'Is This It' (The Strokes) Album Review

'Is This It' (The Strokes) Album Review

New York City, 19 years ago: at the beginning of Bush-era America, with Shrek showing in theatres and the world still in shock from the twin tower attacks on September the 11th, a 5 man band from Manhattan released the best indie rock album ever made.

Is This It can be used as a benchmark with before and after arrows in the discussion of modern rock music. It’s minimalistic power chord heartbeat and uniquely refreshing solo interludes are only made more pleasurable by the deep and enticing bass lines and catchy choruses that pulsate through all 11 songs. This was a time where Radiohead dominated the ‘music nerd’ scene with Kid A still fresh in the minds of its fans, and with the sheer brilliance of OK Computer being appreciated by more and more as each year passed, it would take a project with cogently relevant and relatable themes and ideas (that are noticeable simply upon first listen) in order to win over the respect music publications such as Pitchfork and NME. It certainly did so and did not take long in its quest of being thought of in the same bracket as the aforementioned projects in Radiohead’s discography.

The Strokes went from relative anonymity to idollic figures in the indie scene not just in America, but notably in Britain as well, upon the release of Is This It. The tempo is incessantly quick and jumpy in Hard To Explain and Barely Legal, as the guitarists’ jangly and chirpy power chords compliment Julian Casablanca’s grisly hum in a way that makes the listener feel as if they are in Manhattan, breathing in the air of Times Square with its flashing lights and yellow taxis, inhaling the atmosphere of possibility and importance. For its half hour run time the perspective of the busy and fruitful lives of young people, as well as the associated relationships, conflicts and friendships that will constantly fluctuate in significance as time passes.

And all together, it went well

We made pretend, we were best friends

Then she said, "Oh, you're a freak"

They ordered me to make mistakes

Together again, like the beginning

It all works somehow in the end

The things we did, the things you hide

But for the record, it's between you and I

Is This It is a brilliant project from a brilliant band. It is up there as being one of my favourite albums ever.

5/5 stars