In a time when the world was full of beefy Nu-Metal acts and manufactured Boybands, it took five skinny New Yorkers in Miami Vice dinner jackets to kick Rock n' Roll out of the doledrums and back into the limelight. Armed with Drainpipe Jeans and scruffy hair, The Strokes were the first great Guitar band or the 21st century and 'Is This It' shows all the proof to back that comment up. Taking inspiration from all of New York's major music icons from the Velvet Underground to The Ramones, The Strokes' blend of fuzzy Garage rock not only made Guitar music important again but it also propelled bands like The Libertines, White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeah and The Killers to mainstream success. From the hazey and hungover self-titled opener to the unstoppable ramshackle closer 'Take It Or Leave It', 'Is This It' is an album that never disappoints. Bold, Confident and unbelievely cool 'Is This It' is simply a classic debut. However this is no museum piece. Julian Casablancas' songs should not be penned up in your record collection gathering dust. No, The Strokes' debut release is an album to live your life by. The album's finest moment 'Barely Legal' is a track to uplift the most darkest of souls. 'Someday' is the perfect soundtrack to your long hot Summer days. 'Trying Your Luck' is a lullaby to comfort you in your bitterest moments and 'Last Nite' is simply the best drinking anthem America has ever produced. Whilst other Indie bands were messing around with synthesizers (Radiohead) or slipping off the radar faster than they got on it (Blur). The Strokes were playing some of the best Rock n' Roll of the last 20 years and 'Is This It' is without doubt the finest debut album of the 21st century, one to be put along side the like of Oasis, The Clash and The Smiths in your collection of essential debuts.
