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Rating: Few bands give me diarrhea as much as the Strokes. 5 pretty boy posers, sons of billionaires, used to snorting coke off the asses of dad Casablancas' models, unable to play a single instrument.
These spoiled brats with “such peculiar names” (veeeery cooool!) haven't really done anything wrong: they created a little band during their luxurious New York high school days: they couldn’t manage much, but it was the best way to hook up between snorts and weekends at the beach house in Long Island. Everyone does it, right? Then someone decided it was time to revive “rock and roll” (??!), after years of the charts being dominated by the likes of Prodigy and Limp Bizkit: and there you have it. All the media getting off talking about this album, and showering them with praise even now, after these clowns are in commercial decline. While someone like Jack White had to work his ass off for years to achieve deserved success, while a genius like Neil Hagerty keeps hanging around the dive bars. But time is notoriously a gentleman, and today it's clear that listening to the first album by the Strokes proves those right who always thought they were crap.
The sound is pathetic: a totally incapable drummer, only able to repeat wheezy marches (but he’s sleeping with Drew Barrymore, all very cool and New York!), a bassist who makes Novoselic look like Les Claypool by comparison, two guitarists who literally crawl over the 6-string, achieving a pathetic and monotonous sound while recycling the riffs of the Feelies and mundane solos. Let’s then draw a veil of pity over the singer, and his voice made unbearable by the conifers in his nose. A flat and inconclusive record, an unbearable flop between deflated marches like “some day” or “soma” and winks to Brit pop “trying your luck”, “barely legal” or “the modern age”, because right in England, next to Oasis, they might appreciate a band like this. Not a spark, not a surge but everything incredibly monotonous, as if the Pixies played in an old folks' home 30 years on, like in “take it or leave it”. Rock made specifically to be the soundtrack to a Calvin Klein fashion show.
It's incredible how when talking about these asshats, Velvet Underground and Television were mentioned: two of the most original bands ever, what the hell do they have to do with these ??? Phrases like “sounds like Lou Reed in 1977”, “reminds one of Waiting for the Man”, “riffs straight out of Marquee Moon”. Either certain people have wax glued in their ears, or it was the classic way to grease the wheels, sell more records and newspapers. The Velvet in rock were excess, the representation of a sick society: these guys can just about spend the evening partying and snorting with Lapo, after he leaves the Kissinger study on Fifth Avenue.
Crazy stuff.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 The Modern Age (03:32)
Up on a hill is where we begin
This little story a long time ago
Start to pretend, stop pretending
It seems this game is simply never ending
Oh, in the sun sun having fun
It's in my blood
I just can't help it
Don't want you here right now
Let me go, oh, let me g-g-g-g-g-g-go
Leaving just in time
Staying for a while
Rolling in the ocean
Trying to catch her eye
Work hard and say it's easy
Do it just to please me
Tomorrow will be different
so i pretend I'm leaving
our fears are different here
We train in AVA
I wish you hadn't stayed
My vision's clearer now,
but I'm unafraid
Flying overseas, no time to feel the breeze
I took too many varieties
Oh, I'm in the sunshine having fun
It's in my blood
I just can't help it
Don't want you here right now
Let me go, woooooo, darling let me g-g-g-g-g-g-go
Leaving just in time
Staying for a while
Rolling in the ocean
Trying to catch her eye
Work hard and say it's easy
Do it just to please me
Tomorrow will be different
So this is why I'm leaving
03 Soma (02:37)
Soma is what they would take when hard times opened their eyes
Saw pain in a new way
High stakes for a few names
Racing with the sunbeams
Losing against their dreams
In our eyes
I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes,
Said I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
Let's go
When I saw her for the first time
Lips moved as her eyes closed
Heard something in his voice
"And I'll be there" he says
And he walks out
Somehow he was trying too hard
To be like them
I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
And I am
Stop
Oh darling let me go
Try it once and they liked it
(They) Try to hide it
Said I've been doing this twenty five years
Well I'm not listening no more
And his friends they keep asking for more
Oh yeah
Oh but that's it
04 Barely Legal (03:58)
I didn't take no shortcuts
I spent the money that I saved up
Oh, my ol Momma's running out of luck
Like my sister don't give a fuck
I wanna steal your innocence
To me my life it dont make sense
Those strange manners, oh I love 'em so
why wont you wear your new trench coat
I shoulda worked much harder
I shoulda just not bothered
I never show up on weekdays
That's something that I learned yesterday
Drive you to work; you will be on time
These little problems they're not yours and mine,
Come on and listen to what I say
I've got some secrets that'll make you stay
I just want to turn you down
I just want to turn you around
Oh, you ain't never had nothing I want, but...
I want it all
I just can't figure out...
Nothin'
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 some how in the end
the things we did, the things you hide
But for the record it's between you and i
I didnt take no short cuts
I spent the money that i saved up
oh,momma running out of luck
like my sister dont give a fuck
I wanna steal your innocence
To me my life, it just don't make any sense
Oh, those strange manners I love 'em so
Why won't you wear your new trenchcoat?
I just want to misbehave
I just want to be your slave
You ain't never had nothing I wanted, but...
I want it all
I just can't figure out...
Nothin'
And all together it went well
we made pretend we were best friends
Then she said 'oh i can wait'
they ordered me to make mistakes
Together again, like the beginning
it all works some how in the end
the things we did, the things you hide
But for the record it's between you and i
05 Someday (03:07)
In many ways they'll miss the good old days
Someday, someday
Yeah it hurts to say but I want you to stay
Sometimes, sometimes
When we was young ah man did we have fun
Always, always
Promises they break before they're made
Sometimes, sometimes
Oh my ex says I'm lacking in depth
I will do my best
You say you want to stay by my side
Darling your head's not right
You see alone we stand together we fall apart
Yea I think I'll be all right
I'm working so I wont have to try so hard
Tables they turn sometimes, oh someday
I ain't wasting no more time
Trying, trying
And now my fears they come to me in threes
So I, sometimes
They fade my friend, you say the strangest things
I find, sometimes
Oh my ex says I'm lacking in depth
Say I will try my best
You say you want to stay by my side
Darling your head's not right
You see alone we stand together we fall apart
Ah I think I'll be all right
I'm working so I wont have to try so hard
Tables they turn sometimes, oh someday
I ain't wasting no more time
06 Alone, Together (03:12)
No choice now, it's too late
Let him go, he gave up
No he gave up
Lisa said Take time for me
Dropping him down to his knees
Oh chest down
Take me away, see I've got to explain
Things they have changed in such a permanent way
Life seems unreal, can we go back to your place
Ah you drink too much, makes me drink just the same
People try, felt so right
Giving themselves good advice
Looking down sometimes felt nice
He knows it's justified to kill to survive
He then in dollars makes more dead than alive
Lets suck more blood lets work 3 hours a day
The world is over and I don't care cause
I am with you, now I've got to explain
Things they are changing such a permanent way
Life seems unreal, can we go back to your place
You drink too much, makes me drink just the same
Oh the first time it happened too fast
and second time I thought it would last
We all like it a little different
07 Last Nite (03:17)
Last night, she said
Oh, baby, I feel so down
Oh, it turns me off
When I feel left out
So I, I turned 'round
Oh, baby, I don't care no more
I know this for sure
I'm walking out that door
Well I've been in town for just about fifteen minutes now
And baby I feel so down
And I don't know why
I've been walking for miles
And people, they don't understand
Your girlfriends, they can't understand
Your grandsons, they won't understand
On top of this, I ain't ever gonna understand
Last night, she said
Oh, baby, don't feel so down
Oh, it turns me off
When I feel left out
So I, I turned 'round,
Oh, baby gonna be alright
It was a great big lie
'Cause I left that night
Yeah
Oh it's alright, baby, yeah
Them people, they don't understand
Your girlfriends, they can't understand
In spaceships, they won't understand
And on top of this, I ain't ever gonna understand
Last night, she said
Oh, baby, I feel so down
Oh, it turns me off
When I feel left out
So I, I turned 'round
Oh, little girl, I don't care no more
I know this for sure
I'm walking out that door, yeah
08 Hard to Explain (03:47)
Was an honest man
Asked me for the phone
Tried to take control
Oh, I don't see it that way
I don't see it that way
Oh, we shared some ideas
All obsessed with fame
Says we're all the same
Oh, I don't see it that way
I don't see it that way
Raised in Carolina
I'm not like that
Trying to remind her
When we go back
I miss the last bus, I take the next train
I try but you see it's hard to explain
I say the right things but act the wrong way
I like it right here but I cannot stay
I watch the TV, forget what I'm told
Well, I am too young, and they are too old
The joke is on you, this place is a zoo
You're right it's true
Says he can't decide
I shake my head to say
Everything's just great
Oh, but I just can't remember
I just can't remember
Raised in Carolina
She says, I'm not like that
Trying to remind her
When we go back
I say the right things but act the wrong way
I like it right here but I cannot stay
I watch the TV, forget what I'm told
Well, I am too young, and they are too old
Oh, man, can't you see I'm nervous so please
Pretend to be nice so I can be mean
I miss the last bus, we'll take the next train
I try, but you see, it's hard to explain
09 New York City Cops (03:36)
Here in the streets of American nights
Rise to the bottom of the meaning of life
Studied all the rules didn't want no part
But I let you in just to break this heart
Even though it was only one night
It was fucking strange
Nina's in the bedroom
She said time to go now
But leavin' it ain't easy
I got to let go
I got to let go
And the hours they ran slow
I said everynight she just can't stop sayin'
New York City cops
New York City cops
New York City cops
They ain't too smart
New York City cops
New York City cops
New York City cops
They ain't too smart
Well, kill me now, I let you down
I swear one day we'll leave this town
Stop
Yes I'm leavin'
'Cause it just won't work
They act like Romans
But they dress like Turks
Sometime, in your prime
See me, I like the summertime
Nina's in the bedroom
She said time to go now
But leavin' it ain't easy
I got to let go
I got to let go
Oh!
Trapped in an apartment
She would not let them get her
She wrote it in a letter
I got to come clean
The authorities they've seen
darling I'm somewhere in between
I said everynight she just can't stop sayin'
New York City cops
New York City cops
New York City cops
They ain't too smart
New York City cops
New York City cops
New York City cops
They ain't too smart
10 Trying Your Luck (03:27)
You said you couldn't stay
You've seen it all before, I know
And sold you on their way
Oh honey that's ok
No harm, he's armed
Settin' off all your alarms
When I find out
I hope it's you who set this trap
And stuffers rarely change
At least I'm on my own again instead of
Anywhere with you
Oh tell me it's all the same
And I've lost my place again
I know this is surreal
But I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Oh I am your one
Believe me, this is a chance
Oh, oh
Let's see what is for sale
He's trying not to give his job a chance
It's never gonna be
It's sad, but I agree
The signals don't seem right
It lasts for just one night, and then
I'm sorry that I said
That we were just good friends
No harm, he's armed
Set it off all your alarms
Entranced, I can't
Be here in time I'll think about that
And I've lost my page again
I know this is surreal
But I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well I am your one
Believe me, this is a chance
Oh, oh
11 Take It or Leave It (03:16)
Leave me alone
I'm in control
I'm in control
And girls lie too much
And boys act too tough
Enough is enough
When on the minds of other men
I know she was
I said just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, take it
Oh that's right
Oh, he's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
And gonna break your back for a chance
And gonna steal your friends if he can
He's gonna win someday
I fell off the track
Now I can't go back
I'm not like that
Boys lie too much
Girls act too tough
Enough is enough
When on the minds of other girls
I know he was
I said just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, take it
Oh that's right
Oh, he's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
And gonna break your back for a chance
And gonna steal your friends if he can
He's gonna win someday
Oh, he will
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Other reviews
By Rivo
Few CDs in my modest collection give me the same feeling of 'slipping away.'
A timeless album, it could be from the 70s or from next year... In its lack of pretension, it is superb.
By LOR15
A truly short and perfect rock album, with words that stay in your head.
A masterpiece and I don’t want to add anything else. Perfection shouldn’t be commented on. It just is.
By hammondjr
It doesn’t have a weak point... Tracks that you hear once and you hum forever.
Everything perfect, truly perfect, damn it, everything really perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By GATTINATOR
Is This It 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.
In the end, I realize there’s not one that misses... they all rock!
By Holy Disaster
Many songs on this CD, seemingly calm and collected, unleash an incredible intensity (a clear example is the unmistakable voice of Casablancas).
The Strokes are a happy and good revelation, who have made their way by literally breaking into the global music scene with this CD.
