Album Of The Week #69: "Is This It?" by The Strokes

insinkerator

Artist: The Strokes
Album: Is This It?
Label: RCA
Tracks: 11
Length: 36:28
Release Date: August 27th, 2001

The Strokes Debut album, The album or some of its tracks have been featured in many compilations and best of lists including:
"Channel 4's 100 Greatest Albums Of All Time" (89)
"Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (367),
"Spins 100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005" (100),
"The Observers Top 50 albums That Changed Music" (48),
"Q's 21 albums that changed Music" (21),
"Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time" (Take it or Leave it, 71)
"1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die"

whatawaster

One of the best albums of all time in my humble opinion, and the best of the 21st century. It's ridiculously consistent throughout

Is this it - 9/10
Modern Age - 10/10
Soma - 10/10
Barely Legal - 10/10
Someday - 10/10
Alone Together - 9/10
Last Nite - 10/10 *
Hard to Explain - 10/10
NYC Cops - 10/10
Trying your luck - 10/10
Take it or Leave it - 10/10

It's actually criminal that Kings of Leon are more popular than The Strokes.
The album gets double points for bringing the wonderful White Stripes into the mainstream and for paving the way for a wave of outstanding bands around 2001/2002/2003 - The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TheLibertines, The Coral, The Vines (first album anyway) . . .

loyatemu

listened to it non-stop when it came out, not so much recently but its still a great album.

Unfortunately they never really developed their sound and the follow-ups have been fairly lacklustre.

Xavi6

Not as good as 'Room On Fire' imo

gustavo

Fine Fine album

Such a breath of fresh air it was at the time , One of the few albums I can listen to from start to finish without the urge to hit the skip button at least once.

Monkey61

I could never get into this album at all. I think "Hard to explain" is a classic, but that's about it. I think this album's reception was a triumph of style over substance. I just find a lot of it a bit boring.

That said I don't hate The Strokes, Room on Fire is quite good and I really love First Impressions of Earth. I want to like this but I just can't.

Stompbox

Similar sentiments here! Fantastic album, solid in every respect, cohesive and effortless. As a 17 year old who didnt bear witness to its release(or didnt pay much heed at the time) can anyone tell me what its initial impact was?! Im always its a seminal body of work that revolutionised guitar music but i haven't a notion!