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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Is This It?
Universal acclaim
Based on 25 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 180 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: RCA / Rough Trade
Release Date: 09 October 2001
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Alternative, Rock
Summary
This is the debut album from New York indie-rockers The Strokes, who have been hyped by the British music press following the release of "The Modern Age" EP in early 2001. It almost goes without saying, but the group is frequently compared to the Velvet Underground, among others, thanks in part to singer-songwriter Julian Casablancas' Lou Reed-esque vocals.
Also By This Artist: First Impressions Of Earth Room On Fire
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Albert Hammond, Jr.: Yours To Keep
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Q Magazine
It makes the case for some long-forgotten virtues: fast songs, staccato chords, songs about trysts in squalid apartments. You know, the good stuff.
Read Full Review >Neumu.net
What matters, what it all boils down to, is The Strokes write incredibly powerful songs, and those who allow the media -- or better yet their reaction to the media, what I call the anti media -- to influence their opinions are missing out.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
The Strokes are not deities. Nor are they "brilliant," "awe-inspiring," or "genius." They're a rock band, plain and simple. And if you go into this record expecting nothing more than that, you'll probably be pretty pleased.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
''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.
Read Full Review >Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
The Strokes' privileged formalism is annoying, so too their delight in romantic dysfunction. But they're smarter than the playa haters who aren't smart enough to target these blatant shortcomings.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
Delivers the goods in spades. [Nov 2001, p.94]
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Guitar rock that knows the grit of downtown, understands the seductiveness of a timeless pop song, and recognizes that a great solo can be accomplished in 20 seconds, Is This It may not quite justify its ascent to instant-classic status.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
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...
Read Full Review >Drawer B
Plenty of bands have hooks and good songs and retro-garage sounds, but none compares to The Strokes.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
Not since Oasis in their gloriously unstoppable and unapologetic heyday have we been given the opportunity to embrace such straight-ahead, ebullient, desire-fuelled guitar music.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle
No chips or cracks in this debut's silly-grin inducing veneer, just one short, sharp jolt of postmodern skank.
Read Full Review >Spin Cycle
Hype for the Strokes is well deserved--it's hard to imagine a more vital American rock band.
Read Full Review >Nude As The News
Comparisons aside, though, the Strokes do cultivate a sound that's enough theirs to make me wonder what their second and third albums will sound like.
Read Full Review >Mojo
A heartily uplifting brew of scruffy street style, swear words and stammering pop tunes which sweat musical history. [Sep 2001, p.99]
Billboard
The album is certainly one of 2001's finest, most memorable releases. It just shouldn't be billed beyond what it is: a deliciously fun romp that draws heavily upon influences like the Velvet Underground, Television, and the Stooges.
Read Full Review >Blender
The biggest draw is the Iggy-Jagger sexual charisma of 22-year-old singer Julian Casablancas, whose self-possessed cool is astonishing. [Aug/Sep 2001, p.130]
Sonicnet
Casablancas is all old-school rocker in the Mick Jagger/Chris Robinson mold -- an ugly/pretty boy out to beg, borrow and bleed for even prettier women while acting like nothing ever satisfies.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
For now, the Strokes have mastered their style; they have yet to come up with the substance to match it.... But the music leaves no doubts - more joyful and intense than anything else I've heard this year.
Read Full Review >HOB.com
Their album is little more than thirty minutes and eleven versions of the same song. But damn if that one song isn't a good one.
Read Full Review >Splendid
The only thing keeping Is This It from being absolutely storming is the questionable production work of Gordon Raphael, whose primordial approach lacks the necessary punch to really bring these tunes to life.
Read Full Review >Ink Blot Magazine
They've locked themselves in a room for a year, learned to play 11 songs in one style, and counted on the singer to come up with a couple of ace-card tunes. Result.
Read Full Review >Trouser Press
A dandy little 36-minute album of simple pop tunes with all the right moves and no real motion.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 180 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Doug G gave it a10:
Stunning Debut
Michael H. gave it a10:
Considering Is This It? is the debut album from hard indie rockers The Strokes, it's is absolutly amazing and incresdibly done. There isn't one song of the album that is dull or boring, each song is individual and yet works together beautifully to create a piece of exceptional music.
Kyle B. gave it a10:
Amazing first album for a band. The guitar playing the drumming, and the singing was excellent. Cheers Strokes and good luck on many more amazing albums.
nas nou gave it a10:
The strokes neither started nor flaunted the hype, so why would it be their fault if they were hyped by the press? it still doesn't change that this album is solid, powerful and one of the greatest albums of the 2000's.
the game gave it a10:
The album is purely amazing. sure it may not be the "definining" or music changing album that the media puts it out to be, but its regardless an extremely good album. Don't hate over the strokes over the hype- its not like they planned it all out?
Sebastian F. gave it a10:
Pure bliss to listen to.
Daniel A gave it a4:
The fact that it's been 8 years since this album was released and so far The Strokes haven't lived up to the hype the music press created around them, proves that all of those calling this album "overrated" were right.
