In 2001 rock was revived. Out of the fog of post-grunge and nu metal, a gang of rich New York college students were developing a sound rooted in the past. These guys decided to call themselves The Strokes, and started getting gigs around Manhattan (with the help of some of the guys’ millionaire parents).
Almost immediately they started getting attention around the city for their retro sound, and soon a fan who had a basement studio asked if they could record in it to test it out. The three songs they recorded were sent to various labels, before a label exec at RCA Records officially released it. In America, it sold 200 copies, but in Britain a favorable review made it a huge hit. The Strokes were suddenly “the saviors of rock” in the British tabloid press, and soon enough they were offered a full record deal.
In quick fashion the band turned out 11 songs. The record was released in the U.K. in July of 2001 and instantly shot to number one but it was delayed in the U.S. Then 9/11 happened and U.S. labels started feeling nervous about putting out songs critical of New York so they asked The Strokes to remove one song called “New York City Cops” from the tracklisting.
The album feels like a jolt to the system, a strange reversed sound effect opens the first song, followed by the title tracks downtrodden, drunk ramblings of a sad New York college boy, but immediately after the song finished, “The Modern Age” shoots the album into a burst of life. Julian Casablancas’ voice was coated in effect but at some points the his true voice comes through.
The hits of this album became rock radio standards into the next decade, deservedly so. “Last Nite” rips off “American Girl” by Tom Petty, but for some reason is much better than its inspiration. “Someday” became a millennial anthem as the next generation found out about the troubles of growing up, and its lyrics remain poignant in today’s society. “New York City Cops” was a criminal exclusion from the U.S. release, with its infectious chorus and Ramones-like guitars. But the standout is “Hard to Explain,” which shows the strengths of each member. The drums are so in time you’d think they were a drum machine. A cocoon of bass and guitars sync up perfectly with each other, and with Casablanca’s best vocal performance of his career.
After “Is This It” was released, the rock scene was turned upside down. Similar bands to The Strokes became the next generation’s Nirvana and Guns n’ Roses while The Strokes themselves became critical darlings, reaching a level that most artists only hope to achieve in their whole career. But like every alternative movement, it was soon to be commodified, and after six years the band we knew had all but collapsed.