367 - The Strokes - Is This It
Wanna talk about hype? The Strokes came upon the music scene on a tidal wave of critical praise. "Alternative" music had milked the sounds of Green Day-styled pop punk and the supposedly genre-crossing rap-metal of Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park until they were as exciting as a Perry Como album. The Strokes presented a stripped down punk that didn't pander to the image and cheeky attitude of the pop punk bands.
Is This It exposes a segment of punk that had been mostly forgotten. Where Green Day and their offspring were doing variations on The Ramones and the Sex Pistols, The Strokes embodied a new version of Television and the Velvet Underground. Vocals sound less pissed off at authority and more frustrated with sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
When I first heard the album a decade ago, I thought it was okay. I felt the album was being embraced so much by critics just because it sounded so different from what was on the radio at the time. Listening to it again this past week has improved my feelings on the album. There are two songs that stand out to me - "Someday" and "Last Nite." The other tracks are good, but I never found myself looking at my mp3 player wanting to jot down the song title as a "new like" or one to discuss in my review.
This album does belong on this list. I think that its placement is understandable. I, unfortunately, don't know how well this album will last if Rolling Stone redoes the list in 10-15 years. Who knows, at that time we may all be weary of the dominant sound (cello-based electronica bands?) and The Strokes will be a welcome change of pace.
Songs I knew I liked: "Someday" and "Last Nite"
Songs I didn't know but now like: Unfortunately, none.
Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: I don't think I'd like to go the rest of my life without listening to the album again.