Zack: A brief history of garage rock for those of you unfamiliar: it is the predecessor to punk and thrived in the 60s, then kind of fell of the map for a while until there was a revival at the start of the new millennium. It was led by what came to be known as the The Bands: The White Stripes, The Hives, The Vines, and The Strokes. As you can see, The Strokes fall into some pretty awesome company. I mean, one of those bands is Australian! How much more badass can you get? But while I do enjoy The Strokes, I’ve always been a way bigger White Stripes fan. I mean, the White Stripes have 3 fewer members, but have produced a total of 6 studio albums compared to The Strokes’ 4. They also have 6 more Grammys than The Strokes, 1 more US Platinum album, and 1 more album on the list. Work the math out and the fact that The White Stripes are better is undeniable. Also, I think that formula proves that the world is going to end on October 21st, but that’s something different entirely. But comparing these two great bands isn’t exactly fair. The White Stripes sound is defined by Jack White’s brilliant guitar playing and an overall brashness, while The Strokes are more about melodies and creating a cohesive sound. In this way, The Strokes are a tad more accessible to newer listeners. That being said, if you are going to compare them, then you have to acknowledge that Is This It is The Strokes' Elephant equivalent. It’s strong from start to finish, albeit a little repetitive. It has that natural, no fancy post-production shenanigans, feel to it. If you want to know what The Strokes are all about (maybe you’ve been frozen for the past decade or something) then this is the perfect first stop.
Favorite Tracks: Last Nite; Soma; Someday
Emily: Garage rock made its mark in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but no one really cared again until the Strokes brought it back. Is This It brings the garage rock sound into the 21st century. This album is straightforward, but never boring. Although their home-garage is based in New York, The Strokes have a cool, Brit-like sensibility, which perhaps explains their popularity across the pond. At once, they sound both retro and modern, both familiar and like something you’ve never heard before. As the Strokes stage a comeback 10 years after their landmark debut, I can only hope that their future work can embody the same sense of independence, uniqueness, and cool that Is This It conveys.
Favorite Tracks: Last Nite; The Modern Age; Someday
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