The story of how the Strokes came to be is very coincidential. The band formed at a young age, with most of the members connected in some way with lead vocalist Julian Casablancas. Bassist Nikolai Fraiture and Casablancas have been friends since childhood. Guitarist Nick Valensi and drummer Fabrizio Moretti joined Casablancas after they started playing together while attending Manhattan's private Dwight School.Later on, Casablancas was sent to Le Rosey, a boarding school in Switzerland. He was sent in order to straighten up his behavior, as it was reportedly said that he developed drinking problems at a young age. At Le Rosey, Casablancas made good friends with Albert Hammond, Jr. since both had the same interests in music and both were American. Years later and back in New York, Casablancas bumped into Hammond, Jr., right on the street, when the latter came to New York to attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. They became an official band in 1999, and their popularity increased quickly, specially on the Lower East Side of New York. They began to perform at Manhattan's ultra-hip Mercury Lounge, where Ryan Gentles was in charge of booking. Gentles was so impressed by the band that he quit his job in order to become their manager. The became something quite big in the alt/indie scene, causing comotions mostly in the northeast. The Strokes to me, symbolyze this slick, laid-back style of music that is just there not to cause something big, or attention for that matter, but to get you through the day, to soothe you, and make you forget about your worries.
The Strokes- Room On Fire
The Strokes-
Julian Casablancas- Vocals
Nick Valensi- Guitar
Albert Hammond Jr - Guitar
Nikolai Fraiture- Bass
Fabrizio Moretti- Drums
Whatever Happened?
Perfect intro. Couldnt have been better in my opinion. The intro hands us over a bounty of tactics that the Strokes ragularly use, like the constantly muffled-like vocals, that always match the melody of the keayboards, and guitar-work. A big part is also the very simple drums on the song which undoubtebly could have been better, but they power the song on with great pace. This track gets interesting with the material, but no close to the best on the album. It will seem amazing at first, because it really is the perfect intro toa n album to Room On Fire, but it tends to get old.
3.5/5
Reptilia
A sudden triplet on the snares. The thumping bass-line, and cue the riff that started it all. That craze in late 2003 that wouldnt die. Reptilia keeps this album rolling like a locomotive, with brighter vocals, and that riff swimming about in your head. The bass-line and the chorus are equally the high standard stuff on this track, as it pushes it farther and farther to achieve the best conclusion possible. The solo near the end wraps thing sup perfectly. This is one of the albums best, and mainstream or not, my opinion wont shift.
5/5
Automatic Stop
"So many fish, there in the sea.." The vocals skyrocket to the highlight on this track, along with the peculiar guitar-work. I love it. Fits in very well and the mood of the song is nothing new, but gives off that flourishing "Strokes' feel that attracted so many people in the beginning. Drummer Fab shows off his shuffling skills off the hats on this track, stopping at the bridge while it seems like the song starts over again. Very original, and with great potential. "I was a train moving too fast."
4/5
12:51
My personal second-favorite, and also created a big fuss on television screens. All you would see at this period on MTV would be Julian swinging his trust ol' mic around while the band backed him up very, very well in the old fashioned 'Strokes' way. The simple drum-beat led by Fab has its up-sides and downsides ranging from the sensitive verses to the keyboard-led choruses where the band suddenly rises above ground and creates some spectacle. As this song is despised by many people, I am not here to contradict. I am here to share my opinion and the excellent facts, and be on my way.
5/5
You Talk Way Too Much
"Forget what you heard, cause it won't stop, it won't stop." This track is great mostly because people can relate.to the lyrcis. The intro starts us off with a great riff that acts as a hook, with Julian's vocals as the tender bait, then eventually, it reels you in with the excellent, well-thought out chorus that you wont be able to wait to hear again. The solo on the bridge is just so damn catchy, theres nothing left to say. Simple, and keeps the song going. "Give us some time, we just need a little time!" these words will be imprinted in your head, for sure.
4.5/5
Between Love And Hate
Whoa, godamn. Is that Fab and his set performing something other than the simple beats? Indeed. Julian comes in on cue and starts to hopelessly sing about how he needs no one in his life. No love, just himself. I dont think hes indicating what I think, but then again, you couldnt expect the whole album to be perfectly clean. The guitar-work is rather bland until the strange-oriented solo comes in on the bridge. Brilliant stuff, and these guys know what to do to pull you in every time. "I never needed anybody, never needed nobody."
4/5
Meet Me In The Bathroom
Very different. And very pointless. Its a more laid-off and off-guard track on the album, and if you play along with these guys, they wont let you down. This is a funnier and more silly approach to reach the listener, but with that innocent-sounding bass-line and the pointless lyrics on the chorus, theres no resisting giving in. This was a great way to change the material that sctters around the album, and although not that great overall, it just adds to the fun.
3.5/5
Under Control
Flam-o-rama to set this one off into your head. And this is one of the slower songs in the album. The pre-verse repeats the flam method and reminds you of what hooked you in, while the laid-back, tropical-like riff keeps you entertained. The open hats and the simple use of the ride cymbal are very good elements to the track, and sound great along with the bass. Overall, a very simple song to listen to, and this is one of the ones that truly has the feel they meant to send.
4/5
The Way It Is
Back to the faster-paced stuff now. No foreplay. Right to business, Julian and his brilliant lyrics set off a very peculiar effect in the backround, maybe a pedal for the bass, but it adds to the thumping, heavy bass-drum for Fab's own pedal. They rush through the chorus which is great, because there havent at all been very controlled when it comes to the tempo. Fab moves to louder floor-toms on the bridge and takes over the bass effect. The last chorus kicks in and suddenly halts the song. The shift of tempo sets the album straight into the best it has to offer.
4/5
The End Has No End
What a song. Amazing. Fab gives us a taste of his itliano magic on this one, as he starts it off with 16th's on the snare and toms. That cues Julian to burst in with some of the best lyrcs and vocals for that matter, on the whole album. Every pre-chorus is a breakdown and FAb leads the way silently to a very catchy, and keyboard-led chorus that late flourishes into a great solo by Nick Valensi and goes right back into the slower verse action and into Fab's idea of a catchy outro. Classic. No other substitute for the best on the album..... "Wont you take a walk outside, cant you find another guy."
5/5
I Can't Win
This loud guitar-led ending to a great album starts off in a happy note, with Julian leading the way with skippy lyrics. Wouldnt want to say good-bye while in a bad mood. "Everything they had to say, had been erased in just one day." This wins the award for the best vocals on the album. And another innocent riff and solo and a more agressive solo, along with Fab's washy hats give the song it's taste of 'Stroke-ism' Completely brilliant. And the perfect close to the album.
5/5
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Pros
+Simple, but great drum-work
+Unique Vocals that "MAKE" every track
+Soothing (just what the doctor ordered ;) )
Cons
-Falls in at only 32 minutes
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This *** WILL set the room on fire. This material is the best to listen to on a ride home from somewhere after a long day. It makes you forget. It makes you listen in to one of the most influental sounds I have ever heard myself. Although fairly simple, it provides a great hook, middle, and closing to each and every song. Some people say that music is easily left complex and complicated. That it sounds better. But some things with simple build-ups can survive out there with simple material. And The Strokes are living proof.
4.5/5
This Message Edited On 08.24.05
