The Strokes - Is This It (2001), 7/10

The American and Canadian track list is arguably superior to the original pressing considering the inclusion of "When It Started", being a notch above "New York City Cops” and its simple repetitious chant. Regardless, the difference is negligible, as these songs are all energizing and wonderfully driving despite their simplicity, or maybe because of it? Despite the methodology or the band’s place amidst rock music’s depressive state at the turn of the century, the fact remains, a song like "Take It Or Leave It" is overflowing with energy and existential rage; it is simply too infectious and emotionally charged to ignore. The mellowed out, leaned back singles are just as effective, however, such as “The Modern Age” and its cool, clean delivery. Julian’s vocals in a song like this perhaps remain too reserved, but they still work to further the narrative ebb and flow. This works so well, in fact, that it accentuates the album’s themes of apathetic interpersonal philosophy and the persistent struggle with inflated ego as an introspective youth. The album has clearly divided many music snobs straight down the line, and while there are ample reasons to hate its simplistic methods and entitled artist ethos, an open mind may find a formidably vivacious rock album that contends with some of the very best. You can’t please everyone, especially those looking for artistry over simple satisfaction in their music, which is not a fault of the consumer but a simple aesthetic preference. Of course, the band is nothing special from this artistry ethos; these songs rarely venture into the musically unknown or even anything akin to artistic complexity, we are dealing with all 4/4, all the time. Then, why is this record any good? Simple, genuine, and heartfelt emotion pouring into every song, with themes any young person or lost soul may relate to. Every member of the band is contributing this level of emotional buy-in, particularly Albert Hammond Jr’s guitar and Julian Casablancas leading the charge of course as the front man. The band also have a unique enough sound in their natural, barebones approach to songwriting and arrangement, combined with gratifying distortion, as well as a uniquely cool charisma in delivery. Straightforward rock music has never been so delightfully effortless.