User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 476 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 396 out of 476
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Mixed: 46 out of 476
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Negative: 34 out of 476
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AshleyCFeb 19, 2006Couldn't agree more with Elene - the negativity levelled toward First Impressions is highly frustrating. The band were at liberty to bang out a third, battered copy of Is This It but, instead, have clearly, and bravely, gone for broke. Yes the album is a couple of tracks too long and some experiments don't quite work but the overall level is very high and it is a BIG grower.
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DougLMar 28, 2006Not as consistantly good as the first two albums, but nevertheless a handful of good tunes in the first half of the album. The guitarists have really stepped it up a notch on this effort as well. I would think old fans would appreciate this one for sure
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joMar 7, 2006VISION OF DIVISION blows me away every time, amazing hook, amazing song, amazing solo... other highlights are Heart In a Cage (glad its the new single) and Juicebox for me personally. Very good album!
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RonGMay 8, 2006The one that converted me Better vocals, more inventive guitars - such an improvement on the boring sounds of the past
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MattKJan 9, 2007This album is great, and if your a fan of previous work of the Strokes, you will not be disappointed with this effort. The music sounds fresh!
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LinkApr 20, 2007The most authentic rock-n-roll album to be released in the last ten years. Killer solos, catchy rhythms, and beautifully crafted lyrics. The Strokes have outdone themselves. And the music is AWESOME in concert
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MarkKJun 5, 2007
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JohnKJan 13, 2006wiked album, well worth it. only 1 song i hate ,"ask me anything"....... :@
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talisJan 2, 2006i was afraid it will be crap after two great albums, but luckily i was wrong
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JoseCuervoJan 3, 2006This is an album that requires a few listens before an accurate judgement can be made. Give it time and it will reveal it's genius to you.
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BenjiGJan 3, 2006Not perfect, but very very good. Highlights are "Heart In a Cage," opener "You Only Live Once," and the unexpected ballad "Ask Me Anything."
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BrianSJan 5, 2006People are insane if they think this is a let down album. Did they even listen to Vision of Division or 15 Minutes?? Those songs are incredibly original and blow away anything else on the radio today. With the exception of one or two songs, this album is their masterpiece.
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JeffC.Jan 7, 2006Great Album! Better than "Room On Fire"
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BellaCMar 21, 2006I love this album! Altough it is not as good as its predecessors Is This It and Room On Fire. The best song is definitly Heart In A Cage. Casablancas vocals are splendid.
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DylanRFeb 25, 2007Great album, it's awsome, I listen to it all the time.
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FrankieM.Jan 18, 2008I wasnt going to buy this album due to mixed reviews but then i heard you only live once and i thought why not buy it and now im so happy i did. my faviourite tracks are juicebox,vision of division, ize of the world and you only live once. also impressed by the guitar work the best ive heard from the strokes
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mikebJan 11, 2006Completely different from their previous two albums; but in a good way. Much more diverse and experimental.
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BMikolsMar 21, 2006I also think this album is fantastic. It, like previous Strokes albums, gets better with each listen. Critics say it only has six or seven good songs. What other album in recent memory had that many good tracks? Not as good as Is This It? It will be hard to ever overachieve when held against such high criteria. Some of their best songs are on this album
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daverOct 13, 2009Love this cd as much of the other two, i don't care what the "critics" say about it, Their music is something refreshing.
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AmeliaDec 24, 2006I pity those who can't appreciate the brilliance of this album (nelson) and cheers to precious - I too love electricityscape and RED LIGHT is my absolute favourite - listen to that gutiar--- oh my goodness they are brilliant. and strokes lovers check out albert hammond jrs solo album - it is fantastic.
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May 14, 2011
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Apr 1, 2020The divisive album! Personally loved it. Favourite tracks Razorblade, Ize of the World
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Aug 11, 2022Me gusta y no me gusta xdxdxdxdxdxdxdxd
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ChrisJan 10, 2006This album should have had 11 tracks just like their previous two efforts. The high points of the album however are very good!
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AndyRJan 3, 2006The first half is great, unfortunately the other half consists of songs that are poorly written, repetitive, and are no fun. Except maybe Red Light. At least it is still better than most of the crap out there.
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KurtCJan 3, 2006The Strokes have always been good at disguising their talent for songwriting and brilliant musicianship behind a façade of simplicity. They
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TravisSJan 5, 2006
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ChrisHJan 9, 2006Personally i loved their old work, and yeah not all the songs are great but come on, half the people who gave this album a bad rating cant do anything any where near this good and so bad mouth it to appear to be minorly intelligent when compared to a dead monkey. Juicebox is a great song
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JamesFAug 10, 2006Yes, the media enduced hype has burned out but what is still left is the blatant evolution of the strokes music. On tracks such as ize of the world , vision of division, ask me anything and even the well recieved juicebox it is evident that first impressions of earth is evidence that the strokes are fully capable of diversification. please - ignore what the critics say
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calvinhobbesJan 10, 2006Good enough to buy it. Some songs are brilliant, others not so good (make a selection and then you can listen this album: good vibrations).
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DavidHJan 17, 2006A pretty solid 3rd offering in my opinion.
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whiteskinJan 21, 2006just take it or leave it...:)
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StephenCJan 23, 2006
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RobJan 3, 2006While not scaling the heights of 'Is This It?', The Strokes' new album is an improvement on 'Room On Fire' and demands multiple listens to really make sense. Reviewers have been put off by the fact that not every song is an instant grabber like the lead single 'Juicebox', however the album is all the richer for that.
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ridgebJan 3, 2006
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CueroJan 4, 2006A good third album. Not as impressive to me as Room on Fire was as a follow-up, but there are few, if any, weak songs. More diverse and deep than any of their previous albums. Mixed reviews are to be expected from critics, but this is a much better rock record than anything media darlings the White Stripes or System of a Down have released recently.
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GeorgePJan 4, 2006
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DaveFeb 16, 2006
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MiguelFeb 4, 2006It's a grower. "You Only Live Once" is amazing. The second half drags a bit, but you gotta give The Strokes credit for sucking it up and putting efforts into rejuvinating themselves.
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StephenDMar 30, 2006There is no way this record deserves a 67 from critics. serious hating going on here. there are a ton of great songs on this album and maybe 3 to 4 bum tunes. People are just pissy about David Kahne being involved and otherwise, i don't know, deaf? jealous? i can't figure it out.
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ElliotMJun 3, 2006
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JohnoJan 12, 2006
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BaldvinEJan 17, 2006I´m a fan of the Strokes. Not their best work, but it works.
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BenJJan 2, 2006The Strokes have perhaps tried to do too many things on this album, it's a tad incoherant, but it works as a collection of songs. There will be plenty of haters--but regardless its still the Strokes, meaning it's going to be one of the best of this year for me. The 8 is in comparison to the previous albums, otherwise it would be a 10 in comparison to other bands.
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AddlerSDec 2, 2006The instruments sound great! The first half of this album is very good and then it declines, but nonetheless it is a good piece of work from The Strokes and we're interested to hear what's next from them, which will be a critical release.
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vjasonJan 25, 2006
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AlexJan 28, 2006
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KingofcosmosJan 4, 2006
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AaronC.Jan 6, 2006It's as good if not a little better than Room on Fire. A lot of people are saying that the last half of the album isn't as good as the first half (which is true) but that doesn't mean it's "bad" by any means. I actually really like "Ize of the World" and "Evening Sun", 2 of the tail end songs. Either way I think you'll enjoy this album if you liked Room on Fire at all.
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DieterFJan 9, 2006
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ZachVJan 9, 2006Amazing through the first half, but should have been a 10 song album, can you bash an album for putting on toomany songs,i mean, if you dont like them,just skip them, the good songs are still there
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SteveBFeb 18, 2006
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AlexCApr 6, 2006C'mon, this album deserves a better rating! The first 8 tracks are all killers so i'll give it an 8. The album dies a bit towards the end, which was not a tendency of the first two albums, but there are more tracks on here so that's understandable. God damn I love The Strokes!
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AlessandroOMay 30, 2006Everybody said that The Strokes would have failed with the third album. I would say that Casablancas &co. have the talent to make "classic" almost every song they edit. Maybe ten minutes (and 4 tracks) less would be better, but please, from now on nobody say that The Strokes are over!
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killabenJan 11, 2006
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TonyJan 12, 2006Very good, a definate leap forward from room on fire. The problem is, they run out of steam. It seems like after they wrote such awesome artsy intense crowd-pleasers as You Only Live Once, Juicebox, Razorblade, Heart in a Cage, Ize of the World, and Electricityscape they just wanted to fill up time. Julian needs to chill with the low, long mumbling and keep going with his kick-ass rock scream.
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MCDec 16, 2006A real grower. So very bold. The guiter riffs are awesome , and the drumming skills of Fab Moretti are really evident here. And only The Strokes could pull off a song like Ize of the World.
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MarioPJan 29, 2006
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EleneFeb 11, 2006
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TBoneFeb 14, 2006There's some good stuff on this album. I can't figure out why critics hate this so much, maybe it' s because the Strokes have been around for a while. Critics seem to not like established acts at all. Razorblade is 5 stars, as is You Only Live Once. Heart in a Cage is pretty good. I really don't like Juicebox.
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Apr 5, 2018you only live once 9.5
juicebox 7.5
heart in a cage 8
razorblade 7.75
on the other side 8.5
vision of division 8.5
ask me anything 8.5
electricityscape 7.5
killing lies 7.5
fear of sleep 7.5
15 minutes 6.5
ize of the world 7.5
evening sun 8.5
red light 8.5 -
Jan 18, 2011
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Apr 15, 2020This album definitely grew on me over time and I've come to appreciate it as another step forward in quality, evolving musically and showcasing that they are more than just a typical indie rock band.
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May 15, 2015
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Sep 13, 2017
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Mar 3, 2020
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carminefJan 7, 2006The sound tigth but its just ok
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pierrelJan 2, 2006This third album, indeed changes from the two predecessors, but also changes in quality and not for good. Many of the songs just doesn't seem to take off, or just go down after a good start which just repeats itself through the whole song, which makes the album sort of boring. Still it remains a good album, but doesn't get close from their exceptional "Is This It" work.
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MattJan 5, 2006Sometimes they grow while retaining their identity - especially in the first half of the album. But there is too much bland new wave sounding music here.
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KevinKJan 6, 2006Half good, half bad. I like the updated sound, but there are a handful of tracks here I could do without. Highlights: You Only Live Once, Juicebox, Razorblade, Vision of Division (only for the solo) and Ask Me Anything. Also, the b-side of the Juicebox single called Hawaii is great and should've been included on the album, you should check it out.
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moilJan 6, 2006So so. Some songs are amazing, but their attempts to be experimental - mainly in the second half of this album - result in their most boring songs to date.
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EddieEinarMrtnsnNDec 9, 2007
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BurwellW.Jul 12, 2008While the first two albums were damn near perfect (if not the second then certainly the first with room on fire trailing close by) first impressions of earth slightly misses its mark. The first two albums were filled with nostalgia entangled within the lyrics and the melodies. This is lost. Hopefully with a new album they can get their mojo back.
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andrewfJan 2, 2006Not bad, could do with a bit of pruning. On the Other Side is the worst song they've ever written, but other than that, it's solid. A disappointment but it could've been worse, so only the one major complaint. Just can't stand those lyrics.
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PeterPJan 26, 2006The first six songs on this album are fantastic. "You Only Live Once" is one of the best songs they have ever written. "Juicebox" is an ourstanding song, "razorblade" is great with a chorus nicked from Berry Manilow's "mandy", "On the other Side" is another favorite. but After "Vision of Division", the album trails off. the only real standout in the 2nd half is "Ize of the World".
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EthanSJan 4, 2006I liked it a lot, but there were some tracks that were just not very enjoyable in the middle of the album.
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RyanBJan 6, 2006Most songs sound great but a few of the songs sound weak. Like they ran out of the strong stuff and needed to fill a little time. Maybe The Strokes should just stick with making 30 minute albums instead of trying to fill 50. I would have been more satisfied.
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davegJan 7, 2006the band's working, but i wish i could say the same for julian.
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EllSJan 8, 2006
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JamesMJan 8, 2006
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hfrazaApr 25, 2006Good, but not so good. But why all the critics say better things about some shitty new bands ( Kasabian, keyser chiefs...)
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DanielB.Feb 6, 2008Good for most of the album but nothing more than solid and how the hell are the strokes indie rock?
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BenFFeb 14, 2009It is different than their previous two albums but still good. "You live only once" is pretty much my favorite track from this album. The rest are decent but not great.
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GeoffSJan 15, 2006
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amurabimJun 19, 2006
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williamDOEMay 28, 2007not as bad as most critics will say, but not as good either. granted, their first album was great, so they'll always have to match it. they havent with this album. the album starts off great with their first 4 songs, but the rest just kind of drag on.
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Oct 20, 2011Very good album. It verges on getting dull in the final few tracks but the calmness of those last few are a great aftermath of sorts from the heavy first tracks. Great guitar and drum work and two unbelievable tracks (Vision of Division & Heart In A Cage).
Awards & Rankings
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BlenderEarth is the sound of a band coming to that inevitable realization: five patrician perfectionists who've resolved to sound sloppy, even (or especially) at the risk of fucking up. [Jan/Feb 2006, p.98]
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Turns out what the world was waiting for really was those that saved guitars finally making a record that truly reaped the rewards of their efforts. Is this it? OH GOD YES!
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First Impressions introduces some subtle new colors to the band's musical palette... but the pervasive sense of inert boredom, which has been noted as a strength in the past, is difficult to shake.