User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 330 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 305 out of 330
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Mixed: 14 out of 330
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Negative: 11 out of 330
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May 25, 2012The pressure was always going to be on with the follow up to their brilliant debut Is This It. Room on Fire isn't a complete triumph but it wasn't a bad effort either. It very much contiues where Is This It left off, similar songs, similar themes just not quite as brilliant. By far and away their 2nd best album. They seemed to run out of steam a bit after this one.
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Feb 11, 2011The Strokes debut album Is This It redefined garage punk rock. But there second album Room On Fire was a slight disappointment. The songs aren't as catchy and they're not as vibrant as the tracks on their first album. But still nevertheless a good album. It had some really strong tracks and some really not so strong tracks. All In All, A little bit of a disappointment but still a good album. B
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Apr 15, 2020I don't understand the hate for this album at all. My guess is that people expected another rehash of their first album but got disappointed that the band actually evolved since then. Which is kind of ironic because the lyrics mostly deal with these unrealistic expectations thrown upon the band after just a single album.
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Apr 26, 2021
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Aug 12, 2021Definitely one of my alltime favorite albums. It sounds much cleaner than the "garagy" Debut. Both are great albums, but I think that this is just slightly better.
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Aug 31, 2011This album carried right on with the genius of Is This It with a few welcome changes. Every track is at least solid with one huge stand-out being What Ever Happened
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Apr 1, 2020Very good, followed a similar formula to their debut. Favourite tracks Between Love & Hate, I Cant Win
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Mar 10, 2023Didn't have any major standouts, but it was still an enjoyable listen! Really no skips
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May 15, 2015
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Oct 2, 2019
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Nov 5, 20107 years out and I'm going to write a review, just to bump this albums rating up. It's solid all the way through, Meet Me In The Bathroom is the only weak song, but the other 10 are all perfect in my mind. Just let some of them grow on you and you'll have this album as one of your new favourites.
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Jun 1, 2011Room on Fire is great , i liked the musics from the band. One of my favorite on it is Reptillia, it has a great rhythm. Otherwise is cool and appealing.
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Mar 7, 2019whatever happened 100
under control 100
meet me in the bathroom 98
reptilia 96
you talk way too much 95
the end has no end 95
automatic stop 95
12:51 94
i can't win 88
the way it is 83
between love & hate 80 -
Mar 25, 2015Great album, in my opinion this is as good as 'Is this it', has some of the most memorable strokes songs to date "What Ever Happened?" "12:15" & "The End Has No End" are all great songs! the killer hit "Reptilia" has the sort of rift that only can be admired, one of my favorite albums
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Sep 13, 2017
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Aug 12, 2022
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Nov 17, 2011A great follow up to Is This It. In my humble opinion, Is This It is better than Room on Fire. Highlights of the album include "Reptilia", "Automatic Stop", "12:51", "Between Love & Hate", "Under Control", "The End Has No End", and "I Can't Win".
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Apr 6, 2020The Strokes are a band that I didn't get into until 2010. Room on Fire was the first album I listened to, and though I see it as my least favorite of their albums, I still can't find it in me to skip it whenever I listen to it.
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Jun 9, 2019Sophomore record by the NY rock band The Strokes. Its 11 songs are mostly perfect, but it was met with mixed reviews because of it was way too similar with is this it, but, honestly, who gives an actual ****
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Mar 30, 2011This was my first Strokes Album, I got it after hearing 1251; this album is just badass and you feel like a badass pumping it. I know it is NYC but it is too good not to like.
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Aug 11, 2022Excelente album el tercer mejor album de los strokes simplemente god
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Apr 14, 2017Room on Fire is an amazing sequel album. It continues with the raw energy and beautiful melodies and lyrics that Is This It had, but expands them with a bigger kick. It's a great sounding album with tons of powerful tunes.
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Dec 17, 2011Full of great tracks this is a really excellent album that hasn't really received the credit it deserves. If you haven't listened to it for a while give it another shot as there as some great tracks on it and very little filler.
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Jan 20, 2013
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JuandeRDec 10, 2003Maybe it's the album of the year.
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SidNov 3, 2003Bought album, listened to it... dissappointed (except for 3 tracks)... listened 3/4 times more loved it... Is quite different from first on closer inspection.
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AdamXOct 20, 2003awful, really... they simply haven't gone anywhere with their sound! the songs sound like poor rehashes, and theres very little in the way of actual tunes (barring the quite good "Whatever Happened?"). Overall i'm sorely disappointed, but not overly surprised...
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JamesMOct 27, 2003Solid album. They've proved they can do it twice, albeit at the expense of progression/diversity as an outfit. Side Note: Reptilia is insane.
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katywOct 28, 2003THE STROKES IS ROCK !!
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staceytJul 5, 2004I like this cd alot i got it 3 days ago and im already hooked, maybe it is slightly inferior to the first but its still worth a listen definately. The stand out songs for me are 'What ever happened', 'Under Control', 'The end has no end' and ofcourse 'Reptilia'. You should buy this cd!!
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ScottHApr 7, 2005The lead singer can't sing and the band plays the same song over and over again.
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AnnaWMar 13, 2006The Strokes are immensely enjoyable. And I am sick of hearing people complain about their parents having money. Would they be listened to more if their parents were poor? This Album was amazing. I loved Reptilia. Listen to the entire album before saying it is a copy of the first. ugh.
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Dr.GonzoOct 14, 2003It's not as good as Is This It, but it's still the one of the best albums released so far this year.
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ConorCOct 15, 2003Excellent! I would have give it a 10 but i wouldn't even give anything 10 so 9 will have to do. anyway its an excellent album. it grew on me dead quick and i can't stop listen to "whatever happened". i don't think its as good as 1st album but its still great. best album out at the moment by far!!
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BrendenRDec 16, 2003This album kicks it man. better than the first. all the way.
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PAMANOct 24, 2003
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stkOct 25, 2003even if it ends like an "oasis thing...!",we can proudly say that finally the 00s have their own beatles...hard times 4 music with all these chart-s***s, but that makes it more precious...the room is on fire n i m hapilly burning...
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BenJOct 27, 2003I was actually pretty unimpressed on the first few spins - the vocals were too low and the mix muddy, but eventually those melodies and hooks poked through! It's a great album - not immediate, but time pays off!
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ElliottOct 28, 2003Completely brilliant in the simplest, most unpretentious of ways. Like its predecessor.
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PanchoVOct 2, 2003Another quality release, go download it, then buy it
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RyanGOct 3, 2003
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XFrOmChaosXJan 13, 2004This Album is amazing........i got it two weeks ago and i still havent taken it out of my cd player..
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RickJan 29, 2004
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JeremyGJan 4, 2004Several songs on this album are flat out strong all around. The others seem to rely too heavily on short melodic segments to buoy otherwise weak songs. They got a bit complacent here, and this album at times lacks the fire and cockiness of their debut. But on talent alone, they get away with it more often than not.
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SaraA.Jul 9, 2004This is my best Cd I can Hear it all day
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JonHApr 7, 2005It's a okay listen, not nearly as good as their first album, like all the bad reviews say, it's just a repeat, and not nearly as memorable
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OliverPJun 3, 2005The idea is not a bad one, but the same idea is repeated over and over. On 12:51, Julian Casablancas must be the only singer I have ever heard who sounds just like another guitar. One of the most over-rated bands around.
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bryanlApr 6, 2006this is definitely my favourite album.. my absolute favourite band
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ElliotMJun 1, 2006The nigh on perfect indie-rock sound of Is This It returns, only now with a little more feeling. Tracks such as 12:51 and Under Control touch nerves that their debut, for all its brilliance, never could have. Lyrically it's still not as good as it could be, but musically it remains as tight and tuneful as ever. Quite brilliant stuff.
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[Anonymous]Oct 11, 2003The sounds hasn't changed....only flaw is that mostly every song on the album is similar..they could have changed it up a bit
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It'sme.Nov 13, 2003Pretty good album that takes at least 5 good listens before you "get" it. Don't hate them because critics praise them. If you're gonna hate them, hate them because you don't like their music. Not many bands make a sophomore album as good as this.
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alwOct 12, 2003Best song are : What Ever Happened?, Automatic Stop, 12:51, Under Control, The End Has No End. The other songs are alright but now as good the first 5 mentioned
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RaoulDOct 1, 2003This is an excellent album. Their sound is fully realized. Is This It? only hinted at their potential. I wish that people would stop slamming them and saying that they are rip-offs when clearly, they are probably the best band in the world right now.
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nickWNov 3, 2003Its a grower-first few listens, hated it-then like all 'good' albums just clicked.
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ShawnHOct 13, 2003can't... stop... listening... I don't think I've heard a song better than Reptilia in a while - that guitar break - it gives me goose bumps and makes me want to become an air-guitar meathead at the same time...
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joshgOct 15, 2003Word up clih
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AndrewSOct 21, 2003I think this album is awsome, but i hate how the critics are saying that is sounds the same as the first. Well for their information THATS WHAT WE WANT more of the i dont care music. Good work Strokes and fuck you critics
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alexsOct 20, 2003you'd have to be knob not the appreciate crafty and instantly gratifying songwriting
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ShintoIDec 19, 2003
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JanisGOct 22, 2003Love it! The strokes kick ass!
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StevieWOct 24, 2003
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JosephSOct 26, 2003it's terrific, as good as is this it? these pro reviewers can't make up their mind but the one dude rating it a 20 is on crack. no doubt it's one of the best rock cds of the year.
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MichaelKOct 28, 2003
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ElliottOct 28, 2003Completely brilliant in the simplest, most unpretentious of ways. Like its predecessor.
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KiranHOct 3, 2003I don't give 10s lightly, but Is This It remains one of my favourite CDs of all time, and, believe it or not, this one is better. Spectacular. I can't stop listening to "Automatic Stop", "What Ever Happened?" and "Under Control" specifically, but the whole thing is a masterpiece. If only it were longer...
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WillieSOct 5, 2003They made a great second album. If they keep this up, who knows how great they will become, or how they will affect the music world. A stone cold classic, through and through.
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JasonDMar 30, 2004One half of a good album. If only the album was more consistant but there are definitely songs which become a chore to listen to. It's also frustrating that this is all the material the band can come up with since Is This It. Not to mention that the recorded versions of the songs played during the Is This It tour are very disappointing.
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JonathanHApr 13, 2004It's not the great album some people say it is, it's not as good as their first, but it's still a solid rock album that knows when to quit before it gets tedious
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iNTRAbUDDYJun 27, 2004
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daveJul 22, 2004
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TylerJul 4, 2004
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SuseBJul 6, 2004
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rachelzAug 17, 2004
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VladIVAug 22, 2004Oh please, most of you are way overthinking whats going on in the album. Who cares what the fuck you think about the band. Does the album sound good or not. The music fits perfectly with the lyrics and it sounds right. I personally was not dissapointed with one song on the album and am anticpating their next.
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JayBNov 8, 2005damn good.
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ignaciogOct 26, 2005amazing!
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ChrisDFeb 24, 2005I don't really like the Strokes, but I still feel they'd have some good potential if they made the songs sound more energetic, rather than flattening the drums until they sound like a machine, and always ALWAYS running the vocals through a meagre light distortion. Once everything stops sounding so muffled maybe some better songs will protrude.
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KetitaQFeb 24, 2005This is an amazing album! The sound of The Strokes is so unique and its like you play the cd and you cant stop listening to it, at least for me. Its addicting... cant get enough of it!
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ZEROMEgsterFeb 8, 2005amazing album
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TawneeWMay 10, 2005I love the strokes and I really love both their Albums and I cant wait til the next one!!!!!
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RichardCJun 26, 2005So what if it's not as good as their first album, I still jam to it.
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JerichoCSep 30, 2005
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samFMay 4, 2006
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FedericoAOct 11, 2003it just makes me feel like...dancing???...i can't stop my feet but still feel all of the sadness. This album is like the pathetic wasted up guy dancin' in the disco floor when everybody has already left but he still looks charmy and irresistible.
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fOct 11, 2003Hard as it is to believe, there is not a bad track at all on the record. Somehow, this album is better than the first. This is (deep breath) the best album of the year.
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AndrewENov 16, 2003I'm a huge fan of the original, and at first found myself disappointed. I went back to it, and found 11 tracks of pure, fantastic strokes music, with more originality than i noticed at first listen. Highly recommended.
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ZeeshaanBNov 17, 2003This album is excellent. The Strokes really know how to create good indie rock. It is catchy and fun.
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BigJohnnyNov 22, 2003Yes.
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GregNov 28, 2003All in all a great album. The first half is nearly flawless, and, sadly, the album loses some steam after those tracks. On a whole, I'd say the album is great, and we'll probably all be enjoying it for a long time.
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BunifaJNov 3, 2003What is dis crap? I can't baleve I wasted ma bling bling on dis shite right herre. Damn grrl, this CD sucks like ma mamma on a first date! snap snap. Oh yes I did!
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HockeyTOct 13, 2003
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RobbyDOct 14, 2003
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WillONov 7, 2003Catchy, but Casablancas' voice sounds a little dull sometimes. Also, the guitar can get repetitive sometimes. I think the highlights of the album are "Reptilia" and "Meet Me in the Bathroom," but i think they need to have better solos and varying guitar rhythms. (Michael K, Interpol rocks. Probably in my top five favorite bands.)
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aaronmDec 1, 2003great album
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J.DockxDec 21, 2003Brilliant, one of the best CD's in my collection
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AdamOct 22, 2003If i ever meet Julian again, i'll let him know how he helped both create and destroy musical revolutio the period of three years.
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anthonygOct 24, 2003
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JeffreyLOct 24, 2003This sophmore effort can be the same and different at the same time from the first release. It has the same ingredients, but it is flanked by different, denser combinations of these ingredients. Only 3 songs are retreads, the rest are a significant progression in their sound. I listen to it over and over and over.....
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jdOct 25, 2003Any hyped-up flash in the pan.
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J.DayOct 25, 2003DO NOT JUDGE THIS DISC AFTER ONE LISTEN! Since your probably already a fan alot will sound familiar. But the by the third time you clearly see the differences between the Is This It and Room on Fire. This is every bit as good as Is This It. They bring more musical ideas to the table without messing with their style. This disc is amazing. Dont fool yourselves! Just buy it!
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Awards & Rankings
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Jun 6, 2013[Casablancas] builds atmosphere out of evocative lyrics and emotional scenery, and he does it without leaning on linear narrative or songs with singular interpretations.
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In the face of hysterical expectation, the Strokes have resisted the temptation to hit the brakes, grow up and screw around with a sound that doesn't need fixing -- yet.
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The album is arguably better than the group's much-heralded debut, if by "better" we just mean more sonically impressive overall.