Is This It (studio album) by The Strokes

The group create a catchy and infectious record that is packed full of character and has enough charm to win over anyone. No matter how many times you hear this record it will still sound just as fresh as the first time you heard it. This is because at the core of this release are some fantastic hooks that are some of the best the group have ever created. They didn't just create one of these however, with every song on here being catchy, accessible and getting lodged in your head for weeks after finishing the record. Another major factor that causes this is the charm the music has which comes from both the fresh and exciting instrumentation and the brilliant vocal display. Julian Casablancas is phenomenal on this record and in my opinion he sounds like the voice of the 2000's. He just possesses this edge to his vocal making it so impressive and distinctive every time you hear it. Overall, this record is one of the most enjoyable experiences you will find on an album with the group blending together so well on here to create something special.

The Strokes' debut album immediately perfects a garage rock sound with raw and gritty guitar-work, great drums and bass, and the iconic vocals of Julian Casablancas. At first I found the sound explored by Is This It to be repetitive as the album went on, but it has only grown on me as the subtle stylistic differences between tracks offer something new with every listen.
Top 3 tracks: Hard To Explain, Someday, Is This It

From flamingyesdept 09/03/2022 21:48

Was that it?

Great album

From imacgill 08/14/2022 21:37

Every now and then an album comes along to break up the monotony of rock and roll. Never Mind The Bollocks did it, Nevermind did it, and I believe This Is It did it as well. A classic record that helped kill the late 90's new rock scene and was instrumental in propelling indie music into the mainstream.

Stands alongside the best post-punk rock albums of all time from the New York scene as it's influence on guitar music through the 2000's was gigantic.

From Jboy56 02/17/2022 09:04

A simple, fun back-to-basics postpunk album with pop sensibilities, still it is not one of the 23 best albums of all time honestly.

Had this for well over a decade. Thought it was alright but nothing to write home about as it all just blended together. Until recently. A lengthy car journey where this was the only CD in the car caused me to listen to it 3 times in a row. It then clicked. Even though the songs have a similar sound and structure they all have there own uniqueness. It's very catchy and enjoyable right throughout. There are no dud tracks. It's gone up in my standings. A very decent album indeed.

So laid back, so effortless, so cool. It's a great debut, I think it's a little overrated on here but I can't deny it is quality. My favourites are Last Nite, Hard to Explain and Take It Or Leave It.

As the musical world was headed towards an increasingly digital/electronic future, The Strokes said “not so fast, my friend.”

From the opening beats of the record, The Strokes aggressively and repeatedly prove that a simple band can still make interesting and lasting songs with guitars, stripped down drums, and an ever-present distortion effect.

This is as much a punk statement as the Ramones in the 1970s. Not a wasted song on the album, lots of catchy riffs and lyrics, and very few albums do as good a job of transporting the listener into a specific time and place…here, specifically, NYC at the turn of the century.