Room On Fire
by The Strokes
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Oct 28, 2003
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 330 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 305 out of 330
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 330
  3. Negative: 11 out of 330

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  1. BryanB
    Dec 5, 2003
    7
    Overall, a good album....typical Strokes. Nothing new, but consistent with the quality of their last album. Why change a winning formula??
  2. JonathanW
    Dec 5, 2003
    10
    The first time I listened to the CD, I thought the same thing~ where is the originality? Unfortunately, people who give things only one chance in this society will miss out on the wonders of this album. The Strokes have definitely expanded on their natural talent, making this Room On Fire a new hit CD and winning the hearts of the next generation of youth. Well done Strokes, well done.
  3. mikem
    Oct 29, 2003
    10
    Since I rated Is This It a 10 I wish I could make this one a 11 but 10 will have to do. Unlike 99% of CD's I can actually listen to this one w/out skipping a track. FLAWLESS. The only question now is how do they follow this one up.
  4. RabA
    Oct 29, 2003
    10
    Oh yeah this is it!
  5. PaulF
    Dec 21, 2004
    2
    I can't believe how so many reviewers and people like the strokes. What is it about them? It's like no one has ever heard a decent rock band before! After reading Q's review i went and bought it. What a mistake thet was. Every damn song sounds the same & the lead singers voice never changes tone throughout and sounds completely dull making the album an absolute chore to I can't believe how so many reviewers and people like the strokes. What is it about them? It's like no one has ever heard a decent rock band before! After reading Q's review i went and bought it. What a mistake thet was. Every damn song sounds the same & the lead singers voice never changes tone throughout and sounds completely dull making the album an absolute chore to listen to. It's only 30mins long & i still can't bring myself to listen to it all. Absolute awful - avoid.… Expand
  6. Matt
    Sep 27, 2004
    3
    The vastly over-rated "Is This It" is followed by by this vastly over-rated effort. Yet again, background music, nothing grabbing, expect to hear the likes of 12:51 or Reptilia in lifts and fast food restaurants for the next couple of years - it really is perfect for this, but not much else.
  7. ignaciog
    Jan 13, 2005
    10
    amazing!
  8. andreav
    Jan 26, 2005
    10
    i just love it!
  9. KstarQ
    Feb 24, 2005
    10
    It is so amusing for me to see how people who claim to hate The Strokes get so passionate in sharing their thoughts about them. Here's my thought: No one cares, so save it! I mean really, does it matter if you think they'r repetitive? if your sick of them using a "megaphone" to sing? Let me remind you that each band has their own style, and this is what they chose, a pretty damn It is so amusing for me to see how people who claim to hate The Strokes get so passionate in sharing their thoughts about them. Here's my thought: No one cares, so save it! I mean really, does it matter if you think they'r repetitive? if your sick of them using a "megaphone" to sing? Let me remind you that each band has their own style, and this is what they chose, a pretty damn good one, since it is working for them, right? if they were to change that "annoying effect" as somone said, they would no longer be The Strokes. And for those who like to give tips or comments on what would make the band better, SAVE IT! They are the strokes for a reason. Get over it and go make your own damn band if you cant find "good music" I mean what is good music? its different for everybody, its just too bad you cant appreciate these guys (the stroeks) I cant believe anyone would ask the members of a band to go take lessons!!! LOL!!! that was hilarious! Another thing.. who the hell buys a CD based on Q's review without having heard it first. You gotta know your music before you buy it; so I'm guessing for those who bought the cd before knowing what it was all about dont know what the heck they are talking about either. O yeah and about the singer, aka: Julian Casablancas, its the damn "megaphone" he uses that makes them original. I read something about someone going to see the band live and thinking it sucked bad. Question: why the hell go to their concert in the first place? cuz I'm sure this person was aware that bands sound way different when they are live (yes... there are really good live musicians out there) but not everyone is perfect and half the rock stars in the world dont have the best voices. No one has ever claimed The Strokes are the best band in the world, so why worry about little things like that? As long as I can pop their CD in my stereo/car/ computer, whatever, and still get a kick out of them I'm cool! And what is all this nonsense about "I used to love The Strokes but I came to a realization???" People complain about both albums sounding exactly the same, so what the hell makes a person change their mind about bad ass music like The Stroke's??? Now THAT I dont understand!! "They are knobs making music for knobs" I can only laugh at that comment and say "HEY... THAT WOULD MAKE ME A KNOB THEN, RIGHT?" Well the truth is that when it comes to rock bands they are either loved or hated. But please keep you lame hater comments short, rating music a good thing but come on! your comments arent gonna change a band's style, if thats what some hoped for. Just as The Stroke's music is "repetitive", as many say and I strongly disagree with, so are you negative comments. I cant wait to hear a good reason why someone hates the stroeks and also, one that is original. Stop getting you idea about music based on everyone else's comments. To the Strokes: ROCK ON!!!! your awesome And for the haters: I wanna see you make music sound as kick ass as The Stroke's with the only "C5, D5, and F5 chords they play" as you say. And sorry but Fabrizio Moretti is the only good looking one in the band. So NO, it doesnt only take good looks to be a good band. O yeah and... I cant believe somone said they wasted "BLING BLING" on a cd they obviously didnt know too much about. Whats worse is I cant believe anyone uses the word "bling bling and listens to, or atleast tried to listen to THE FABULOUS STROKES! at the same time. Well thats all for now! Sorry about the freakn' essay I wrote but hey, you werent forced to read it.… Expand
  10. RobbieD.
    Mar 24, 2005
    10
    This album is amazing. if you like the strokes than you will love this album. something you can roll to all day and have a blast getting messed up and listing to it. a little better then is this it?
  11. MusicFan
    Mar 21, 2006
    10
    one of my favorite albums flawless and and a joy to listen to I love it
  12. JohnA
    Nov 15, 2003
    4
    Very dissapointing. Too me, it sounds like a bunch of songs that weren't good enough for the first record. This is definitely not it.
  13. nical
    Nov 18, 2003
    10
    amazing cd. Such a HOT band. Julian is sexy
  14. MackB
    Dec 27, 2005
    2
    Say it ain't so. I really loved 'Is This It?' - but I certainly didn't consider them the saviors of rock 'n roll. Anyone with an ounce of music knowledge knows that their sound is decidedly NOT unique. But that was okay for their debut - it was 1 track on repeat 11 times, but that one track was extremely catchy and easy to enjoy. It wasn't challenging or Say it ain't so. I really loved 'Is This It?' - but I certainly didn't consider them the saviors of rock 'n roll. Anyone with an ounce of music knowledge knows that their sound is decidedly NOT unique. But that was okay for their debut - it was 1 track on repeat 11 times, but that one track was extremely catchy and easy to enjoy. It wasn't challenging or original, but it didn't need to be, it was just insanely enjoyable. After the initial thrill of the song(s) wore off, however, I was left with the terrible feeling that this band shouldn't record another record - because it was obvious that they were a one-trick pony. Or is it Phony? I must say, I listened to 'Is This It?' before I read about the hype, or the faux lifestyle represented by the members...and those two elements certainly helped ruin the fun for me. It might as well be me "singing" (Julian isn't really singing) these ditties about seedy, trashy NY life. That would be just as genuine. So what's wrong with 'Room on Fire'? Well, it took these faux musicians 2 years to release the SAME ALBUM. Had this been a debut, 2 years ago, then it would make a fine replacement for 'Is This It?'. As a second album, it fails to achieve even sophomore slump status. This is worse - it's a note for note, verbatim copy. And all this took 2 years plus a scrapped session with Nigel Godrich? I could have made 'Room On Fire' the day after I heard their debut. They could have made a lasting impression on pop-rock had they just stopped with one album. Just how long can they keep up the facade that they're actually musicians anyway? What's worse is that there are legions of mindless souls out there willing to gobble up this unimaginative rehash - and then say that it is the "best thing ever". The Strokes should have just toured for life from their first album - at least then the facade would still be intact.… Expand
  15. SoupRocker
    Jun 29, 2011
    10
    The album is an amazing follow-up to their groundbreaking album Is This It, and fully lives up to the standard set up by their first album. Julian Casablancas' voice comes out in songs like "Automatic Stop" and blows other singers out of the water.
  16. Pablojr921
    Feb 28, 2013
    8
    Pretty much the same of 'Is This It' with more things to say, good but no so original.
    Some might say that is a copy of the first record, in matters of style, maybe, but its good as the first one.
  17. FlorisDelRey
    Jan 9, 2022
    9
    very good album, very cohesive but still a big difference between songs. overall a very good album!
  18. thirdman
    Jan 3, 2009
    6
    For the band whose appeal almost entirely depended upon its catchy song-writing skills, it was nigh impossible to repeat its intensity of the 1st album, especially because all the songs were coming out of one guy's brain. Some song-writers are smarter about it, and don't show all their tricks in one album and depend more on the variety of their musical craftsmanship (like Dylan, For the band whose appeal almost entirely depended upon its catchy song-writing skills, it was nigh impossible to repeat its intensity of the 1st album, especially because all the songs were coming out of one guy's brain. Some song-writers are smarter about it, and don't show all their tricks in one album and depend more on the variety of their musical craftsmanship (like Dylan, Bowie, etc) and become known for their musical longevity, but clearly Casablancas wasn't going about his creative process that way, and it shows in this 2nd album. Namely, he seems to have run out of his melodic ideas, and the majority of the songs in this album sound like the songs in the 1st album (or weaker variations of them). That is not just due to the fact that everybody in the band plays exactly the same way as in the 1st album (as many pointed out), or that it was produced in the identical manner as in the 1st, but it certainly doesn't help in terms of painfully highlighting the obvious lack of variety in its song-writings. That said, it's a decent album, and it would've been rated higher if everybody on this planet hasn't already listened to their 1st album millions of times.… Expand
  19. Oligami
    May 20, 2007
    9
    This is pop. And pop doesn't get much better than this without being totally embarrassing. It's less potent than the debut, and in order to compensate that it dips slightly into reggae and soul (which turns out to be great!).
  20. Jaimy
    Jan 22, 2008
    10
    JUST GREAT!!!! I listened this album in side out!
  21. ThomasB.
    Nov 11, 2003
    6
    This is a great album, and worthy of its high praise. Every good album ever made has one commonality: great songs. This one is no exception. They're just quality songs by a band with a lead singer who's got a great voice. Better than the first album, I think.
  22. GiacomoP
    Feb 15, 2007
    10
    another great album.Amazing!
  23. BenF.
    Feb 14, 2009
    10
    A splendid album. Like Is This It?, it shows what good rock should be like.
  24. EddieEinarM.
    Dec 9, 2007
    10
    A great second outing from the Strokes. Opening up with "What Ever Happened?" in which Jules sings "I Wanna be forgotten/And I Don't wanna reminded" is not the likeliest way of starting of your second album. The band has developed since their stunning debut, and although some of the songs feels like Is This It-songs, there are some stunning achievements that proves that the Strokes A great second outing from the Strokes. Opening up with "What Ever Happened?" in which Jules sings "I Wanna be forgotten/And I Don't wanna reminded" is not the likeliest way of starting of your second album. The band has developed since their stunning debut, and although some of the songs feels like Is This It-songs, there are some stunning achievements that proves that the Strokes is a band on the move; swiftly developing. I even secretly maybe prefer this before Is This It - hey, what can I poor boy do? He can lose great songs as 12:51, You Talk Way Too Much and Under Control, tjhat's what he can do.… Expand
  25. JeremiahT.
    Jan 17, 2008
    9
    The Strokes are back! This time with a good record, not a great one. It's still really good; believe me I love The Strokes. But, it falls, compared to "Is This It".
  26. colin8166
    Aug 13, 2013
    10
    I have never liked a album this much. Every album they make is great, but with this one they completely blew it out of the water. I'ts definitely my favorite album.
  27. cheesybootyunhh
    May 30, 2021
    10
    its just as good as is this it **** you if you think im wrong its fantastic from meet me in the bathroom to there magnum opus reptillia and killer tunes like 12 51 and the end has no end arguebly there best song yes it does borrow from is this it but is just as good amazing hell yeah
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2003
20
#20 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. Prefix Magazine
    Jun 6, 2013
    80
    [Casablancas] builds atmosphere out of evocative lyrics and emotional scenery, and he does it without leaning on linear narrative or songs with singular interpretations.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Nude As The News
    90
    The album is arguably better than the group's much-heralded debut, if by "better" we just mean more sonically impressive overall.
    Read full review
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