Is This It is the debut studio album by American rock band The Strokes. Released in 2001, it initiated the garage rock revival movement of the early 2000s and drew critical acclaim for its catchy guitar riffs, infectious melodies, and raw, energetic sound. The album’s title poses a rhetorical question about whether “this” music represents something new and original. In this review, we will evaluate Is This It on several criteria to determine if it lives up to the hype and deserves its status as one of the most influential indie rock albums of the 2000s.
Background
The Strokes formed in 1998 in New York City, consisting of singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. The band built a local following through their lively shows at downtown music venues. They caught the attention of UK label Rough Trade Records, who released the band’s debut EP The Modern Age in 2001.
Is This It was recorded at Transporterraum studios in New York with producer Gordon Raphael. The album’s sound was influenced by seminal acts like the Velvet Underground, Television, and the Feelies. The Strokes aimed for a raw, old-school rock vibe in contrast to the overproduced music dominating the charts.
Is This It was first released in Australia and Japan in July 2001 through BMG. The international hype around the band led RCA Records to sign them and release the album in North America in October 2001.
Music and Lyrics
The Strokes established their signature sound on Is This It – catchy guitar hooks, uptempo rhythms, and Julian Casablancas’ drawling vocal delivery. As the primary songwriter, Casablancas wrote cynically humorous lyrics depicting New York nightlife and the ennui of young adulthood.
The propulsive lead single “Hard to Explain” exemplifies the band’s tight musicianship and Casablancas’ ironic detachment as he sings “I don’t see it that way / I see it just keep going on.” Other highlights include the mellow “Barely Legal” chronicling a questionable romance; the anthemic “Someday” driven by chugging twin guitar riffs; the retro “Last Nite” with its shoutalong chorus; and the bittersweet “Trying Your Luck” showcasing Casablancas’ vulnerability.
Key Tracks
Song | Notable Elements |
---|---|
“Hard to Explain” | Uptempo opener, soaring melodies, ironic lyrics |
“Someday” | Anthemic chorus, rolling twin guitar riffs |
“Last Nite” | Retro vibe, infectious shoutalong chorus |
“Trying Your Luck” | Showcases Casablancas’ vocal range |
The 11 tracks on Is This It maintain a tight focus and cohesion. The album clocks in at just over 34 minutes, which allows the band’s essential sound to remain impactful.
Critical Reception
Is This It received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. Reviewers praised The Strokes for their authentic retro sound and hook-driven songcraft.
Rolling Stone described the album as “all Killer, no filler” and applauded the band’s “taut garage pop and keen sense of style.” NME gave the album a 9/10 rating and observed that “The Strokes restore faith in the idea that pop music can be something more than just so much shiny product.” Pitchfork deemed it “one of the best pop albums of the year” and admired the band’s performance, commenting “They play tight, spare, and fast, never wasting a note or getting fancy.”
The album received some backlash in the UK, where critics initially dismissed The Strokes as derivative. But the band’s charisma and musical chops eventually won over even their harshest detractors. Is This It is now viewed as one of the most important rock albums of the 2000s for igniting a new wave of garage rock and indie music.
Accolades
Publication | Accolade |
---|---|
NME | #2 Album of 2001 |
Rolling Stone | #33 Greatest Album of All Time |
Pitchfork | #19 Best Album of 2000s |
Stereogum | #3 Best Album of 2001 |
Is This It appeared on numerous decade-end and all-time best album lists. It cemented The Strokes’ status as leaders of the garage rock movement.
Legacy
The impact of Is This It extended beyond critical praise. The album’s success opened the doors for a revival of stripped-down, guitar-driven rock in the mainstream.
Bands like Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, and The Libertines carried the garage rock torch through the 2000s. Groups like The White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs expanded on the raw energy displayed by The Strokes. Is This It paved the way for New York rockers like Interpol, TV on the Radio, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs to receive more widespread recognition.
The Strokes’ indie cool image was also influential. Their thrift store chic style inspired trends and made Converse sneakers fashionable again. Lead singer Julian Casablancas became a rock icon thanks to his leather jacket, tousled hair, and sunglasses aesthetic.
Is This It avoided the over-production that plagued mainstream rock in the late 90s. The album’s nostalgic yet fresh vibe stood in stark contrast to dominant nu metal and boy bands. The Strokes returned a sense of artistry and roots to rock music and reminded the world that a few chords and a good melody can go a long way.
Impact on The Strokes
The monumental success of Is This It impacted The Strokes both positively and negatively. On one hand, it brought them fame and adulation at a young age. They graced magazine covers as the biggest new act in rock and drew huge crowds on tour.
But this instant stardom also put intense pressure on the band. They spent the next several years trying to match the acclaim of their debut. The creative struggles and substance abuse issues that ensued took a toll on the band’s productivity and members’ relationships.
While The Strokes have continued to release solid albums, they have yet to capture the same magic that came together so perfectly on Is This It. Their subsequent work has often drawn comparisons, for better or worse, back to their seminal debut.
Regardless of what followed, Is This It ensured The Strokes’ enduring influence. Even if they had disbanded after that album, their impact on music in the 2000s would still be undeniable thanks to those 11 perfect garage rock tracks.
Conclusion
Is This It deserves its status as a classic album that shaped indie music. The infectious energy of the 11 songs on the album have not diminished over time. From the raw retro sound to Julian Casablancas’ jaded lyrics, every element of Is This It just works. The Strokes fused their NYC pedigree with art school intelligentsia to create an instantly cool vibe.
While the hype surrounding The Strokes was intense in 2001, they lived up to it with this collection of slick grooves, hooks, and choruses. Is This It flows seamlessly as a record that needs to be listened to front-to-back. It revived rock’s roots and left a legacy still felt today. So in response to the rhetorical question – yes, this is it – one of the most essential and influential rock albums of the 2000s.