of the disc, he reports, "It sounds like Albert. If you don't know him, you just have to listen to the record, and you will know him intimately."

As for the Strokes, the group is presently touring in Australia, after which it will play two shows in Mexico City. A fall North American trek, including five previously announced shows with Tom Petty, will run through Oct. 17.

The band remains on the road in support of its third album, "First Impressions of Earth," which has sold just 262,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Despite those numbers, the Strokes continue to sell out venues worldwide. "Out record sales get to their lowest point and our ticket sales get to their highest point," Gentles says with a laugh.