The Strokes - "Is This It" - (2001)

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Morning Listening Early in the morning it’s problematic for me to determinate what type of music to listen to. I don’t desire to listen to something heavy, for it would be an overload of thundering audibles. Hard and loud music tends to irritate me and make for a bad combination with my morning time grogginess. Since it takes me a nice little space of time to adjust to the sun rising, strong vigorous music is not my morning cup of tea. Then, you have something that is easy listening. Since what I seek to do is to wake up rather than fall back into a coma, I don't think that would be very pleasant music. So with that in mind, my morning routine begins... before I can choose my morning music I must find my c.d. book. (Once that occurs...) I then proceed to search page after page hopping to find something that fits. Just as I begin to lose hope, what do I see? That white, black, and a shade of blue. It’s The Strokes' musical disk. If you’re asking to yourself right now... What makes The Strokes morning listening material? Well, its the soft pop mellow musical revelry that they are quite efficient at creating. Power Rock Pop The Strokes are one of those bands that deliver pop rock with a gritty edge. They are easy listening and at the same time have enough rhythm to pick you up from a sleeping slump and filling you up with much needed energy. A perfect example of that is the song Someday, which is a delightfully mover and shaker. I play that song when I feel like shaking my groove thang. Yet, while being much about pop, its not "bubble gum pop" like you find with the The Killers, Maroon 5, or Jack Johnson. It is pop but with a serious edge to it. So, to battle that morning dread I would prefer something more grown up.. than teeny bopper stuff. The Strokes Inspired by classic acts like Buddy Holly and John Lennon and the attitude and riffs of the Velvet Underground, the Strokes rose to stardom when they were blessed and (you could also say cursed...) with a huge amount of media hype. Young, almost all in their twenties, their debut album "Is This It?" That album arrived at our audible door step in 2001. The Strokes is lead by singer and also songwriter Julian Casablancas (the son of Elite modeling agency leader John Casablancas). Then you have guitarists Nick Valensi who and drummer Fabrizio Moretti which began jamming together in high school and now continue the camaraderie in this band. The other guitarists is Albert Hammond Jr.(the son of singer and songwriter Albert Hammond... who wrote songs such as "When I need you," and "To all the girls I've loved before"), and the bassist is Nikolai Fraiture. Playing in small clubs in N.Y. in a short span of time, word was out.. with rave reviews about their live shows. With that came a three-song demo called The Modern Age EP which was released in January 2001. That lead to them receiving an RCA contract. Thanks to the popularity in the U.K. their notoriety grew to great proportions, which lead to a U.S. tour. First "Is This It" was released in the U.K. The U.S. version of Is This It? that came out in October of 2001. However, the version that they released in the U.S. was a bit different than the one in the U.K. For one, they took off one of the songs. The song is called "New York City Cops" (which includes the lyrics.. "new york city cops.. they aint too smart..) They changed it to a song called "When It Started" because in wake of the terrorist attacks in N.Y. in 9-11, they felt it would be an inappropriate song to include in their album. Also, they change their album cover from a woman's figure to an artistic abstract painting type cover. It is good... Is This It is a musical delicacy soaked in New York style. The guitar playing plus Casablanca’s singing are very distinct and original. They display a keen way to introduce a song in such a timid way and then suddenly kicking the pace up in a matter of seconds. Like watching a Mustang accelerate from 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds. Both do it with such ease and grace. The singer Julian Casablancas gives a nonchalant yet firm and stellar performance. With the addition of the great guitar rhythms, these two keep everything intact and entertaining. Inside the music The whole album is consistent. It holds the continuity and fluidity, that is sadly lacking in most albums. With out being redundant (although at time a bit repetitive) it holds its own style. Its mellow pop rock that you can enjoy at any time, not to mention in the morning time. Like a book or movie, the great thing that it holds is pleasant momentum. It takes you on ride that seems not in and out like some c.d.s but rather a consistent voyage that is versatile. The only down note, is the real lack of deep meaning full lyrics. Its not really a dylan-esk or even lennon-esk feel to it, nothing really mind altering. Yet, it is pleasant for what it is. Its not an intellectual experience but it never seems that, that is what they are going for. With turbulent guitar riffs and growling vocals, this is an album that is gritty and hold an aura of having its own style. The Key Three 1. SOMEDAY – This song is very catchy. Its fast pace, make you wanna dance kind of music. Its that song that you like listening to, because it is uplifting and at the same time immensely catchy. This song was used as their second radio single and helped them not to be put on the map (which was done by Last Night) but it gave them a second hit which aided their credibility. 2. LAST NIGHT – Starts slow... Enter a quick drumming beat... We get caught by surprise by a curiously catchy melody... and then we get struck by a loud yet calm, commanding voice that does nothing else but encapsulates us in a song that is like nothing you have heard recently on the radio. The chorus in this song is filled with a stressful feeling and emotion that fixes your ear firmly on those audibles. 3. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT – Now this song, Ill surely take. This is a loud and quick paced song that has the most power of all the songs. It is an ideal song to conclude with for its powerful and terribly infectious. It shows a captivating power that leaves you wanting more once its over. This is it... "Is This It" is a c.d. with oomph. A resounding Yes! To this being a satisfying experience. Plus... you receive a style that has been hovering around for ages but has never been so contagious.