The Strokes
Is This It

The 2001 was the year of the birth of the new slick rock (The Vines, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, etc.....), a bit like 30 years ago but without improvements and originality. Among these emerges the American band The Strokes led by the lead singer Julian Casablanca and four other non-talented musicians, including the Italian-Americans: Moretti and Valensi.

As far as I'm concerned, nothing to do with the monumental The Velvet Underground led by Lou Reed (as many say!), which in my opinion have nothing to do with those sounds... except perhaps when they descended in the last album "Loaded". Anyway, "Is This It" (their first and also their best work) is an excellent album of 36 minutes where the freshness of the sounds and that meandering unstoppable rock'n roll make it perfect, enjoyable, and fun.

I would stop with the comparisons (I would say useless since many have talked about the Stogees or Television) but I would focus more on the product. Already from the first listen, excluding that homemade intro of "Is This It", you realize the spritely sound of "The Modern Age" with its jangling guitars and that infectious rhythm that continues endlessly until the end of the album. I don't want to analyze the tracks since many know it, but in the end, I realize there's not one that misses (as they say... in the end, they all rock!).

The best ones in my opinion are: "The Modern Age", "Barely Legal", "Someday", "Last Nite", "Hard To Explain" and "Trying your Luck".. heck, I've mentioned almost all of them!

Even if it's a bit lacking in originality, I would recommend it to lovers of pure rock'n roll. Genuine and fun!