Is This It
Details
LP / Format
Sign In to rate and review
CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Able to make the timeworn themes of sex, drugs, and rock & roll and the basic guitars-drum-bass lineup seem new and vital again, the Strokes may or may not be completely arty and calculated, but that doesn't prevent Is This It from being an exciting, compulsively listenable debut.
12y
100
There's nothing unnecessary here. 'Is This It' is an album by a band that knows its strengths, knows its collective mind. It doesn't sound like one songwriter and some other donkeys.
12y
100
Accusations of style over substance were heard from some quarters, but really – would we be talking about this album 13 years later if it didn’t comprise a collection of completely cracking songs?
100
The Strokes’ debut album is truly something to behold. The mixture of raise-the-roof indie, real life lyrics and superb instrumentation combine for what is a really special, once in a generation album.
100
A breathless, goggle-eyed, assuredly brilliant album ... it works wonders.
Print Only
3y
91
The Strokes have struck an incredible balance between the two extremes of rock music: sentimentality and listlessness.
12y
91
”Is This It” bows down before all the trademarks of pre-1977 rock: off-kilter guitar solos, half-buried vocals (à la ”Louie, Louie”), attitude-heavy slurring (by singer Julian Casablancas), primitive tom-tom rhythms (shades of the Velvets’ Moe Tucker), and the raw, muddy sonics of garage-band 45s.
90
This is an outstanding release filled with trashy pop songs about love, hate, lust and the misunderstandings about growing up. With one song it can piss off your mum and at with the next have her singing along.
10y
90
They may not really be the second coming of the Velvet Underground, but Is This It is exactly what a rock ‘n’ roll album should sound like, equally calling on its influences and pushing forward in brash discontentedness.
90
You might love it, you might wonder what all the fuss is about, but until you listen to this album from start to finish, you may never know.
8mo
90
Delivers the goods in spades.
Print Only
4mo
80
The Strokes' debut album is pure New York rock & roll: all gray-pavement aggression wrapped in black-leather cool.
80
Is This It is a great debut album, derivative yet posessed of an urgency and excitement of its own devising.
50
The Strokes aren’t bad, it’s just hard to see what all the fuss is about. They’ve got some decent licks and are probably a good live act. On CD, however, they’re not all that distinguishable.
40
What happened? All the gleeful, kick-out-the-jams exuberance of the Strokes’ singles ... is mysteriously absent from their aptly titled debut, Is This It.
1mo
a fantastic record, that isn't up for debate. I just never find myself coming back in favor of the new Voidz album which I enjoy better for its textures
oh boy, I love the charm and feel to this whole album, it makes me feel nostalgia for something ive never experienced.
amazing songwriting, sounds amazing,it's hard to not listen to this album over and over again
Contributions By
patton, royalflush, Alejandro González, Alex69, MusicXXY, erik, sweertner, makeshiftdiary, asianboyianBecome a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Advertisement
Track List
| 1 | Is This It 2:31 | 92 |
| 2 | The Modern Age 3:28 | 91 |
| 3 | Soma 2:33 | 89 |
| 4 | Barely Legal 3:54 | 92 |
| 5 | Someday 3:03 | 95 |
| 6 | Alone, Together 3:08 | 89 |
| 7 | Last Nite 3:13 | 94 |
| 8 | Hard to Explain 3:44 | 94 |
| 9 | New York City Cops 3:37 | 88 |
| 10 | Trying Your Luck 3:22 | 89 |
| 11 | Take It or Leave It 3:16 | 90 |
Total Length: 35 minutes
Please stay on topic. To go off topic, head to the General Chat.
Sign in to comment
4w
What happened? All the gleeful, kick-out-the-jams exuberance of the Strokes’ singles ... is mysteriously absent from their aptly titled debut, Is This It.
