Is This It

Coincidentemente escutei hoje sem saber que apareceria aqui. Enorme em todos os sentidos. É impressionante como entrega tanto em canções relativamente simples e em menos de 40 minutos. O rock do século XXI começa com Is This It.

Tight as two coats of paint yet somehow mellower than I remember

Yes, this is it

I mean this is decent. I'm not sure it's aged all that well. But I think a lot of that about a lot of the albums I rate that I've heard so many time. Still giving a 4

Good sound, a classic album of the early-to-mid 2000s. I admit the whole thing runs together a bit for me, though. Not one I see myself going back to frequently, but good enough.

Luci - Hard To Explain, Alone Together Lizzy - Trying Your Luck, Alone Together

Great album - I enjoyed revisiting it. I love Julian Casablancas voice and the guitar work on this album is good. This album made a huge impression on me when I was younger and I remember having a physical copy of this cd in the glove box of my first car

The best thing about the Stokes's album is when the ads played between the songs. I really enjoyed those.

Love the strokes

Solidi Büez, doch isch mer nüm so viel blibe und da ich biz ufhole mun magis ned nomal es Zweitmals lose. Würdis nüm lose aber gstört hets nöd. Alli guete Durchschnittspünkt sind 3

Eich scho na geil. Gueti gittarr riffs und e guete drive. Klassische fall vum ne 3.5er Hüt rundi mal ab, sorry strokes But keep öp

aaaaah darum hani us'm don neduzen sim zimmer am mentig indie gitarrekläng ghört – macht scho meh sinn… hed er ja erst gad chürzlich sin hate gäge the kooks bekundschaftet. anyways hallo zämme, ich bi's de noah :) sorry für mini absenze, lose ih letschter ziit bim schaffe vermehrt podcasts und han irgendwie gmerkt, dass s'läbe z'churz isch für mediocre musig (was es ih letschter ziit recht oft de ihdruck gmacht hed) – aber ich versuech wieder chli meh dri z'lose <3 the strokes: iconic band, iconic album… mittlerwiele gfallt mer nümm jedes lied, aber es spriessed grad paar neui pickel bim lose will's mi so fescht ah de teenie noah erinneret 3 röhrlijeans + 1 paar converse = 4 nietegürtel

I feel like this album gets a ton of hype, but it's just bland same-y early 2000s rock. It's not terrible, but certainly not great either.

I really did not like this album. Every song sounds the same. There aren't any songs I would listen to again genuinely.

One of my favorite albums of all time and the first one I've heard already!

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻✅

i like it good band will continue listening

A good, fun album that’s held up well. I’ve enjoyed most of it ever since it came out.

Really like the sound of this and a cool vocal style. 4 stars

I’ve forgotten a lot of these songs. Still jams though.

So good

is this is - so summery the modern age - nostalgic, love the distortion soma - funky beat barely legal - melody reminds me of something someday - i ain’t wasting no more tiiiiiiime alone, together - 😎drums last nite - ugh nobody understands meh hard to understand - perfect now mash it with cliche by 2hollis when it started - he don’t gaf trying your luck - groovy take it or leave it - shaking hips aggressively ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Really monotonous, the constant strumming is almost headache inducing. The lyrics are charming, but the arrangement of the vocals makes them barely audible. Honestly i expected more especially from the hype ive heared about this album and since i do like their newer songs.

One of my all time fav artists and albums, sooo many good songs on here

Only giving this a 4 because Julian Casanovas is an industry plant

ok album

had already listened some of it

this album is good but not much diversity going on. like how simple the songs sounded like and the writing is nice. overall just a nice and simple indie rock album.

Absolutely no skips, made me feel like rebellious teen who is enjoying sneaking out to go skinny dip

Feels like 2012

I have to be in a particular mood to really like this. Some songs were automatic skips but others I added to my playlist already

One of the best albums from one of the best bands of all time. One of my all-time favorites and I'm glad I got to listen to it again.

Didn’t feel it.

obnoxious, just like it was in 01/02

Yesssssssss. El mejor disco de la historia. Vale igual me pasé. Pero es que es un disco que marcó muchísimo mi adolescencia y a través del cual hice bonding con mi bestie, y sobre todo este verano tuve momento de volver a escuchar a los Strokes a tope y buf es que increíble me encanta lo es todo. Es increíble que en esos años estuviesen compitiendo en los grammy con peña rollo Korn. Cambiaron el panorama completamente. Sigo sin entender del todo culturalmente lo que supusieron en ese momento. Este disco es todo bangers y es divertidísimo y me encanta. Me gusta más Room on fire tho. Y The New Abnormal me cambió la vida cuando salió. Julian Casablancas te amo.

Wanted to give it like 4.5. lacked variety, but the lyrics - dude was going thru some relationship shit and it hit hard.

GOING IN: Hopeful FAMILIARITY: Know a song or two SKIP RATE: No skips (played straight through) REPLY VALUE: I’ll play it again DISCOVERY CURVE: Liked it straight away, surprisingly ALBUM ARC: Consistent throughout VERDICT: Liked it more than expected FAVOURITE TRACK: Hard to Explain Good solid 3/5

Ladies and gentlemen….THE STROKES 🗣️🔥

- grundgy - almost too much bass?? - fist impression not great - very confessional

It was good kinda sounded like a teenage boy wrote it in his moms garage

Everything sounds the same. After short intros that sound a lottle bit different, when reaching the refrain it is the same sound as the previous song. Sonically the voice sits to far in the back to listen to the lyrics.

3.5! Enjoyed it.

Very strong start, tailed off a bit in the end

The Strokes were one of those bands that seemed to materialise fully formed - cool sound, cool look, and decent songs to match. Of course, their influences were easy enough to trace, but they threw angular guitar interplay, upbeat drums and overdriven vocals together in a way that made their sound fresh and important in 2001. I never quite fell in love with them, though. I remember picking Last Nite apart in my head and thinking it had the same energy as This Charming Man did nearly 20 years earlier - the kind of song that made you want to leap up out of your seat as soon as you heard it - but somehow it didn't feel like it was speaking to me once it had me by the collars. And that, I've come to accept, was simply a result of me, probably for the first time, being just a bit too old to be the target audience of "the next big thing". I'd been there for The Stone Roses, Nirvana, Oasis, et al, but this somehow didn't seem like it was meant for me. Now, with plenty of hindsight, it is clear to see The Strokes' influence still reverberating through almost every guitar-led alternative act worth their salt. Is This It is probably the band's most satisfying record too, and still stands up today.

I went into this only knowing Last Nite, but you know what? Hell yeah.

This one is totally stamped in time for me. When it came out, that fun indie-rock vibe hooked me immediately. I loved Julian Casablancas - his voice especially - and the way the whole album pulls you into this little journey. It felt cool, effortless, and exactly right for that moment. It was a bit of a soundtrack for a while…makes me me my iPod!

Just meh. Not very interesting, at least for me

Love this raw take of the original Strokes. Realised I knew a lot of tracks from the album but not the whole album. Enjoyed the nostalgia from again 15 yo Ninske. Still love this music <3

Everything kinda sounded the same

Perfect garage rock album. Truly defines the early 2000s for me. Standouts: The Modren Age, Someday, Last Night, Hard to Explain

Fun but vapid.

Amazingly simple record. Selfless is the track!

NYC dive bar legend

Some much effort and polish to sound 'raw' - has some great tracks and some filler.

fun and poppy

Really liked, "New York City Cops" But maybe, not my type of album

Is this it? Al ono fakat pitam. Koliko sam čula pohvala za ovaj album mislila sam stvarno da treba biti nešto spektakularno. A ne da je svaka pjesma praktično ista. Nije loše ali je sve isto i ni sekunde genijalno.

I guess the album is important for its role in reestablishing the garage rock sound in pop culture along with making record labels sign the “The” bands at a rate on par they signed bands from Seattle in 1992. It’s a good straightforward rock album, I appreciate the lack of fat and and how it’s right to the point but in the end I think i just want to listen to the original garage rock bands.

I remember how big this album was when it came out. Copycats popped up overnight but never really bothered to listen to it. ‘Last Nite’ is a tune but the rest of it is bland as fuck. As I was listening to it I kept asking myself; ‘Is this it?’

Good album

This album transports you into a small, grimy venue nestled somewhere in NYC...cigarette smoke lazily wafting & drinks clinking at the bar. You're not sure if the guy taking cover at the door was an employee or not. A distorted voice is cutting through the noise, the bleary-eyed singer crooning into a dented microphone that's been duct-taped to the stand. The simplistic, gritty guitar riffs seem to indicate that these songs weren't exactly intended to be played sober. The old wood floor is sticky, but it doesn't stop the people from tapping their feet. The rest of the evening may be a bit of a blur, but the pieces of the night you do remember are special.

Soundtrack to my memories of Middle School…

3.5

the goat

Used to love this one when I was a wee lad. Knowing what The Strokes are about now I find this kind of boring and pretentious. The hit still hit and I'll throw this one on when summer hits for sure.

A little boring and repetitive, very of a time and place. It's fine music, just not my jam.

Passable facimile of bands that influenced them like Television, Iggy Pop, etc.

One of the best guitar albums of the 2000's to date

Some good and recognizable songs (Someday!) that I found quit enjoyable. Not too fancy with the guitars and drums, but overall interesting melodies.

What an album cover. One highlight song and then just your usual stuff from that period. Prob alright to hear live.

1 tracks worth a re-listen. not for me.

Enjoyes a d recognised maybe 1 tune, and the rest were mostly a blur. It ain't it

Is this it? I hope not

It's unfair, this album came out when I was 14 and I was just getting into alt- indie rock. It's still great, but I can't separate myself from the hours of listening to it from my youth to give it an honest downgrade.

I'm familiar with The Strokes, but not this entire album. Thankfully, that changes today! The title track has a cool, funky bass line which loops through the song, and the guitar solo in "The Modern Age" proves these guys are no hacks. The whole album is a treat and a really strong debut. Solid 4 stars for me.

Such a great album. Maybe it's nostalgia, but this always reminds me of my early 20's, crashing through relationships, trying to figure it all out. It seemed chaotic and uncomfortable at the time, but looking back at that time, it was fun and exciting. I just didn't know what I had going on. This music reflects what it was like to be that age in the post 9/11, pre-recession world.

Heard it before. Never understood the hype for this album/band. There are two tracks here that I like but in general it's just not a very remarkable album. Having not one but two nepo babies in one band should just immediately make you a poser and lame 2/5

This was fine. Pretty middle of the road meh rock.

It’s ok

Is this it

Rocking

Good

It’s hard, looking back now, to remember just how fresh and different this sounded. The world has moved on but this album is still full of the cocksure swagger of people too young to know better. I don’t feel like I can give this an objective rating. So I won’t.

Yeaa, one of the first albums that got me “into” music. The strokes. 5/5

Hmmm well alright, at first I wasn’t too sure about this album but it’s growing on me a bit as it goes along. It’s some sort of lo-fi rock music and I can’t help but think that there are many other bands that have come before who pull it off much better than this. Although a bit too friendly sounding, it still sounds fun. A lot of the guitar work is also lacking balls and is a bit one dimensional but they do play competently through some mildly interesting arrangements. I think this album might click with further listens but for now I’m a bit ambivalent about its inclusion on this list but it’s ok enough to not be a complete write-off for now.

Basic rock

It’s a pretty good album. I just never got into the strokes outside the hits. But it’s fine.

Love this album!

This is definitely a top 10 album all time for me, maybe top 5. I have learned every guitar part on this album. This is just a magical record and I didn’t even listen to it until like 2012. The strokes are so locked in creatively that you can overlook the nepotism. Julian’s voice on this record is perfection, the vocal processing they do (keyboard amp mic’d with distortion added) is so sick. Albert and nicks interlocking guitar parts really changed how I approach writing in bands where there’s two guitars, they’re just so tight and similar but so distinguishable at the same time. Hell, I bought a Riviera because it’s what Nick plays, sounds damn good too. That P90 tone on a semi-hollow body matching a strat both with minimal effects is just so tasty. Also a case where the bassist, Nikolai, is really writing some unforgettable, honestly critical to the song bass lines that have such unique groove and melody. Fab can’t be overlooked either on drums even if he is considered the weakest member, he does such cool hi hat and tom work throughout that has definitely been ripped off entirely since. This is definitely my favorite debut album of all time (sorry zeppelin), I can’t fathom getting together for your first go and writing something as strong as this. There’s not a single song on here that I don’t love every second of and it feels silly to go into a play by play because I’m just going to gush over all of it. It is just a perfect album, not a single guitar solo, bass groove, snare hit, or shout is wasted on this thing. If I could vote higher than a 5 I would. I can’t imagine there’s an album on this list that I love more than this one.

Best debut album, probably? A band that delivered on the hype imo and still stands above so many of the other garage rock revival bands. Great songwriting all over this thing and holy shit they have a bass player you can hear. So much of the melody is carried by the bass on this, just listen to when it started. Anyway 5/5 duh

I liked this one a lot; great millennial-era indie rock with some punk influence and sometimes a bit of a Velvet Underground flavor.

Fuck it. Rules.

Gives me flashbacks.

You can say I have basic taste, but this album is fun.

Ahhh, in many ways this album makes me miss the good old days… someday. I was a too young to catch the hype of this album at the time of its release, but soon caught up in my teenage years and it’s an ‘all timer’ for sure. I wish I could summarise how much love I have for this record, but it’s hard to explain.

I remember when this album was considered to be so edgy and new, and now it just sounds like indie rock. That's not a bad thing, mind you.

An easy 5 stars. Yes, some of the songs sound similar but they just sound so fucking good.

One song that everyone knows and a droning tone that makes all the other songs blend into one.

A fun little pop album. Every song is uptempo and earnest. It is all a bit one note, but sometimes that’s ok when the album is so short.

Frábært rokk á tíma þar sem rokkið var í mikilli lægð. Nu rokkið og kid rock. ojj. Strokes eru frábærir og þessi plata er alveg tímalaus. Alltaf hægt að skella henni á.

Frábær plata. Einfaldleikinn í fyrirrúmi, bassi gítar tromma. Vonandi á rokkið svona endurkomu aftur fljótlega.

Viel besser, als ich erwartet habe. Eigentlich ganz angenehm. 3 1/2.

Good solid rock and roll

Whyyyy is this on the list? It sounds like he's singing into a tin can the whole time. Nonetheless, I liked Someday and Hard to Explain.

I am a sucker for rock bands with a really unique style, and The Strokes are definitely one of those bands. This is basically a perfect album, 35 minutes of non-stop back-to-back bangers. A lot of really great guitar playing, catchy melodies, and great vocals. High 5!!!

One good song. Typical of the early 2000s slump.

Quality throughout. Enjoyed it all

Right up my alley! Så mycket attityd. Dubbla gitarrer, avskalat, tufft. Ok, känd men ingen klassiker? Borde vara?

Pretty fun, a little repetitive, but a fun sound!

Good listen kind of repetitive but a classic

Some strums that feel familiar but it's not my vibe. Is this like 90's Britain maybe?

A classic in early-aughts alt/indie rock. Definitely a nostalgic listen. It's not my favorite from that time period but it was a ton of fun to revisit. 3/5

THis is it! Awesome!

Dank every time

Not a patch on First Impressions of Earth from 2006

Good guitar based rock. I am not convinced by the songs but very listenable

A really good debut album.

This was pretty solid. I liked when the vocalist leaned more into the grit with his vocals, which doesn't happen in many of the songs on the album but it was great when it did. This was a nice introduction to the band. It was a good, clean album.

4/5. A very likable Indie rock record. This reminds me of a long lost time that has since become nostalgic for me.

The songs that are good are INCREDIBLE. Timeless classics like Someday and Last Nite. The problem is that the bulk of the record is pretty boring and forgettable. 3/5.

Very good album, very enjoyable, played twice over

haven’t heard this album for years and it still sounds so good. what a debut

I'm a big fan of The Strokes and this album introduced me to their music. There isn't a song on here that I don't like and at one point in time, I think each one was probably my favorite off the album. The radio hits like Last Nite and Someday are good songs, but I've listened to them too many times at this point.

Solid. Enjoyed more than I expected. Edgy alt rock with a bit of a hook.

that song. sad? voice sound?

This album may not sound particularly revolutionary now, but for its time it was quite the change in sound.

Absolutely love this album. Feels both incredibly influential and timeless. Love the hooks and the production level here.

Ok - not really my thing though.

It’s not a bad album. But definitely not the album I would listen to again

one of the more palatable albums but still not my style

meh.

I’ve spent a lot of time listening to this album over the years, not least as it’s a good one both while driving and while running/jogging. The Modern Age, New York City Cops and Last Nite are all great songs, but the whole album is really solid. Pretty sure I once read that Julian Casablanca’s raspy vocals are achieved via a microphone effect but, regardless, they’re distinctive and they work really well on these songs. I regret never having seen The Strokes live. They’d be brilliant in a small to medium sized venue.

I hadn't knowingly heard any of The Strokes music before. I'd wrongly assumed from their name that they were a punk band - not one of my favourite genres. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they're a rock band Musically this is a good album. It has the rhythms and guitar playing you'd expect from a rock band. Unfortunately not quite so memorable that as I write this 12 hours after listening I don't recall any stand out tracks. What spoiled it for me was the vocals. The lyrics were fine, but their delivery was odd. I don't know if it's just this album or a band style, but the vocals on every track sounded like they were being sung through the inner sleeve of a toilet roll with the end covered in tissue paper. Not quite full kazoo but getting there. I found this fuzziness distracted me from fully enjoying the album. This album was ok to listen to, but in my opinion not up with the upper echelons of the all time greats.

always good

I'm a creaky oldster, but this is an album that had the power to break through to me despite all my attempts to be blasé about new music in the early 2000's. Now nearing a quarter century old and still bursting with power and energy. I'm still in love with this whole album.

Not too bothered.

has been a soundtrack to many trips and was an album that opened to the door for so many mediocre and some great bands

It’s fine am just not a massive fan

Not something I’d listen to regularly but it’s not the worst 2000s alt emo boy band album that I’ve listened to

One of my favorites

hashtag loe the strokes alr know this one

I may be in the minority but this to me isn't very appealing. Quite same-y, simple songs that all sound the same. Not much variation. Doesn;t really do much. Sounds very hard like you're trying to be cool and make very stylised vintage music out of a private school.

8/10

4+

It’s hard to imagine my life or modern indie without this album. I’ve listened a ton, and I will continue to listen a ton.

So incredibly monotonous. That singer can fuck right off too. It JUST gets a two because some of the songs towards the end of the album I enjoyed a bit, like Trying Your Luck. I suppose repetitive doesn't matter as much when what is being repeated isn't terrible. Very generous 2.

My kids had this CD in the car, it was pretty good

What a great first album. It's fun and easy to listen to

Classic sound from The Strokes, great for studying in a cafe or dancing in your teen bedroom

Josh- I like the opening so far! I feel like I knew some songs from this album tho. "Someday" is easily the best track, but am also a fan of "Hard To Explain" I love how hard the closer goes "Take it Or Leave it". I can see how influential this album is to the modern alt-rock scene. They're the prototype to Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and such. Will definitely revisit the album. Fitting for a first album -- New York band to go with Zohran winning. 3.5/5 Phoebe - Someday and Last Nite are the songs I knew and already loved, so they were still the standout songs for me. I love this classic fun indie rock sound sm, very easy listening for doing work or dancing alone in your room. 3.5/5

own

6 - AVERAGE

This album came out in the prime of my "too cool for school" years, and even then I had to give them a nod. Listening to it with fresh ears, this is a great record, hands down. The melodies and the slight garage quality of the production go hand-in-hand. If anything, I'm just mad that I didn't go all-in on the early days of indie-sleaze.

Is this the greatest debut album of the 2000s? Probably for a rock band. It's one of those rarities without a single skip song. And it still holds up. Sounds as fun and energetic and fresh as it did the first time I listened to it.

Decent tunes but not outstanding - happy to sing along to the ones I knew

I don’t like the distorted vocals (tell me your singer can’t sing without telling me your singer can’t sing) but I otherwise love the sound

I like the whimsical songs Edit Apr 16 2026: 4 --> 5. I have really been loving this one

Love it

Amazing album, catchy song after catchy song.

It's cool and all but very similar to itself throughout. Didn't love it like everyone else.

Great work

Les Strokes me font penser à mon frère. Grande influence sur son jeu de guitare du début des années 2000. Il aurait pu se joindre au band. Je n'ai pas lu le livre de Lizzy Goodman mais j'ai vu le documentaire Meet Me in the Bathroom (2022) de Will Lovelace et Dylan Southern qui est basé sur le livre. Intéressant. The Moldy Peaches, The Strokes, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol.

Très agréable de ne pas trop se creuser le coco en ce samedi. Du rock droit au but, dansant, énergique. Une grande influence pour l'alternatif début 2000, ça me replonge dans l'ambiance de mon adolescence, bien que je n'aie pas spécifiquement été fan des Strokes à l'époque ! Leur apport pour des groupes comme Franz Ferdinand et Jet est indéniable.

Je pense que je donne plus 5 étoiles pour ce que l'album représente que pour la musique elle même. Celle-ci est excellente avec des classiques du début du millénaires, mais je la trouve somme toute assez répétitive sur la durée de l'album. J'ai du plaisir mais je n'y reviendrai pas tant. Par contre l'album représente ce retour aux sources du rock début 2000, après le Nu Metal de la fin de millénaire. La scène new yorkaise était foissonante, ce faisant je doit dire préférer Interpol. Justement j'ai hâte à Turn On The Bright Lights, probablement un top 10 all-time personne. Par ailleurs il y un livre qui me semble fort intéressant "Meet me in the bathroom" un récit de cet époque et cette scène. Quand j'aurai le temps de lire un livre (dans quelques années), je m'y attablerai. Longue vie au rock!

Not really my taste, though I enjoyed the heavy amount of nostalgia these tracks offered. My favorite was "Someday." Adding a point to my rating because I do think it's a strong project regardless of me not being a huge fan of it personally, and I admire how influential The Strokes' sound and aesthetic has been, even if I don't particularly resonate with this album. It would be foolish not to note that they heavily influenced later groups that I adore (and are more my era), like The Killers and Arctic Monkeys.

It's...alright? Reeeeeally don't get why this is so well regarded. Extremely simple, repetitive, and at times, grating. I even tried to focus on the lyrics, thinking that must be the appeal -- but the mixing is such that it's almost always incomprehensible. I don't know. Not for me, I guess. Fave tracks: - Someday - Alone, Together - When It Started - Trying Your Luck - Take It Or Leave It

Absolute love it since forever

4.5

I definitely like where these guys were going at the time and if I was more into modern music in the early 2000s I probably would have this a little bit higher i didn't really fully hear this album until many years later. They remind me kind of the White Stripes would be doing at the time if they were more of a slick band rather than a garage band. But I can definitely see their influence on the aughts' indie scene influence the likes of The Killers. (9.2) ★★★★½

Some cool songs, but mostly run of the mill 00's indie rock. 3.5 stars

4.5/5

Great album that really kicked off the indie rock boom in the 00s. "Barely Legal", "The Modern Age", and "Last Nite" are the highlights for me. 4.5 stars.

4.5

A real true early 00s rock n roll classic with a lot of swish, slickness n swagger plus some decent songs too although Julian Casablanca’s’ cheap, compressed tannoy vocal stylings are a tad annoying. Someday, Last Nite, Hard To Explain and Take It Or Leave It are great. The rest I can… take it or leave it. 3.5 stars.

Nothing new or radical here, but they were, along with The Hives and The White Stripes, responsible for bringing guitar bands briefly back to the forefront of mainstream radio play in the UK, so I won't hear a word against them. Not a 5-star album, but close.

Thought I would love this one a lot since I’m a big Strokes fan. As much as I love some of their songs, hearing the full album feels different. The highs are great, the beats hit, and it has that indie sound I’ve fallen for over the years. But overall it feels mid. Maybe I missed the cultural moment that made it special, because right now it’s just okay. A few amazing tracks surrounded by a lot of same-sounding ones. It has sparks of what made them great, but not the fire yet. My favorite track is Trying Your Luck because it captures the softer side of their sound

Really talented at ending songs. Two absolute favourites on here. The rest is better than I remembered it,but a bit samey.

Classic.

One that's actually part of my library already. Possibly because it was the first thing from The Strokes that I heard, but I'm still partial towards First Impressions of Earth instead. However, Is This It is still great and will continue to have a place in my library.

its alright

This feels like 1,001 albums you won't believe got a record deal I'm not sure how this band got out of their garage. No catchy tunes, no inspiring tunes, no "I get that feeling" tunes. Just random blah blah blah with piss poor singing and almost good musicians. You could easily get this quality by walking down the street and listening to random garages ... I got song 8, but I'm just going to listen to my toilet drip now instead of the last 3 songs.

I don’t really get it. I mean it’s not terrible. I don’t hate it, but no one will ever convince me that the strokes are amazing. Anyone can make music like this. It seems easy and lacks depth. I guess it’s kinda cute but it sure feels dated

All very similar but I do not believe in too much of a good thing.

Shit

Clássico The Strokes... já foi minha época, hoje só algumas específicas por nostalgia. Me parecem todas as mesmas?

Yeah fair enough is pretty mega. Only criticism is it started to feel a little samey by the time I got to barely legal, however Someday makes up for this and keeps it fresh. Proper no skips album.

4.5 - Great

I was around when the Strokes were the big new band on the scene, the band that was changing rock. I was more of a Kings of Leon fan, due to them being Southern mostly, but they certainly put out great music. I always looked at the Strokes as a band of pretty, rich boys that wouldn’t last the test of time. That kind of came to fruition, in a way. While the Kings of Leon were producing steady content, the Strokes had hiatuses and side projects. The KOL had rehab stints that curtailed their output as well. In other words, in 2001, I wasn’t impressed with the Strokes, though this was still the time when you had to invest in your music by buying CDs. I was already buying KOL CDs, so the Strokes lost out. I was also annoyed by the lead singer, Julian Casablancas, always having an effect on his voice. Like he was singing through a Hardee’s drive-thru microphone. It just irked me. But, surprisingly, it never once bothered me today. Now, having listened to Is This It? in 2025, I loved it. It’s good jangly rock that’s fun to listen to or even dance to. As I listened to songs like Last Nite, I realized that this was essentially an updated version of rock, the likes of what Tom Petty was making in the early 80’s. It’s not hair metal with guitar wankery, it’s just solid riffs with cool hooks to get you singing along. What else could you ask for? The album also changed music at the time, once Is This It? came out, probably before it came out, you had all these Strokes clones popping up, especially out of the New York scene. It was kind of another scene like 70s New York with punk and new wave. In fact, there’s a great oral history about this 2000's scene and the music called Meet Me In the Bathroom by Lizzy Goodman. It’s a great companion piece with Please Kill Me: An Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil, focusing on the punk and new wave movement in New York in the 70's. Again, I digress. After listening to Is This It? a few times, I’ll admit, I missed the boat and should have been on this band at the time. Luckily, I have the 1,001 albums list to correct my ways. Though after slogging through Wilco, I wonder if I’d have liked anything put in my earholes? Check out Is This It? It’s just cool rock that makes for a good time. The music is good and the lyrics are kind of a time capsule of what was going on in that music scene at the time. So, you can kind of relive it without all the sex and drugs.

Meh... Just meh meh meh... Didn't hate it, all I can muster is a meh...

Great sound, love the vocals, all songs sound very similar.

Some catchy tunes, but mostly felt like noise. Not my cup of tea.

Couple of familiar songs. All started to sound the same towards the end.

Banger album, no bad songs

A cultural icon for a reason. The honesty and rawness with which it discusses the unearned challenges faced by millions of Americans every day is sobering. The simple, acoustic accompaniment only goes to highlight Tracy Chapman’s beautiful voice and the message of her songs. Although the musical tone isn’t always my personal style, I can appreciate the artistry and skill behind the execution.

A new take on urban rock

- Garage/Indie rock | Post-punk revival - Enjoyable, fun, upbeat, head-bopping album - Enjoyed more than The Stooges (previous album rec)

I like the Strokes. And this album has Last Nite and Someday. Good album if a little uninspiring. Obviously there's a few really great songs on here, the album is just lacking innovation.

It’s hard to overstate the cultural bomb this set off with Gen X’ers who thought rock was dead, with teens who had been fed a steady diet of late 90’s pop punk and boy bands. The Strokes dared to throw Television riffs into perfect radio songs and sing with a mid-fi production in a time where everything had to be boosted to the max. It was probably a bit pretentious but at the same time it was a breath of fresh air, and it still feels that way today. Granted, there’s about 1/3 of the album that feels like filler, and yeah everything kinda sounds the same. But this is still a damn fine record, and should still have “New York City Cops” on it.

no thanks

gasa gasa!

Me ha gustado mucho, tiene clásicos a los que ahora les pongo cara como "Someday" "Last Nite" que van para la lista de favoritos.

Only bangers, great album. I think sonically it's a little too samey for it be one of my favorites, but the songwriting is stellar.

Great album

Really liked ‘Last Nite’ from this album, and “12:51’ from Room on Fire just after it - had both as a suggestion from a friend in high school, but would be lying if I said I’d explored much further before now. Gave several listens through throughout the weekend and recognized/enjoyed Someday and Soma as potential standouts. This bad has a unique sound I enjoy, but I didn’t give too much into lyrics or meaning this go round.

Why this is supposed to be it?

Their debut album. Rock / Indie. One of the great debut albums and one of the most important of the new millennium. Is This It, The Modern Age and Soma are three brilliant tracks to open with. For me, guitar, Indie music had gotten pretty bland on the whole by the late 90s. The Strokes came along and breathed some fresh air into music. Their energy too. The was a big album by a cool band again. So many good songs on this album in addition to those first three Someday, Alone, Together, Last Nite, Hard To Explain and New York City Cops. Yeah, I love this album.

The Strokes just stroked the fuck out of my ears for 35 minutes JEEEEEZZZZ!

Still the lean fun buzzy record that made me feel cool in high school

Like it 3/5

One of my favourites.

Big fan. Girls liked.

This was a fun album that I'd not heard before and it is a proper fun up-beat guitar band collection of songs. I guess I'll give it a 5 as it was overall a pleasant listen for me.

Bravi, absolute cinema

I was prepared for a pretty mediocre album since I'm not huge on their singles but this was much more enjoyable than I expected.

Great cover, hard-hitting, catchy songs with lyrics to scream and riffs to tap your toes to. Sub 40 minutes with no filler. Absolute winner.

I was expecting a bit more. It's not a bad album, in fact I enjoyed a lot of songs, but it felt like something was missing in a lot of other tracks. I'm no music expert in terms of composing but it felt like there wasn't even a bass player half the time. There wasn't rhythm, especially at the start. Still some great moments though.

Couple of good songs that sound just like the rest of the album. Not that impressed

God I loved this album when I was a horny teenager

This takes me back!! Definitely of a time but bringing back the memz

This album is the perfect album to transport me to a particular time and place. 2001 freshmen year of college. It has great memories of fun times and great friends.

Unfortunately boring to my taste.

Awesome album

Honestly not my vibe but some good songs here. If you were the type of girl to like this this is probably 5/5

Peak CD era rock and roll (but, um... I do not remember this as the album art)

To be honest, I never truly understood the appeal of early Strokes. Everything sounds the same to me, and this to me is one of the overhyped, overrated albums of all time. I'd rather be listening to the Arctic Monkeys.

3.5

This was pretty good. Overhyped at the time - being lauded by the music press and teenagers put most folk over a certain age off. Anyone with even a slight interest in music could see how unoriginal they were and how their entire presentation by their masters was cliché after cliché. That said, I quite enjoyed it. I really liked New York City Cops. Wouldn’t revisit it, but it was entertaining enough.

This is tough because I fondly remember nights listening to Last Nite and Someday and singing along unabashedly, but the album is just OK.

It’s ok. I never thought they lived up to the hype.

Great album. Not so sure about the album cover though.

LOVE

first time i heard it i didn’t care for it much, i thought every song sounded the same. but second time around i really liked it. it might’ve helped that i didnt listen to it on full volume the second time

I like the music, but really don't care for his voice.

This is one of my absolute favorite albums growing up. But as a kid, I didn’t know how much I really should have appreciated for what it was for music at the time. After listening to over 400 albums on this list, and far too many post punk 90s album, I can say without a doubt, rock music needed this. Rock music needed a bunch of fuck boy himbos to make rock fun again. There’s just way too much overly thoughty, overly analytical rock music coming out around this time. This is just fun. It sounds awesome. Music doesn’t have to always be more complicated than that.

Nostalgia

What an iconic cover. Is This It by the strokes is an album I've known for a long time, but never really explored. Does it live up to the hype. Well the a certain point, yes. It isn't astraight five out of five, but it is an incredible record. It's sound is unique and a great melt between rawness and beauty.

8/10

Alright i know this one. It's one of the quintessential album in the 00 indie scene. Probably not the best one but definetely one of the most important and representative of the era it was made. At the end of the day i love the strokes.

8/10

Inte ett stort fan av The Strokes men ett helt okej album. Bästa låt:New York City Cops

Great album!

Dumb they made them switch (at least for the American market) the gorgeous cover above for the absolute crap one they had to use- it's so bad! Is This It is a very good album with endless obvious influences (a Where's Waldo game to be had here... did they nick that from Television or V.U. ?) a super east coast band/sound it could not have been made/raised anywhere else but New York. I usually check out some other records for bands I review 4/5 or higher but as good as Is This It is I'm already tired of The Strokes TBH so I doubt I'll ever hear anything else by them- few records have a stronger 'I Heard it all before' vibe than this album.

Actually quite a banger of an album. Yes, there were some weaker songs in the mix but overall it was really good. 3.8

No private session used for this one. I had this on CD when this first came out and this one was in my car so I listened to it a lot. It's one of those albums that definitely takes me back to a specific time in my life, so much so that I don't listen to it much now because I worry that it won't take me back to a specific time in my life. It will lose it's time traveling ability.

Julian Casablancas is the GOAT

This album may be the reason of the re-introduction of the rock scene in the 2000's. It's clear to see how so many albums were inspired by this one. Well done Julian

This is the type of music you’d hear in a show or movie where things are going perfectly. Everything is going great for the crew and life is pretty good. Immediately following this rise (usually in the form of a “Life is great” compilation), things are about to go terribly, terribly wrong. All that being said, fuck this is some good shit right here. Indie Rock has been a real mixed bag for me so far with this project, but this is some real primo stuff. It’s tighter than the ass on the album cover, there isn’t a single filler song on the entire album, and picking my favorite song in general is a real challenge. This may very well be one of the best Indie albums on the entire list. I am actually quite baffled I haven’t heard any of this before, and if I have, I don’t recognize it. Everyone I talked to today was baffled I had not heard this, as it’s right up my alley. I’ve probably said this before, but you know an album is good when it makes you want to explore the bands entire catalog. Ultimately, my biggest complaint is that occasionally at the end of a song, they’ll have a little riff that absolutely shreds for about 30 seconds, and then leave you wanting more of it. And I do. I want more of it!! Bet these guys kick ass live. The little riff in the middle of “The Modern Age” and towards the end of “Take It Or Leave It” are good examples of this. All of the hits are so good, but I think my favorite song on the album is actually going to have to be “Alone, Together”, which actually has 2 separate moments where they step out a bit more and just shred that shit out. Wish they included the follow up album, as it contains the one song of theirs I actually recognized, “Reptilia”. Man, what a hell of a debut album!! Apparently, the entire band is still together to this day, which is pretty damn cool. Rock on, The Strokes. You’ve gained a fan. Is this It? Nah, I’m not done with you yet.

No variety, nothing stands out

Un disco mu chulillo que había olvidado y esta bien que me recuerden de vez en cuando ae me recuerde. Aunque The New Abnormal me parece un locurote

One of the best indie rock albums

Great album; 2001 is a really interesting year.

it’s a good starting point for them, love to see that they’re consistently improving

I remember buying this album in Croydon just before a train journey home snd standing listening to it on east croydon station i was genuinely blown away by how good an album this was. Twenty four years later i stand by that view. This is one of the greatest albums released in my lifetime and there’s not a duff track on it. The Strokes managed to build on their musical heritage and produce a punchy fresh sound that unfortunately they struggled to capture again after this album. Tracks like Is this it, someday, Last nite, hard to explain and new york city cops are just truly great, but that probably undervalues the other tracks on this album.

I genuinely could tell you nothing about this, it largely went in one ear and out the other. I did remember “Someday” and “Last Nite” as the two “hits” from this album, but I couldn’t tell you anything else about it.

I heard The Strokes at the time this was released, but have never listened to the album. 11 songs, 35 minutes is a promising run time. No hanging around. This sounds astonishingly early 2000s, I think mostly due to the guitar tone, which I'm all for. However I hate how far back in the mix and distorted the vocals are. I really like the shouty-scream vocals we occasionally get though. I loved the singles when they came out, but over a full album, I'm not as big a fan. This would be a 3.5, but I'm going to go for 3/5 Side note: I had never seen the US cover of this album until the generator made me read the Wikipedia page. It's absolutely rubbish.

Tror the Strokes opfylder mange af de ting jeg godt kan lide ved rockmusik. Det lyder garage agtigt, autentisk, råt, ærligt og teksterne handler bare om at være ung og smuk og nyde kærlighed, ensomhed, kaos. Mange ting som jeg går igennem pt, underligt nok i en alder af 27 år gammel hvor jeg bor i København men bliver mødt af mange nye mennesker fra forskellige baggrunde som tester ens værdier. Musikalsk var det en reaktion mod computerskabet poppet nu-metal linkin park og limp bizkit osv. De inspirerede en hel gruppe af 00'er bands, blandt andet white stripes, yeah yeah yeahs osv, the killers, franz ferdinand, arctic monkeys osv. Også noget min vennegruppe har lyttet til i mange år og man forbinder det bare lidt med at få nogle beers og snakke smack og lade som om alt er ligegyldigt for en periode.

Is this it is a correct approximation of this album. Limited appeal in its dull production and boring delivery. Just a waste of everyone's time.

Rv/g

Cooler Sound

Hipster koningen, prima

Added last nite to playlist. Was good. A lot of songs felt quite familiar.

This was an okay album, can't say it turned me into a fan. I recognized two songs.

I had t listened to this album in a long time and I was almost immediately reminded of the “strokes sound”. It’s very distinctive. It’s edgy but safe. Hard but soft. “Last Nite” but the band of the map.

Iconic cover on crap music

Very much an album from 2001. Vocals are pushed back and the rest of the mastering wasn't anything special

Keine Ahnung was passiert ist, hab Play gedrückt und ner Garagenband zugehört....nach ner halben Stunde wars vorbei. Nicht ganz schlecht, aber auch nicht ganz gut

The Strokes’ debut is a near-perfect distillation of garage rock revival. With raw guitars, sharp rhythms, and Julian Casablancas’ coolly detached vocals, the album captures both grit and effortless swagger. Every track feels lean, punchy, and timeless, making it a defining record of the early 2000s. Two decades later, it still sounds fresh—proof of its enduring influence.

It's not my music

This was a pretty fun, good indie rock album. The instrument playing is appropriately raucous and poppy, and the vocals really seal the deal. A pretty good album to just enjoy.

Better than I remembered, but still nowhere near worthy of the hype. The most famous singles (Last Nite and Someday) are pretty bland. However, there are a few bangers on here (Barely Legal, Hard To Explain, Take It Or Leave It). It's not overly long, the songs are short and most are catchy enough, but there is not much variety here. The follow up "Room On Fire" is far better.

WTF... for a second I thought this album would be my first 1 star, but two stars is great for them.

8/10

starts off pretty sad but overall good, also vaguely British?

Perfection - derivative and yet influential perfection

Absolute masterpiece. I had the album when it came out and it was pretty cool but I never really heard all the songs in order. This is top 5 Album of that decade. Their style, delivery, sound all was pretty unique. Absolute banger

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Hit-Feuerwerk!

I was living in Brooklyn when this dropped. More of a white stripes guy myself. Lots of good memories though if this album every where. Pretty one note though.

Someday caught my ear like it did everyone else's. Still not for me, so it's about a 2.7 for me. My guess is this gets a 3.08 for user rating.

Kind of fun

I mean I like someday and last nite, but tbh the rest of the album felt kinda mid.

I was a big fan of Brit rock in the early mid-2000s (think Arctic Monkeys, Frank Ferdinand) and other groups inspired by The Strokes (The Killers, etc.) so while I don’t think I’d ever actually heard this album by The Strokes, it felt super familiar to me all the way through. I enjoyed it a lot! Would listen again.

I really likes this album!! Apparently I like the Strokes. I knew a couple of these songs already but had never listened to the album before. I like that the music has a grungy quality to it but the melodies and harmonies are pleasing. Idk what I mean by that but they're onto something haha. 9/10.

Great album! I wasn’t too familiar with any of their music other than Last Nite. A quick play through of the album was followed immediately by another start from the beginning of the album.

Great album with some classics on there. I really enjoyed listening through this album.

Hmmm I could picture myself rollerskating through a suburb and taking out mailboxes with a baseball bat to this album, would fit the vibe perfectly. Not that I would ever do something like that though... Unless.... 8/10 - Good ole 2000s rock <3

This list really likes mid "aughts" indie/alt rock a lot. I have tried really hard to appreciate it. I tried to have an open mind, but I still don't see why everyone likes it so much. None of this clicks for me at all.

Garage Rock, 2001 -> 3

This album is a vibe. I was too young to listen to this the first time around but it nicely straddles being ‘of its time’ but also having wider appeal. Quality but simple guitar, a consistent ‘sound’ albeit some attempts at heavier elements, good vocals and a pretty tight album, no dead weight. Enjoyed and will return.

Very basic production to my ear and I did detect a little bit of crap recording but might just be me. For this reason I do find it can either pass me by or occassionally feel tiring to listen to as the components dont stand out nicely or distort. This is a shame as whats on offer is decent and the album takes its relationship struggle on its little journey with a coherent song list. Its very short so easy to let it zip by but helped by its snazzy little riffs scattered about. First time around I literally heard nothing as was working hard and had to come back to it. In a way I feel I have exhausted this album a little as hit me at the right time in my youth. Its a weak 4 now but will give it its due.

An album that I discovered around 2009 and always wished I had found earlier. This album has such a distinctive sound; cool, gritty with catchy rhythmic riffs, subtle megaphone-esque distortion on the vocals. The energy jumps out of the music. The Strokes sit in a continuum of rock music that goes back to the Beatles and before, but somehow avoid feeling derivative. Simultaneously fresh and timeless. Its a great album that I loved having an excuse to revisit.

Good alt rock

I know a lot of artists are influenced by this album but I didn't really get it. Also, second half of the album is better than the first.

There are some albums where I really feel like you had to "be there" for them to really "get" them. Most albums, they stand the test of time pretty well, and you can listen to them and immediately be like, "OK, **that's** why it's so special." Others... When you lack the context of the specific moment they were released in — and, in fact, you've been living in its influence for many years now — it can be a little more difficult to pinpoint its thing. And I really feel like The Srokes' debut is one of those albums. I mean, look, let's be clear off the top: none of this is bad. It's perfectly good guitar music. Whether or not I can exactly point to "what makes it special," it's an enjoyable little listen. And, like, I get it as well: the band was specifically aiming for a simple sound, with no tricks or gimmicks or significant studio enhancement. I completely get that. But you need to realize: I was a toddler in 2001. And it's now 2025. I have a vague idea of what the state of rock was coming out of the 90's — nü metal and acoustic "adult contemporary" alt. rock — but far from enough to really understand why this album was so revolutionary and such a game changer. I suppose it would be a "bringing rock back to its roots" sort of deal? Y'know, the whole "garage rock revival" of it all. And, y'know, that's fair. But I'unno, when it comes to my taste in garage rock, I've long tended more towards The White Stripes for their volume and distortion. This music is just kind of... A bit too plain for me to really get excited about it. Honestly, if this was the influence, it's not surprising why I don't listen to too much modern rock. If I listen to anything with a heavy focus on guitars, it's more like... I'unno, Coheed And Cambria, or any number of modern glam rock acts that get used in 'Peacemaker.' Like, it's not exactly the greatest endorsement in the world to find out that these guys influenced Kings Of Leon. That's not even to mention how much I've just generally never vibed with "indie rock," so... I'll admit that I might just not "get it." Again, I **do** feel like I lack enough of the proper context to really do so. Perhaps if I was able to I'd be more wowed by this. But even taking context out of the equation, I just can't say I'm all that excited. It's good stuff, undeniably, and it's absolutely a good way to spend 30-some minutes, but that's about as far as I'm willing to go praising it. So... Is this it? Yeah, I guess this is it. And what this is is pretty fiiiiiine.

The garage rock revival is a treasure trove of great music, this most certainly included. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 5. This is my first time listening to the whole thing, and... I think I get it. I suppose the hype for this album comes mainly in the fact that it had to feel REFRESHINGLY new for 2001, after rock & roll had grunge’d itself into a Nirvana-shaped corner for a while, & once the sort of acoustic alt-rock of the late 90s started to feel overplayed. You can hear the rest of the decade taking shape with this album, and while it doesn’t feel as special now as it probably did back then, given how many bands took this record’s style & adapted it to their strengths, I think there’s still something special here. After all, if you’re the first garage rock band with this style to really hit it big & shift the genre for at least 6 or 7 years at the least, if not all the way through today, you have to make sure you knock it out of the park on a first swing. Weirdly enough, I think the title track that opens the album is a lot more basic than I was expecting, but this album presents itself like a slowly rolling avalanche, so the intensity & all the extra tricks pick up as the album gains momentum. Momentum is genuinely a real thing with an album, and if you can hit on a few great tracks in a row, even the mediocre stuff can feel good in the moment. Thankfully, this album never hits a mediocre spot, and by the time it gets to “Someday”, it just feels like you can’t stop it. At its core, this album is built on really strong basic rock foundations, but it supplements it by giving the guitar & percussion a sort of subtle swing rhythm that meshes with the slightly filtered vocals. Combine that with some good lyricism (or at least, really strong vocal structures) & you end up with a recipe for success. It really is that simple – to quote the man himself though, “work hard and say it's easy”. Julian Casablancas & friends here clearly made sure this thing sounded about as sonically good as it could possibly be, and while it sure sounds like the sort of album you could make with your friends if you practiced enough, there’s a lot of production work under the hood. All in all, it’s just a breezy 36 minutes (or 38 if you went out of your way to play both “New York City Cops” & “When It Started” like I did). I don’t know that I’d say it’s a top all-timer album of the decade/century like that, but I can easily hear the entire decade stemming from this album’s influence, and I think that probably puts it on some sort of well-earned pedestal. Regardless, it’s an easy 5, and well-deserving to be on the list; I really liked it.

This album (and the Indie Rock Revival era in general) is essentially an American band trying to be British. I've never truly understood why people rave about The Strokes so much. Sure, their songs are catchy and easy to digest, but 'Is This It' is often considered a landmark album of history, and The Strokes among the most important bands ever. I listened to 'Is This It' for the first time, and literally thought "is this it?" I listened to it again and again, still the same thought. Sure, 'Last Nite' is a cool song, but I seriously don't understand why people rave about The Strokes so much. 'Is This It' is well produced and all, but not much really holds my attention, not unlike Elliott Smith. And yet, certain people feel this band is as important as Nirvana, The Clash or Pink Floyd. Honestly, not even close. Honestly, to me, 'Is This It' is just a bunch of okayish pop/rock songs of an American band trying so hard to be British. The Strokes just don't do it for me. Best songs: 'Last Nite' 2/5

Pretty good, although now that I finished it, I can't really remember any of it

The sound of the early 2000s at its most mid

3.5 / 5 The album is super catchy and fun, but ultimately simple and without much in the way of transformation - feels like a great expression of britpop instead of a reinvention of it.

Overall: 10/10 This one was a big one for me in my teen years. I've always loved these guys and the style they bring to their music. It's strange, but I find them kind of relaxing to listen to. Julian may be one of the coolest singers to exist. Fav Song: Soma