The Strokes - 'Is This It' (Rough Trade / RCA)
5/5
By: Toby L
The sleeve-artwork above: pretty nice. But - what about the soundtrack that lurks behind it..?
No, that ain't so nice. Julian Casablanca's tales of NYC life on relationships, lifestyles and the law often lead into gritty lyrics, perfectly rattled off the tongue by the frothy frontman, who provides a warmness and compatability between the band and the listener throughout. So, although the themes may not be so much pleasant as edgy, the music and tunes rock and roll like a slap to the face, the overall impression left to all within earshot seeming as if you've just heard the most fresh, exciting and important thing for simply years.
Part of the album's strength is down to the production and its associated dynamics; Gordon Raphael is the guy that twists the dials and knobs and his vision of two prominent guitars throughout the mix certainly recalls much of the late 70's US rock scene. However, you can't help feeling as if you're being let into a new twist on those days, what with the choruses seeming far more large and fulfilling on this release. The way that it takes several minutes before the tracks really kick off in such numbers as 'Barely Legal', the top-20 hit, 'Hard To Explain', as well as 'Alone, Together' solely adds further impact to their ferocious blend of melody and hooks, which fuse together sublimely to create an overall effect which indents the word 'perfection' upon any compliments associated with The Strokes' sound.
And, of this band's 'sound', the word 'distinctive' is an understatement. Sure enough, each and every track on the LP seems as if only one band in the world could have created it. This occasionally may allow certain riffs to sound similar to others, but this is by no means something to direct any signs of disappointment towards, because it means that you know where you stand with this record. Aside from a few hidden surprises - notably, these include the wiggling groove and angst-filled movement of 'Take It Or Leave It' and almost touching high notes of 'Someday' - 'Is This It' delivers what all the press have said The Strokes are capable of: a classic rock 'n' roll album.
Due to the continually upbeat nature of the eleven tracks on offer, there is no room for irrelevant 'fillers', which you often get on even the most ideal of recordings, instead meaning that there's a whole variety of feel-good anthems for all generations to live their lives to. In fact, by being so influenced by key acts of the past, this makes The Strokes timeless - what they do doesn't fit in with any current so-called 'scenes' - they're doing something which arrives naturally to them and therefore comes across as unique and original to the rest of us.
Really, it sounds too good to be true. It possibly is. Press play and riot.
Artists in this article: The Strokes
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