Is This It

It was too monotonous and boring, I don't like that. Rate 3/10

Heard Before? Yes, oh yes. This was EVERYWHERE. Notes: - all the critics are right. there is no reason this album should work. - the hipster posturing, faux lo-fi production, moaning karaoke-megaphone vocals, boneheadedly simple guitar and bass parts all count against it. but that's also the appeal. - is there a single drum fill on this whole record? perhaps not. but the drums sound fantastic. - I don't care about the lyrics, but they serve their function of vaguely connecting with twentysomething record-collector dudes. - the songwriting, however, is hands-down magic. every song is hooky, has just the right amount of distinct parts, and tinkers with the formula just enough. nothing ever goes on too long and there are little surprises everywhere. - even the worst song ("New York City Cops") is fun as heck. - I would give "Room on Fire" a slight edge as the better album. Verdict: Maybe you had to be there, but this derivative garbage is nearly perfect. Listen Again? Oh yeah. When I first heard it I thought I would forget this album by 2002. But I have been coming back to it and "Room on Fire" occasionally since their release.

When this was current I sorta dismissed this album. I figured, who would want this when the White Stripes are available. Revisiting it today however, I totally get the appeal as something a bit different

GENIOS Este álbum tiene muchas buenas memorias para mí Siento que The Strokes marcaron una diferencia en su época y hasta hoy en día sigue siendo así, probablemente cada álbum de ellos que aparezca acá será 5 estrellas

3.5

decent

It is.

Classic

What a unique sound man. I've really dug this album.

печаль, грусть, красиво

One or two bangers, but most importantly it gave us Alex Marquez ass picture in the future

again i forget to write specifics.....😭 enjoyed this, i like the strokes.... struggling w the rating.....feel like it is prob a 4 but im so generous w 4s lately that i don't want to give one.......but this was better than that rush album to me so it feels wrong to rate the same....hmmmm...high 3 rounded to 4 how about

enjoyed this, i like their sound good beats, makes u want to move

Another band I can't help feeling that I should like, but can't quite get there Guitars are just a little repetitive and rather boring Vocals are just the wrong side of grating and annoying Not for me

Even with some stone-cold hits on it, the overall impression of the album is slightly tarnished by the monotony and sameness of the arrangements. I understand it's a stylistic thing, but if the album were shorter, the rating would be higher.

Oldie but goodie

A solid four stars. Some really good songs and I like the production. Hugely influential for a reason.

I actually added some songs to my liked songs. Think I will actually continue to listen to them. Love me some indie rock

Decent

I’ve always liked Last Nite so was ultimately expecting more from this. Bit of a let down.

Propper Millenium alternative/ Independent rock.

I listened to this not once, not twice, but three times! I love this album so much, Julian Casablancas was my bisexual awakening pretransition and it still holds up so well. (he does too by the way), The guitar tones are that distinct post-punk revival/garage rock sound and julian's voice is just so iconic. How can you not love this album come on.

Svinbra ju! Ska lyssna mer på The Strokes man blir glad av det

The last upbeat album of 2001.

Great album all around. I’ve listened to this many times before in the past and it still holds up in my opinion. Good vibes and not too long of an album. Solid 4/5 for me and probably always will be.

I've known and heard this album from a while ago, I listened to the strokes often in high school. Still holds up great in my opinion

For a debut album, The Strokes present a refined sound that proves they know their vibe earlier in their career than most. I always had a distaste for The Strokes, but found myself appreciating the narrow focus of the sounds they are able to achieve with simple riffs and arrangements of just a few instruments. The hits on this album like Last Nite find a greater appreciation in the context of the other songs on this album, and I enjoyed this opportunity to become more familiar with the music. However, after several songs I found myself tiring of the distortion effects on the vocals, and began wishing for a song or two with a cleaner sound, if only for the variety.

This album is not ordinary one. I just guess it’s not for me. Didn’t have any song that like blew my mind, so 6/10

3.5/5. Pari tosi hyvää biisii mut se koko albumin soundi ei aina toiminu ja oli välil vähän ärsyttäväki. Nautin kuitenki ja kokonaisuus oli upea!

Some of these songs are indie-Rock-classics, others are less memorable.

ai conheço esse tb FAVS (top 3): barely legal; alone, together; new your city cops mençoes honrosas: is this it, soma, someday, last nite, hard to explain, trying your luck acho as musicas meio iguais e repetitivas mas como elas sao boas pelo menos é alguma coisa ne KKKKKK eu amo; ah e tbm n aguento essa capa mds nota final: 3.5/5

This was from the 2000s? Sounds like they used retro equipment to make some simple yet effective back-to-basics rock. I can hear the influence this has had on a lot of indie rock and pop!

Yes it is

Not bad but extremely overrated. Re-invented rock music, my arse.

NICEEEEEE albuuum! nice vibe, chill songs, easy to listen! 10/10

Meh. Maybe it’s just because my wife was mean to me yesterday. But I don’t think so. Got bored before I finished the whole album.

This album is really interesting and hard to listen to at the same time. Fun experience but not likely I'm coming back

Loved it. Could easily listen to it again. Easy inde.

Another album that I have heard a lot about but never heard. It had a nolsstalgic feel to it and I love the effects on the vocals. It did kinda blend which probably the only real bad thing about it.

Have always loved this album. Short, sharp tunes, well constructed album. Five stars all day

Nice album, rate it 6,8/10 need to listen to it more for it to be higher. Old, the band got great songs

To je biu tak ragebait k sem odprla nov album...res mi niso vsec sam sem dala vecini albuma priloznost pa morm rect da sem na momente celo uzivala.

Makes me want to watch “how I meet your mother “

extreme flat and same-y // tempo range is narrow, guitar tones sound the same // first four tracks blend into each other COMPLETELY // j casablancas’ vocals are nasal, whiny, grating- affect never changes, no diversity of pitch // lyrics are extremely thin, repetitive, hold almost no substance- attitude is quite juvenile // “last nite” fails to stand out, gets lost in homogeneity // despite the lo-fi production there’s no expression // trapped in the early 00s, but not in a flattering way // one long, mildly annoying loop

CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYINGGGG

All time banger, perfect album

a couple of HEATERS as well as an awesome album cover

Aunque la guitarrita y los vocals ya se me hacian un poco repetitivas, descubri el temazo que es Hard to Explain y reviví mentalmente algunos momentos de cuando tenía 16 años y me creía rockandrollera por escuchar a los Strokes. Tengo que admitir que es un clásico y pasó el test of time 25 años después

This album reminds of that magical time where we, the consumers, made an unwritten pact to bands: we will pirate all your music, and in return we promise not to disparage your credibility when you sell out to Apple to sell iPod shuffles. So, yes, these sellouts have some good kickers.

The Strokes are in that perfect cultural nadir - lost all modern relevance, but not yet old enough to have any retro appeal. That being said, I’ve had some great times listening to this album, and I still remember hearing Last Nite for the first time and getting my little socks blown off. This album is good enough to stand the test of time. They’ll be back.

Sounds good

Really good. It’s better than a 3, not quite a 4. But don’t want it to get lost

i like it, def high school vibes

Coldplay left me well, cold

It's fine.

Some really good old school classics.

Absolute classic. Always loved this record, a definite classic

The strokes probably up there with the pioneers of that era, the good old indie era. I can see why they are in here. Was such a huge era for this sort of music. Someday and last nite absolute bangers. Hard to explain and take it or leave it, is probably the only other songs I was a fan of. I find this album very samey, vocals and guitar riffs, as well as the drums. Feel like it could do with some backing vocals to take the edge off in some songs. Also quite hard to listen to sometimes. It’s probably a one and done album for me. But props to the strokes. Middle of the road for me. Think the cover is getting more attention.

Ironic how the album was called Is this it cos that’s what I was feeling through the duration of it , bland and uninteresting bar maybe 2 of their hits

Is this it? Exactly. I can't tell one song from another. Classic early 00s boring indie stuff. I love their later songs like juicebox and Reptilia but this album just isn't it for me, a bland production that doesn't capture you and id say the same of the songwriting, except for last nite which is a banger. If you play this album alongside any of their later works its as if the while mix has Vaseline smeared over it, making the dreary songs sound even worse. Not for me. I even had a relisten as I see this so highly reviewed but I just don't get it at all. But that's wonderful because it shows how subjective music is! One mans art is one mans toilet paper.

Classic. Great sound. Gives me a lot of nostalgia. A solid 4

The radio ruined this for me lol

I have a sneaky feeling I know this. A bonified masterpiece that is responsible for inspiring so many other bands that I adore.

alright album it was kinda fun but wouldn’t listen often

Nothing interesting to my ears - very monotonous and instantly forgettable mediocre Music. The cover image is the most interesting part :-D

I weirdly know a lot more of this album than I thought I did, maybe its due to songs from it bleeding into pop culture via movies and TV, maybe its kind of a sense memory from how many bands took influence from The Strokes and still sound like this. That in mind, it's a pretty quintessential early 2000s album, not quite the culture change of Nirvana in the 90s but I'd argue a lower magnitude equivalent. While I did enjoy my time with it idk that it will leave much of a lasting impression on me with the exception of the title track

Fantastic from start to finish we love the Strokes and have for decades

this is america

I was not excited to listen to another Brit punk album but this rules.

Webcam mic. I hoped I would enjoy the non-hits more than I did but it's still a great album.

Great album. Starts a little slow but by the fourth track it is coming on strong. The middle of this album just pumps out a string of badass guitar driven rhythm rock gems without letting up until the almost the end. Standout songs for me are: 4. "Barely Legal" 5. "Someday" 6. "Alone, Together" 7. "Last Nite" 8. "Hard to Explain" 10. "Trying Your Luck"

Important in it's space and time and very influential but I've never loved it. 3

35 minutes of magic. If you're going to steal all your ideas, steal from the best. Lou Reed's nonchalant vocal delivery and VU's lofi droning style, Television's intertwined guitars overflowing with simple melodies and tension, the Stooges' raw garage riffing, every post-punk band's agressive melodic lead bass style. The interplay between the 2guitars/bass and the vocals are so good - hooks and counter-hooks, snakey lines, bounce, texture, fuzz, energy. But reducing this to its influences misses what an incredible breath of fresh air this was in the nu-metal, butt rock, post-grunge rock landscape of 2001. One of the all time great driving around albums.

I don't like the guys voice

What is going on in this album cover I dont want to know

i had 2 songs already added however listening to this album made me realise i need to remove them.. also is the album cover the ass cheeks , the knee , or like the shoulder or none 0 added 2 removed

Solid album nothing profound or ground breaking.

AMAXING

Love the Strokes. Didn't want to listen to this whole album at the same time.

👍🏻

Often nowadays it can feel like music is getting progressively more complex, and that in order to be unique you need to push boundaries. Is This It is the biggest counterargument, showing just how much can be done with simple, well-written rock music. Everything about this album meshes so well to create one of the most driven, danceable, and just plain fun experiences in modern music. The Strokes almost don't let you breathe, throwing amazing tracks back to back and keeping the energy high. Every single song on here is enjoyable in its own way, and I think that's a testament to quite a few factors. One, and I cannot overstate this enough, the basslines on this album are legendary. It would've been so easy for Nikolai to just support the guitar lines like so many other Garage Rock bands, but the lines really go above and beyond in making each track so bouncy and lively. The tone of everything, from the bass to guitars vocals and drums are all incredible. The mix is very simplistic but it's allowed to be only because of how good the tones they're working with are. The tastefulness of the distortion on Casablancas' voice is iconic and defines the sound on this record. In general, Is This It showcases just how effective simplicity can be if you just do the basics very well. Nothing they're doing is super technical, complicated, or even that hard; these were some of the first songs I learned on guitar. But when every track is as masterfully crafted on every level as this, you don't need complexity, you don't need to break boundaries. Still one of the best Rock records of the 21st century.

Strong 4,5

Thoroughly enjoyable with great energy! Some nice riffs - i had a difficult time picking a favorite track from this bunch

Wonderfully aggressive and gritty.

When this came out I really didnt like it as they just sounded like a Television tribute band. They still do

Глядя на обложку думала будет что-то в стиле Мерлина Менсона. Но это ноющий рок, каких-то задротов неудачников. Слушать можно но пока никак, не плохо не хорошо. Уже становиться поактивнее, но такое. Хочу просто выключить. Так, ну soma мне даже нравиться, гитарное соло вытягивает. Пока я могу сказать что выше 3 ну никак не может быть и то с натяжкой. Пока 2 из 5. Вытягивает музыка, вокал и текст шлак. Когда вокалист поет ровно, все нравиться, когда начинает завывать, просто выруби это дерьмо. Музыка стала ещё приятнее, она заслуживает 4 из 5, но - бал за вокал так что 3 из 5. Да тепер музыка кайф, но вокал с текстом просто перечёркивает все, ещё раз слушать не буду. Действительно понравилась hard to explain, даже вокал

Blech. Boring.

My favorite 2000s indie rock album!

Should have liked this more I thought, but didn't.

Back in 2001, one of the ways that I used to discover new music was by reading Q Magazine. Every year, there'd be a free CD with the "best of" that year's music. This is how I discovered Daft Punk, The Kings of Leon (back when they were good), The Rapture and even The Flaming Lips. And it's how I first encountered The Strokes. The opening track on the "Best of 2001" compilation CD was "The Modern Age". It was a proper rock 'n' roll tune, with driving beats, killer vocals and an insanely brilliant guitar solo soaked in energy. It was raw, gritty, messy and fantastic. Then with no warning, it abruptly just stops. I was hooked. The Strokes became a big part of my early twenties. There was something so effortlessly cool about them. They brought about a revival of rock 'n' roll to the mainstream, but also brought a completely new sound to guitar music at the same time. Their music was like the embodiment of the New York indie scene, but at the same time there was nobody else who sounded like them. There were a lot of different aspects that made up that unique Strokes sound: Julian's vocals mixed crooning warbles with punky screams, while filtered through compressed distortion (apparently recorded through a small Peavey practice amp). The two guitars and bass moved in completely different directions to each other, coming together to create a combined harmonic melody. The intense guitar solos and breaks often slipped into verses, rather than demanding their own space. The Strokes were the next generation of rock 'n' roll, reimagined for the 2000s. The album is packed full of iconic moments from start to finish. Title track "Is This It" is slow-tempo, with a main riff that feels reminiscent of The Pixies. "Soma" and "Someday" are bright, catchy and upbeat tunes, mixing with underground indie vibes. "Alone, Together" is an interesting take on song structure. It breaks apart when the drums take off halfway through, and of course that amazing guitar solo. Then there's "Last Nite". The intro builds up with a simple guitar riff, followed by an equally simple drum beat, and then bass line, signalling in one of the all-time great songs. We used to go to a nightclub called "Cuba", where they'd play great music. Whenever "Last Nite" would come on, I was contractually obligated to get up and dance. And I'm someone who doesn't like to dance. The old powerhouse brick of a phone, the Nokia 3310, had an emoji of a dancing man🕺 that my friends said was like a visual representation of my dance moves. At least camera phones weren't a thing back then. "Last Nite" is such an amazing song that it compelled someone like me to get up and dance to it. Julian said that he wanted The Strokes to sound like "a band from the past that took a time trip into the future to make their record". It's the best description possible, a late 70s, early 80s punk band that arrived in the early 2000s, denim-clad with boomboxes, bringing a new wave of rock music back into the mainstream. They might never have reached the heights of this album again, but the hugeness of the influence and impact of "Is This It" was, and still is... well... hard to explain.

makes me wanna nod my head and shift my feet

3.75

It’s hard to explain, but sometimes I think this is the best album of all time. While others might think, is this it?

Significant album in modern indie and it still stands the test of time. Takes a song or two to get going but builds into a scuzzy guitar fest with sparse production and sneery vocals. Forgot how good this is (it).

It's lit

fave song: last night

I bought this album when it was released. I initially loved the album, although I always found the vocal effects a little jarring. Due in part to the albums popularity and my early to late 20s period of pretentious music snobbery, (which at one point found me in a small venue buying an album by an artist that performed in a wedding dress and wobbled cardboard for part of the perormance which was as objectively crap as it sounds in retrospect), I decided I no longer liked this album. For years I've maintained that position, largely because it's been over 20 years since I gave it a chance again. Well, what an idiot I've been, and this is why pretentious music snobbery gets you nowhere. I maintain that I find the vocals jarring, but I get they fit the aesthetic of the music. Some of the songs are overplayed, but that doesn't take away from how good the album is. I've always said I'm eclectic, but sometimes when I decide I don't like something, I can be very stubborn about changing my mind. Overall, 8/10. I will be buying this on vinyl. It loses marks because of the vocals, but that's just a nitpicking part of me and because it doesn't match 10/10 albums I will have on my list.

holy fuck

It was alright. I’m not the biggest fan of the vocal fry effect they add. Last Nite was the only memorable song and its spelling is cringe as hell so -10 points for that.

not my vibe but i saved a couple of tracks

This really surprised me. I always saw them as "the same as Interpol and all those bands" and never really gave them a chance. But this is good! Short, to the point, angular at times, snarky.

блять это было начало 10001 альбомов и это блять было ужасно я не знаю. пресный альбом, под конец прямо заебал

?the best debut album of all time. u already know i love this. flawless. my darling pet nepo babies

2000s period piece

Almost certainly in the best five albums of the noughties. Filled to the brim with catchy riffs and without any filler, the guitar vocals and lyrics are all exceptional. I could list the best songs but would note down most of the album. 9/10

I was sure this was going to be a one star album because I really didn't like it at first, particularly not the vocals There were a couple of tracks later on that are a bit better. Not my bag, but not a total disaster

I really enjoyed this album

370/1089 - howdy. ig showed me pictures of you even tho i try to focus on art and human-like animals and people fighting … so i thought i’d say a respectful platonic “hello, physical pal.” (maybe) - the end. 🫡returning to self-imposed solitude🌷🦩

i mean, ya can’t go wrong with the strokes

Already know it. Very good 👍 👏 👌

Is this it?

God everyone wanted to be the Strokes in the 2000s didn’t they? No wonder, this album is just so enjoyable and listenable and cool. Scratch that, everyone STILL wants to be the Strokes. My main criticism is I didn’t need that effect over Mr. Casablanca’s voice in every song. This is an album of certified bangers!

solid 6,5/10 this is something im definitely gonna listen while working out, not too bad overall but also not a masterpiece

album title is accurate cos i am asking if that’s it (i want more)

More like a 4.5, but rounded down. Why? It's hard to explain.

Apt title.

Good, but their third best album in my opinion. Just makes me want to listen to their two better ones.

i mean its alright but some song are decent and some are confusing if u look at the lyrics

There’s one song that’s definitely still popular I think third on the album. Otherwise just another rock album, better than Bowie not as good as Fleetwood

A very casually great debut album that bears repeated listen, although maybe not 24 hours nonstop.

After Ok Computer ended rock music there was nothing left to do… but go backwards. Is This It, is one of the incredibly simple albums ever recorded and it’s fucking incredible. The melodies, the interlaying guitar, the perfect fuzz. It arrived at the perfect time. A timeless classic, it will never go out of style. 9.5/10

it doesn't do much lyrically and musically but is still very entertaining to listen to. Ich würde nicht sagen, dass die Band musikalisch was ganz neues gemacht hat, aber es ist trotzdem cool es sich anzuhören (habe das Gefühl dadurch sehe ich die Welt durch die Augen meines 17-jährigen Ichs)

This album is good, maybe even very good...but it's one of those records that I don't see what all the fuss is about. The songwriting is solid albeit a little repetitive, the vocals are also solid but have a ton of range, the guitar, drum, and bass work is solid but also somewhat repetitive and uninspired at times. It almost makes me think...is this it?

really amazing album, I get the hype!

good riffs, lots of catchy hooks, the strokes style just gets a little repetitive when you listen to the whole thing multiple times.

Kinda bland but listenable

I LOVE THE STROKKKKES!!!! Their second best album imo.4.5 if i could give halves

I am still going to listen to it I didn't quite yet.

It was pretty good, not my usual genre of music but good. My two tracks that I liked most and added to my playlist was ‘Last Nite’ and ‘Take it Or Leave it’. The beginning of the album was more slow and sad like, but as it progressed it became for fast paced and happy. I would say 6.5/10 because I like it but not enough to add most songs to my playlists.

YOU ARE NOT IMMUNE TO EARLY 00S INDIE ALTERNATIVE

not that bad, but too loud and fast, so I don't like it sm

We're Not Enemies, We Just Disagree 1001 Albums Generator 208 (1/19/2025) Is This It is kind of like, the indie rock album. Like, I don't know a more important, critically, and commercially received album in the genre. So much so that it almost feels wrong to call it indie since it's so well known. Musically, it's a pretty garage-y style of indie that really captures the feeling of a few lads just jamming out. But there is a deceptive amount of musicality on this thing. From that sexy bassline that comes in during verse 2 of the title track to the guitar solo in The Modern Age, there are these little hints at the band's musical prowess throughout these deceptively simple-sounding compositions. It's a classic for a reason, but I think that the songs that aren't at that absolute indie pinnacle status are sometimes not very interesting. The consistent sound and tone of the music also starts to blend together by the end. With that said, Is This It is still quite a good piece of indie rock that holds up to this day. 4/5. Favs: Is This It Soma Hard To Explain Least Fav: Trying Your Luck

The revival of good time indie guitar driven garage rock. You can hear their influence on a lot of great garage rock bands to come along since.

Pretty bland and boring sounding. No real change in pace at any point, most songs are consisting of drums, an e-guitar strumming and some distorted vocals. Pretty underwhelming tbh.

Swaggy

I still really enjoy “Take it or leave it”. The rest was okay.

Liked a couple of the songs, decently catchy. 3/5

I loved it.

Interesting, some songs are great but overall not my style

Prima album

I never heard of this band before. A few tracks were interesting. Most were rather annoying to listen to.

Valmiiksi tuttu albumi! The Strokes toimii aina

I mean there’s no skips. It is perfect.

Album No. 0126 on my list. “Is This It” by The Strokes is considered to be one of the most important rock albums of the 2000s (maybe THE most important rock album of the 2000s). And rightfully so, I guess. I had listened to most of the songs before, but never to the album in its entirety. But after doing so, I think it is deserving of its status. “Is this it” really is peak garage rock. Raw guitars, raw singing, raw lyrics. But it the same time, the album still keeps up a cool, nonchalant indie attitude, which is really reflected in the sound and vibe of this album as well. Julian Casablancas is a great singer and a great lyricist, and besides, the band works very well together throughout the whole album. The songs show a high degree of consistency, but there is still some uniqueness to all of them. I will add “Is This It”, “The Modern Age”, “Someday”, “Last Nite”, and “New York City Cops” to my playlist. Great album, very much deserving of its status. 5/5 stars!

6/10

The bridge between 1990's punk and 2000's butt rock.

Household classic

was just ok. I remember really liking it when it first came out though. 3stars

We hardly need reminding that when this came out it was "the new Rolling Stones", "the new Velvet Underground" and a revolutionary new direction in rock and roll. Of course it's nothing of the sort. It's a cool pop album that's recorded like a throwback to the sixties with a set of songs that, to be honest, all start to sound a bit the same after a while. There are certainly worse ways to spend 40 minutes, but it's not going to change your life.

Hits are hits for a reason.

i love this album, most in bm. cool filter thing on the voice

I was bummed to learn that this album was made my mad privileged kids who met in one of the worlds most expensive schools... but in fairness it is a literal genre defining classic and I enjoyed as much now as when I first heard it.

Classic album, unique production, some great stuff like last nite and the title track, just a very enjoyable album.

I don’t think I like this band. It’s fine. But kind of boring. Every song sounds very similar. The way the guitarist plays, is all the same. Sloppy down strokes. No inspiring riffs. I think the vocalist carries the songs but his vocals aren’t good. It sounds like he is bored so I am bored.

Very well made. A fun album in general. Excellent song writing and masterful instrumentation

10/10 !!!! Uno de los mejores álbumes debuts de la historia, me encanta la vibra de los 2000s que da, es realmente único.

muito muito bom! eu já conhecia algumas músicas mas nunca tinha ouvir inteiro! instrumentais incríveis e vibe perfeita

No notes, one of the all time favourites

I liked it.. I can see how other people want to listen to it but not my cup of tea.

Cool band, cool sound, I just wish I liked the songs more. For whatever reason I just can't connect with them. If I was going to create a band I'd probably want it to have an overall sound like this, but when I hear them I always hit next. The songs are catchy, just not compelling.

An incredible debit album! I'm partial to garage music (and pop-punk), i have been for about 40 years. I've enjoyed seeing how the genre has evolved over the years and from my first listen this album brought me joy. It has continued to do so for a couple of decades. I'm pretty sure I've played it at least once per year since it was released. This is a solid album. A modem classic that only suffers from a shittier cover in the US. Well that and fans who scream during their live performances. I've never attended any performance where the fans were as hell bent on drowning out the performance as I have been at Strokes performances. I'll just continue to enjoy the recorded shit when I just want to feel joy. Sometimes, that is enough.

Yep. It's a rock album. Some good grooves/hooks. At the point it was released, it was a decent change from what was being released. Not overly processed. Would listen again.

Forgot how happy the strokes are

This sounded nostalgic when I first heard it as a teen , now it's double that hearing it at 40

Cool background music. All solid good songs but only a few stuck out to me. 7/10

ΚΙΘΑΡΑ ΛΟΒΒΒ Ο δίσκος ειναι καθαριστικός αλλα οχι με κριντζ τρόπο Modern age Someday Nite 4.5 stars

exception songs except for a 2 or 3 mediocre ones

Cool album, very influential but bit aged

Each song starts with the same exact chords.

(100/100)

Such an amazing album

Already a favourite

192/1001 The Strokes - Is This It Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ❎ I was 11 at the time of this release and I remember a kid at school had an older brother, who would pass on new music to us and this was one of the albums that was played a lot at the time, thinking we were incredibly cool. As I discovered other stuff later, this album fell by the wayside and I remember listening to this a few years back and quite frankly thought "is this it?" On listening to this again, I'm still in the same mindset. Last Nite still absolutely slaps.

A few lesser songs, but I love The Strokes. Someday, Last Night, Hard to Explain all bangers. Some repetitiveness to the songs.

I didn’t enjoy this album. I don't like the vocals and I found the album boring.

not my music type but liked it

not my thing really.

Lol I was a teenager in 2001 - if I didn't own this album, most of my friends did and hoooo boy

חמוד!

IDN

песен 4-5 норм остальные не для меня, из эмоций более грустный альбом

Whenever I listen to the Strokes I feel like I'm listening to the same song over and over again. To be fair it is a pretty good song. 2.5 -> 3/5

Already know the album I like it

The irony of this is that the last album I rated, it got a 1 because it just wasn’t it for me. This album was the next one up. Got a chuckle out of me. It’s starting at a 3 pre-listening because of that. Update: It’s staying at a 3, which is solid.

Was a fun listen, absolutely loved the instrumentals, however i did believe the lyrics were sort of vague and like not in the good way, i found myself constantly questioning wth the songs were even talking about

Nunca tinha ouvido na íntegra. Bom álbum pra ouvir num dia cinza durante um passeio pelo centro histórico. Hard to Explain ainda é a minha favorita :)

Strokes sound is their sound and they dont stray from it much

I like it a lot. Love the groove in the album!

This is a pleasant fun album. Liked it on the first listen.

Nostalgic

el album favorito del varón con mas desapego emocional que existe. obviamente se la da de espiritual.

Honestly amazing so amazing. Good instruments fun production a bit of rock, an emotional album but not overly. Very 2000s. I’m very surprised I will be listening again.

Iconic album from my youth, it set the stage for a lot of my habits. It has definitely aged more like milk than wine, but it still has the same visceral qualities that I once loved

Yepp

I think it’s a bit overrated but I don’t think I listened to it well. I really like Soma though

Last night is still solid. Great guitar work throughout the album. The singing feels boring and repetitive at times

Amazing album, I love the sound effect it has, makes it more grungy but like NY grungy cool

Pinnacle indie sleaze. No notes. So good.

10/10 2000s-nostalgi.

Was hoping for an album idk but this obv a masterpiece

I didn’t really like it it was a bit too agreasive for me . 2/5

Cool.

I like every song on here except for the first one. Influenced by punk and 60s rock, all of their tunes have great hooks and great melodies.

Great opening track, really sets the tone of the album. Barely Legal is the best track of the album. Last Nite has a reaaaaally sick solo guitar lol

The cover slaps. A bit monotone and I cant understand what the singer is saying without reading the lyrics. Songs I liked: - Someday - Last Nite

i like this album. it’s not my usual vibe or what i gravitate towards but that’s the point of this whole thing. i’ve listened to the strokes before and i’ve been interested in listening to more of them so this was a nice chance to explore. even though it’s not my usual i enjoyed listening nonetheless and there’s none that i would hate to listen to again. none made it to my playlist because this genre of music in general isn’t exhilarating for me lol. the second half of the album picked up for me with songs such as last nite, hard to explain, new york city cops, and trying your luck

Um ok so I don’t think this is my type of album. It sounded like an album the alt/punk boy would listen to in high school thinking they are so cool and in an effort to show them you’re also cool you end up in their car listening to them wax poetic about whatever - lyrics, guitar riffs, the storytelling, etc. when all you want to do is start making out to get them to stop talking. Also for sure something Mystic Spiral would have come up with -especially New York City Cops and Take It or Leave It. Whiny boy bands going on about how women annoy them is not the vibe.

A summer ish albums that i’d listen with some cigarettes and beer at the beach with my friends that turns into the night of the same day within the last songs. Real cool. Kinda reminds me of the early smiths or the cure in the 80s with the guitar and those drums. Genius.

One of my fav bands. Surprisingly have not listened to this album all the way through but def recognized some top songs. Immaculate vibes, blends so well together. The songs too kinda sound the same on the first listen but going back you can appreciate each song for what it is

If i were a teenager boy I would love it

First song I was not vibing with but this is my reminder to just give it a second and withhold my judgement for more than one song because the album really grew on me and I kind of came to love it. Good songs, good vibe - good album.

Enjoyable and creative. Easily one of the top 100 albums of all times. Frequently listen to this one.

Was a fan of the singles before this, but this is the first time listening to the album. I really like it when something like this comes up in the list for me to hear.

One of the best rock albums from one of the instant best rock bands . Meet me in the bathroom is a great documentary that features these guys and their scene but just the straight up hooks and Julian’s voice sells this for anyone. One of the coolest bands to do it easily.

actually so ein banger!! bisher kannte ich nur alone, together und es war echt cool das ganze album anzuhören; sehr vibey

5/5, one of the best albums ever made

Banger

Tienen un estilo muy marcado que ocasionalmente se vuelve hostigante. Me cuesta diferenciar las canciones. Todas suenan muy parecido. Aún así reconozco su relevancia musical actualmente. Tiene grandes totes.

Mid, not listened at full attention but didn't get my attention that well.. and proof is that finally a song got my attention and I was like oh I love this and then see that the album finished.. so yeah..

When this album first came out, I somehow assumed The Strokes were a British band. At the time, I was deep into The White Stripes, and The Strokes felt a bit too light and breezy for my taste, so I didn’t really give them a proper listen. I came back to this album later, though, and realized just how much it influenced UK rock in the late 2000s and beyond. Personally, I really like “Juicebox” from First Impressions of Earth.

Typical early 2000s album. The hits are good, filler is filler.

Classic indie 2000s - def worth listening to and good overall vibe. I'm feeling generous so will say it's more like 3.75*

normally not my style, but was pulled back to 2018 me when I was very much into the strokes for the summer. just overall good and great listen

good album

I’ve never cared for or about this band, largely because they seemed fake. It’s also a time and place thing for me, they were too mainstream for where my tastes were (and mostly still are.) Aside from Last Nite, I wasn’t familiar with the album. How did anyone make it through this album with that terrible opener? What I hear is a Velvet Underground influence filtered through late 90s indie rock. I’d rather listen to the Velvets or actual indie rock. Last Nite is still catchy, and Hard to Explain was nice. They should have kept New York City Cops on the album. Otherwise not very memorable to me. Not a keeper.

A couple good tracks ('Alone, Together,' and pieces of a few others) but a pretty boring record overall. Good vocal performances can't save stale songwriting.

Gostei da primeira música. Terminei o álbum, confesso que deu uma vibe meio anos 90/00. Gosto de coisas assim. Scooby doo kkkk

I liked it, but a lot of the songs sound the same…

I can't believe I didn't like this album when I first heard it. There's a kind of warm and familiar sense that carries the tone of the whole album, especially on songs like Barely Legal and Hard to Explain. Apparently this album got sanitized for the US release so I had to spend 15 minutes looking for how to listen to New York City Cops because god forbid we make a song with New York City in the title after the September 11th Attacks. The US really is a heavily propagandized country and most people don't even notice it. Anyways, it's a good record and I do prefer the US album cover to the international one, but New York City Cops is so much better than When It Started. I'm now going to close this review by joking about the thing I just ranted about. What's the difference between 9/11 and a cow? You can't milk a cow for 24 years.

1. Is This It - “We’re not enemies, we just disagree”; an interesting start to the album, sounds similar to what would be found closer to the end of most albums. Reminds me a lot of a conclusion, with the repetition of “is this it?” sounding so weary- so it being the starting track is different. 7/10 2. The Modern Age - “Start to pretend, stop pretending,” (isn’t that so real!!). Feels like the summer of 2020, not much else to say. Similar to “Everybody Talks” by Neon Trees. 6.5/10 3. Soma - It’s alright. Having no personal experiences with drug addiction (Is that what he’s talking about?) I didn’t personally connect. 5/10 4. Barely Legal - “I should’ve worked much harder, I should’ve just not bothered,” (basically me?). I really like the conflict in the singer’s actions in this song. Plus the key change in the 2nd verse makes the song memorable. 7/10 5. Someday - “Promises, they break before they’re made,” I’ve actually heard this before!! Like the guitar and bass in this song. 6.5/10 6. Alone, Together - “He knows it’s justified to kill to survive / He then, in dollars, makes more dead than alive,” My favourite song on the album!! Has a more gritty and different sound compared to the rest of the songs on this album which I find a little plain. First guitar solo of the album too? Went hard. 8/10 7. Last Nite - Bit of a whimsy switch up after Alone, Together. It’s a nice song, don’t get me wrong, just not wholly memorable. 6/10 8. Hard To Explain - “I say the right thing but act the wrong way,” I like this song - again, a bit of a switch up in tone/key compared to the rest of the songs and style of singing, which i def prefer! A nice song, especially the end of each chorus where the singing speeds up. 6.5/10 9. New York City Cops - “Darling, I’m somewhere in between,” This reminded me that The Strokes are american (they feel like they should be british…). Like the bass line in this song even tho it simple. Sometimes traditional is best!! 6.5/10 10. Trying Your Luck - Can’t say much negative about this song; was surprised to see its C major key, it feels pretty minor, especially the whole “No harm, he’s armed(…)” bit - that’s js the way that it’s sung though I think, which i think is one of the best bits about the song. 7/10 11. Take It Or Leave It - Feels like this should be swapped with the opening track, but it makes the album more unique this way. The song is ok, nothing too interesting for my personal taste, apart from the “He’s gonna let you down (…) gonna win someday.” - this bit was a nice change from the rest of the song. Plus, 2nd guitar solo of the album!! Can’t go wrong. 6.5/10 Overall: This album was inoffensive. Not my personal music taste, I think - I do love indie music, but for me this album felt very same-y, with my highlights being Alone, Together and Barely Legal mostly because they escaped the framework that seems to make up most of the songs on this album. That said I can see why people would like this album - it’s definitely not bad. Overall rating: 6.5/10

No geral o album é gostoso de ouvir, uma vibezinha muito boa, eu gostei bastante das músicas ~Is This It, Barely Legal e Last Nite~ as outras são boas mas não me deram a vontade de salvar pra ouvir depois, porém no geral é um album bom e se aparecer qlqr música dele em uma playlist aleatória eu não passo :)

i LOVE IT.HIT ME RIGHT IN THE SPOT

Not bad, not exciting but okay

Every song is the same and none are note worthy. Why is this on the list... 1,5

freshhhh

About time I listened to this in full, never will again. Horrendous, absolutely baffled how it’s popular

I could easily listen to this on a drive to work.

Very tinny, awkward sounding album. Similar sounding songs played over multiple times, avoid.

This indie band signature sound it present from the first chord to the last. The distinctive industrial and boppy guitar riffs give this album a major lift where variance and comprehensible lyrics kind of falter. Their hits are great, but their songs all sound alike to the point where they blend one track to the next. Without reading the lyrics, I genuinely don’t know what most of the songs are about, though I think the through line is about an unhappy relationship(s). Not a bad album by any means, but I’ll probably stick to their hit songs and consider that enough.

didn’t finish the album but i thought it had a great nostalgic feel. i’m not a fan of the strokes but i love their sound and vibe. i see why this album is so iconic and i found it relatable.

It wasn’t what I would usually listen to, but it was nice & I liked almost all of the songs. Good background music for doing BA’s

Good, stripped down rock 'n roll. Some really nice guitar interplay. I liked this despite a kind of sameness, a little lack of diversity, but good stuff.

One of my favorite albums growing up. Made me feel really cool whenever I listened. Still does!!!

have this on cd. looooove this album perfect sunday chill songs. i love hard to explain. thought they were a british band for the longest

Classic decade defining sensational

Perfect start to finish.

Way more fun than I expected. Also for some reason I thought that The Strokes were a 70's classic rock band. Well, it was a surprise. Nice.

Really enjoyed this album! Great songs and super catchy. Some proper throwbacks on here! It really captures the indie era that I loved so much I was shocked that firstly it came out in 2001, and secondly that they aren't British because I only discovered this album in 2007 when it did the rounds over here 5 ⭐️

I like pretty much all the Strokes albums, even the ones that were less well-received than this, but this is fairly undeniably the best of them all.

I think this album is ok it's not mind-blowing to me but I do enjoy the songs and it's a nice easy listen.

Absolutely brilliant album. Nostalgic of my youth/university days

This album may have been a victim of its own success - it spawned a lot of mediocre indie bands. Listening to it now though, I remember why so many people wanted to be the Strokes.

Score 5/5 Top Songs: Someday, Alone Together, The Modern Age

Haha jag tänkte så sent som häromdan att vi skulle få den här skivan. Och jag tänkte på att hur jävla bra "Modern age" är. På rak arm tror jag att det är den bästa debutsingeln jag hört så länge som jag varit medveten om musik. Suedes "The drowners" var grym, Oasis "Supersonic" också men "Modern age" är fan ett strå bättre. Det var verkligen en käftsmäll när den kom. Dom efterföljande singlar som finns på albumet ("Hard to explain", "Last nite" och i synnerhet "Someday") är också jättebra även om dom aldrig når "Modern age" och dess närmaste chockverkan. Som album betraktat gillar jag soundet skarpt, de är sammanhållet och relativt simpelt, inte massa onödiga pålägg och utfyllnad av en ganska tunn ljudbild och den låter så rakt igenom, smakfullt. Utöver singlarna finns det en drös låtar som är bra och också några som inte riktigt når fram. Sen kanske man måste nämna estetiken eller egentligen hela auran runt The Strokes år 2001. Dom var det perfekta New York-rockbandet, snortighta skinnpajer, kedjerökande, ovårdade frisyrer, en arrogant hybris och en låt emot ordningsmakten. Rubrikerna basunerade ut "Rockens räddning"(ännu en gång). Det levde dom förstås aldrig upp till, dom blev bara markant sämre efter denna debut. Men dom gjorde "Modern age", den är nästintill perfekt och just där och då var den nog fan rockens räddning. Snubblar mellan trean och fyran nen snubblar rätt

De skapade verkligen en ny våg av garagerock med det här albumet. Många ville låta som The Strokes i början av 00. Och bandet är väldigt mycket sitt sound. Utan det hade det varit - ja, rätt okej melodisk rock, men nog inget att skriva om i en bok. De bra låtarna passar egentligen bäst som singlar. Tillsammans på ett helt album låter allt väldigt likt. Ändå bra nog för en stabil trea.

00-tal och amerikansk indie. Förväntar mig standardettan av Perna. Själv gillar jag det här såväl när det kom som idag. Strokes låter helt klart annorlunda än mycket annan dynga inom genren som kom vid den här tiden. Inget nyskapande men flera riktigt bra treminuters rockalster. Enkelt och medryckande. The modern age, Last nite, Barely legal och New York city cops tillhör favoriterna. En stabil fyra.

Känns som det var ett gäng rockband som kom fram vid den här tiden som lät rätt snarlika; the strokes, Franz Ferdinand, the hives...ok rock, inget unikt, inget som faller ur ramen. Mest spännande låter de i inledande titelspåret som också är skivans bästa låt tack vare den fina basslingan. Tack vare att Zeppelin finns färskt i minnet klarar de en trea.

Lyssnade inte hela, inte min typ tror jag

this album feels like a one long song

One of my favourite albums to come out of the 2000s. Many indie rock bands aspire to this level of greatness. Tight rhythm section, too cool detached vocals, angular guitars. All tasty.

boring

A bit monotonous at times but I enjoyed most of the songs.

Discazo

Meh. It's a pretty boring album. Drums, bass and guitar are boring and the singer sounds like he's singing from behind 12 inches of cloth. 1 or 2 memorable/good tracks despite that though.

Is this It Is this it Repeating is this it, is something ending or starting? The background repeated notes feel like a build up, love this song The Modern Age Similar with repeated strong building up beat, Soma I like the clean transitions between songs, much more intense gritty singing Barely Legal Love this, very catchy and fun but not the most fun topic ig Someday Like this song, talking about the future in title but feels focused on past or own flaws Alone, Together Themes of longing, especially for a person in this whole alblum tbh, catchy guitar?? Last Nite They dont understand, sad and misunderstood but in an upbeat vibey way Hard to Explain Feel happy listening to this, interesting stop in the middle thought my phone was glitching When it Started Like you're reaching for something Trying Your Luck Like this guitar again, feels sad and missing something Take it or Leave It More aggressive, has the same stronger grittier singing that Soma has, like this song

Iconic early 2000s New York rock scene music. Iconic because of its influence on many 2000s bands, advertiaing and movie sound. Too iconic not to like.

Fun, vibey. Recognised some tracks. Remus Lupin approved!

Was not a fan of this album personally

Gonna be a 5 from me, dawg. Love the strokes

This is an absolutely amazing album. Need to listen again sometime and really listen not tack a shower at the same time but what I did was amazing.

This album got a lot of plays to and from work in the early 2000s. The title track is low key one of my favorite openers of any album ever. I would happily put this album on at any time and misses being a 5 only because I save those for one of a kind albums. In other words a very strong 4. 4/5

Apesar de não ser tão meu estilo, me agradou bastante. As músicas são envolventes e contagiantes.

Great for the 2000’s

8/10

Ive listened to this album many times and I loved it when I was about 21. But I think listening to it now it felt kind of repetitive. I still like a lot of the songs, especially New York City Cops that’s a new favourite.

A teenage classic. Very much to the point, zero filler across the running time. Struggled to understand the appeal a bit when I was younger but makes complete sense now.

Nothing outstanding, but all quite reasonable. A mediocre 3

Fun, quirky and simple.

These lazy sounding New Yorkers who took the world by storm in the 2000's with their effortlessly simple songs were never on my must see or listen list at the time. I've played this several times over the years, but its never made me go Wow. Unlike fellow New Yorkers, Interpol who's debut is so much better. But this was just merely average.

Always come back to this album, a cornerstone of the early noughties.

it's ok for background music, only kinda like one song only - last night

The last album released 2020 is 5 stars, here they have just played for some months.

I picture someone listening to this while drinking a cup of coffee as they watch the end of the world 🌎

Should probs listen again, didn’t really absorb

Really solid! Could be a bit more adventurous

cool

Naturally had to give this album a 5 stars - teh impact this album had on rock music after it was released genuinely cannot be understated! I also have a special place in my heart for this album and it was one of my most played albums of 2025, I LOVE THE STROKES!!!!! favourite tracks: new york city cops, barely legal, trying your luck

I remember when this came out I was a little confused about the simplicity. After a fresh listen, I have a better appreciation but it’s still a bit mid. My favorite sections are the bass licks. 3.0/5.0

Las cosas como son: qué bueno es este disco. Cuando todo el mundo esperaba que el siglo XXI nos trajera la novedad al indie, ya desgastado después de unos 90 frenéticos, llegan The Strokes y se ponen a hacer música de garaje, nada sofisticada, desnuda de artificios, como grabada en una sola toma y despreciando todo lo que no fuera guitarra, bajo, batería y voz. Todo suena con una cruda eficacia como si quisieran reivindicar los orígenes del rock. Es tan pretencioso que parece honesto (o al revés)

a fun listen. will it be something i regularly think about or go back to? probably not! but it was fun and (to me) sounds like what being in your 20s in the 00s in nyc would’ve sounded like. favorite tracks: is this it barely legal last nite hard to explain

this was a fun one

This album is actually quite a bit better than what I remembered. I listened to it when it came out and thought it was OK. I think if these guys weren’t from New York City, it probably wouldn’t have been as big of a deal. Apple Music has it is one of the top hundred albums of all time which I think is a stretch but it’s still pretty good.

Álbum bastante plano a mi parecer. Tienes éxitos, sí. Pero el resto de las 8 canciones suenan muy parecidas, no hay mucho experimento y se entiende porque es su primer álbum de estudio. Aún así, si se escucha completo de corrido se hace un poco pesado y monótono a mi oído. Destaco que está muy bien plasmado el sello de la banda, si escuchas las canciones automáticamente sabes que es The Strokes y no precisamente por la voz de Julian Casablanca. No me genera mucho el sonido en cuánto a emociones y la letra me dio paja

Buen disco, muy regular, lo escuché harto este año, disco de esos que marcan épocas, fue la vuelta del rock con guitarras a la escena, muy influyente en el género. Regular, sin muchos puntos altos ni bajos. Me suena un poco repetitivo en cuando a melodías y ritmo pero con muy buenas canciones, sin nada muy complejo en lo lírico ni musical pero fresco. En términos de producción no me parece la gran wea, sonido bien crudo, simple, enérgico, como buen disco de indie. Del resto: bajo, batería y voz al centro y guitarras una a cada lado. Su trabajo en las guitarras es de las cosas que más me gustan de the strokes, el tratamiento y juego entre ellas, cada una con un sonido bien diferente, brillantes, metálicas, un poquito de distorsión y nada más, menos es más, sin grandes riffs ni solos como el rock clásico, una rítmica cortante y arpegios que se entrelazan muy bien. Y algo que me gusta en todos los álbumes de la banda es el sonido de la voz de Julián y ese efecto como si estuviera cantando como por un megáfono y su actitud desganada o a veces desgarradora con su voz rasposa. Uno de mis discos fav de the strokes Canción favorita: Alone Together (de hecho fue mi canción más escuchada este año) Para mí realmente es como un 3.5 pero no se puede esa nota:(

Didn't really do anything for me. Is this it? 3/5

Two albums in a row here on 1001 that have been pretty good. Like the title track. The rest is a bit same samie, but ok.

I am trying to not give as many 5ers on this journey. But this deserves every pearly bright twinkler in the universe. Easy...5 sky- diamonds

I love this album

Classic of the era. Mostly holds up but it was explosive when it came out