The Strokes
http://www.thestrokes.com

styles: punk pop, garage rock
others: The Hives, White Stripes, Wire, Stooges, Velvet Underground

Is This It? (US version)
Rough Trade/RCA, 2001
rating: 8.9
reviewer: mr p

Just look at these five guys: skinny New York punk-rockers, looking for excuses to bestow their leather jackets, thin ties, and outrageous hairstyles (not to mention their NYC punk attitude). Should we be afraid? For a band that wants to "rock your fucking balls off", we better be afraid. The Strokes have just crashed the party, and neither you, nor I, can stop them.

Earlier this year, The Strokes reduced critics down to all fours with a couple singles and an EP, but this full-length debut has provided critics something new to masturbate over. Is This It? is raw, in-your-face, and overflowing with attitude.

So what's the big deal? The Strokes' take on rock is hardly revolutionary, nor entirely original. Comparisons have been drawn to an array of artists from The Velvet Underground and Television, to The Doors and Pavement. But originality is not the key to the Strokes' music, it's the aura of the 70’s/early 80’s punk revolution that emanates from the quintet like Snoop Dogg's Cool Water cologne. Their music serves as a refreshing break from the serious albums that many of us have become attuned to.  Instead of relaxing on a couch with a pair of headphones, The Strokes invite you to pump your stereo and dance like a baboon.

The title track kicks off the album with a snot-nosed demeanor; arpeggiated chords, simplistic drums, and melodic basslines accentuate the suffocated vocal performance, courtesy of singer/songwriter Julian Casablancas. From then on, 10 more songs follow its lead with an average length at around 3:30 minutes, which is more than enough time for the Strokes to get their point across.

The overall sound of the album is fairly consistent, coasting on happy, upbeat rock anthems by means of overdriven guitars. The vocal sound is usually distorted or lacking clarity, while the drums are as dry as Bob Sagat's humor. Each song results in a fair representation of their style, but a few songs standout, such as "Barely Legal", with its dynamic chorus and outro;  "Someday", with its pogo-stick drumbeat; and the live favorite, "New York City Cops".

Although, in light of the tragic events that took place on Sept. 11th in New York, the band opted to exclude "New York City Cops" from the US and Canada releases. The song included the lyric, "New York City cops / they ain't too smart." The decision to exclude the song was entirely the band's, as they felt it would have been insensitive. But before you break out the Kleenex, you'll be glad to know that it has been replaced by their latest pop rocker "When It Started", which continues the rock and/or roll that we love.

Of course, there is always a backlash after this amount of hype, and it looks as though this is just the beginning. I mean, the album is still fresh, they are playing countless sold out dates, and they've just recently completed a video for "Last Nite". Who knows what will happen in a couple months, but as of right now, it doesn't really matter. The fact is, in just 11 songs clocking in around 36 minutes, The Strokes drag you into their rugged New York City lifestyle and leave you lying in the cold street. Continually looking into the future, these five soul mates intend to tour and record for the rest of their lives -- and the truest of fans will still be there, jumping up and down at their shows.


1. Is This It
2. The Modern Age
3. Soma
4. Barely Legal
5. Someday
6. Alone Together
7. Last Nite
8. Hard to Explain
9. When It Started
10. Trying Your Luck
11. Take It or Leave It

Is This It?
Rough Trade, 2001
rating: 9.4
reviewer: dunc

What a genius piece of deflating melancholy the title track to this album is. Before the rest of the album rattles and rolls in, "Is This It" answers the hype. Although, on closer analysis the track sounds like the story of a boy being led home by a girl. His hopes are expressed by Casablancas' question "Is this it?".

It's easy to tell that Oasis have influenced these NYC kids. Definitely Maybe (The title of Oasis’ debut) is provocatively indifferent, similar to Is This It. Is it about the disappointment of the highest point of a young man’s life or just the end of a relationship?

As well as all the common influences the press have pushed forward, like the Velvets, Television, and the Stooges, there are three that seem to be overlooked. In an early interview, Casablancas said that the band was imagined by him while listening to a Doors tape. He said something about there "being something in the way the instruments sounded, the way they could be differentiated." And tellingly, "New York City Cops", as well as having a raucously defiant strain , there is something of Jim Morrison’s lyrical imagery. To compliment this, I would say that another influence must be The Smiths’ dense and witty lyrics on many songs, The Modern Age in particular, is very Joy Division-esque in the way the basslines drive the songs, and the vocals mumble along hauntingly.

Another trait in the band that I feel is a possible future direction, is the ‘psychedelic’ aspect of the music. The first clue was the choice of the ‘psychedelic gate frame’ cover for the LP as stand by for the superior androgynous ‘black glove/ass’ cover. The second, and maybe more importantly, is the hypnotic elements of most of the songs. Well "Soma" is spiky and resilient, and "Someday" is probably the next anthem off the album. "Alone Together" is one of the heaviest efforts on the album and helps to add weight to this short, but sweet record.

"Trying My Luck" is a track which at first seems awkward, but eventually grows to be one of the more mature tracks on the album. And, guess what, just as the first track is deflating for eager listeners, the last one "Take It or Leave It" is arrogant and cocksure. It also highlights my personal ideal of great lyrics -- I like multiple meanings. For example, this one is about a relationship, but doubles as a message to the press, and then again maybe just a reminder that life is an option.

This sort of album only comes around every ten years. I think The Stokes have given enough of themselves, but most importantly seem to have held back enough to still be themselves.

1. Is This It
2. The Modern Age
3. Soma
4. Barely Legal
5. Someday
6. Alone Together
7. Last Nite
8. Hard to Explain
9. New York City Cops
10. Trying Your Luck
11. Take It or Leave It
 

Hard to Explain/ New York City Cops (cd single)
Rough Trade, 2001
rating: 9.0
reviewer: dunc

This is another chunk of Strokes genius --so late in the Rock 'n Roll game. Two songs make up Hard to Explain/New York City Cops; an angsty power pop record. Spiky and defiant to the end. Casablancas sings on the "Hard to Explain", "I missed the last bus, I took the next train, I try but you see, it’s hard to explain" over driving guitars. Like the last EP, The Modern Age, this song has a sense of déjà vu about it. The energy and simplicity are touched by something magical. "New York City Cops" is funny. That’s something you might miss about all of the Strokes songs so far. They are funny! The laconic drawl of the chorus "New York City Cops, They aren’t too smart" will surely wind up the local police force anywhere. In the beginning, Casablancas yelps, "Oaw! No I meant Aow!’, only to say "No I didn’t really." He then slips into lyrical imagery worthy of Morrison. They sound like a punk Doors on this song. So that’s five out of five for The Strokes so far. If they carry on like this they could have some problems. The forthcoming album, ironically titled Is This It, is already half a masterpiece. Judging by songs I’ve heard live like "Take It Or Leave", it’s sure to be a tour de force. So, I guess, we really can take it or leave it. But will we ever understand? As the song goes "All obsessed with fame, cos were all the same, I don’t see it that way, Oh I don’t see it that way at all."

1. Hard to Explain
2. New York City Cops
 

The Modern Age (cd single)
Rough Trade, 2001
rating: 9.0
reviewer: dunc

Classic influences like The Velvet Underground are always a good place to start. The Strokes, the much hyped band from New York, are the next big thing on the block. Even Noel Gallagher (Oasis) tried to poach them for his own label. Although wary of such talk, this single bodes extremely well for the album. The Strokes are punky, dense, poppy, dark and vital. It’s urban melodramas all the way. All five of these qualities are sadly missing from almost every other guitar band around. They are New York Cool. They have the attitude.

Although the lead singer Julian Casablancas’ mini-epics bring to mind the Velvets the most, they also bear similarities to the Stooges, Television, Nick Cave, Sonic Youth (bass lines), Pyschedelic Furs, Jesus and Mary Chain and The Smiths (somehow, as I listen, there is something witty in the lyrics which reminds me of The Smiths). There is, however, something missing from this puzzle for me. The songs seem quite simple and breeze past, but they do stand up to deeper analysis. There is a definite mysterious quality, which I can’t pin down. I’m missing the link. But one thing is for sure; we haven't heard this type of song writing talent since Cobain (The single has the lyric "I’m on a plain" hidden in there somewhere.). Effortless.

You’ve heard all these songs before. Well, you think you have. That’s the definition of classic. But not classic cheese, like The Dandy Warhols, just the real thing. The allure is in the intense way in which the lyrics are intertwined with the minor chords. Stories of relationships, life’s debris and Casablancas’ ability to bring hope to situations which seem somber or hopeless.

The Modern Age seems like the ultimate summer ‘street hassle’ record. It goes ‘In the sun sun having fun, it’s in my blood’…’Work hard and say it’s easy’ is a mantra to live by. On Last Nite, a song maybe about a frustrated girlfriend, Casablancas sings jauntily "Last night, She said, Oh baby I feel so down, you turn me off, when I feel left out." This is sung in such a way that possible impotence is merely tossed aside by Casablancas’ delivery. "Oh little girl I don’t care anymore, I’m walkin out that door." This is beyond cool. These songs seem to be many sided diamonds. They take on new meanings each listen.

On the Teenage Riot influenced song Barely Legal they say "I didn’t take any short cuts, I spent all the money I saved up, Oh mama runnin outta luck, Like my sister she don’t give a fuck"….’I want to steal your innocence, To me my life it doesn’t make sense." This is not jock punk or nu punk metal etc, it is rock n roll, old school, with a feminine touch... like Suede or Elastica.

Oh, I finally found the missing link. The menace of the Stones in their Aftermath/Under My Thumb era and Bob Dylan’s lyrical weaving. Get it or regret it. Do believe the hype.

1. The Modern Age
2. Last Nite
3. Barely Legal