Originally posted by DTSC
No, but I tell you who I do like -- the fine lads in the Music Talk forum.

Originally posted by DodgingCars


I never venture out of the Other. I didn't even know there was a music talk forum.

Ok.. well.. mods .. feel free to move.

The Strokes

Is This It

RCA

German social theorist Walter Benjamin's landmark essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" argues that an original piece of artwork possesses an aura of importance that a reproduction cannot. It seems like an obvious concept, that an original is more valuable than an imitation, but the buzz surrounding the Strokes hints that some people prefer prints to Picassos.

The Strokes are the New York-based quintet currently slouching in the band-of-the-moment throne. Hyped incessantly by the British music weekly NME, in the matter of three months and one three-song EP they evolved from yet another '70s proto-punk-influenced act to the latest Saviors of Rock and Roll.

But as Veruca Salt and Jonathan Fire*Eater can attest, too much hype can be a bad thing. Buzz builds until fans glaring "prove yourself" comprise a band's entire audience. The Strokes have gotten more press and a bigger promotional push ("Hear the band of the future, today!") than any group in recent memory, which could hurt them. The initial excitement generated by five youngsters (oldest Stroke: 22) mimicking rock royalty has vanished. Instead, their every movement registers like a seismic wave with the weight of the expectations heaped upon them. Even the title of the group's debut full-length, Is This It, turns from a coy proposition to an all-out war cry, considering the buildup.

Meanwhile, the music that has garnered this attention is good, but not great. Singer Julian Casablancas' muffled vocal does a fine job of imitating Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, and tracks like "Last Nite" and "The Modern Age" (both found on the group's debut EP) aptly recall the grime and strut of 1970s New York. But there is little off Is This It that isn't simply an homage. Even the melody from the Spinners' 1980 hit "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl" is lifted note-for-note for the Strokes track "Soma." Despite the unoriginality, however, the songs are bouncy and fun, even if the album as a whole drags.

Problem is, rock and roll is all about who came first. The greatness of Elvis will always carry an invisible asterisk for the countless country and blues performers from whom he copped his moves, songs and style. Rightly or wrongly, there is a rock canon, one that adores the Velvet Underground because their music could be so beautiful and harsh, but more importantly because they did it first. To quote Benjamin's "Work of Art...": "Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence."

The Strokes cannot overcome this. They aren't even a perfect reproduction of the Velvet Underground, the Stooges or Television, despite their murky production style and appearance. The flipside, however, presents the possibility that this is their time, just like Nirvana's moment was in 1991. Sometimes a style of music, no matter how derivative, comes seemingly out of nowhere and clicks with the public. But seemingly is the key word. The adage that there is nothing new under the sun is correct, but the good stuff seems to hide under rocks, or in garages.

But even if the Strokes are rising rapidly at the perfect time, the music needs to be strong enough to support that rise, and, for the most part, it is. The aggressive, yet minimal, instrumentation and well-constructed songs certainly help Is This It emerge in an overcrowded music market. But can they live up to the expectations of an over-eager rock world? The band says it best on "Take it or Leave it," the album's final cut, "We're gonna let you down."

— Yancey Strickler

Originally posted by Renton
I like The Strokes CD alot. It is solid across the boards. It reminds me alot of The Velvet Underground. I would definately recommend picking it up. Much better than most of the stuff being released these days in my opinion.

Originally posted by DodgingCars
I hadn't heard anything about them.

Originally posted by sebastianv50
They are pretty good. Last night is a good song. Their debut cd has been selling a ton of copies too.

Originally posted by dork




I'd rather listen to them than to most of the other stuff on the radio and MTV, but I'd rather listen to the White Stripes instead. Hey, good luck to them, but... ah, what do I know.

Originally posted by DodgingCars


See.. I saw some reviewers who didn't like the Strokes on Amazon make mention of White Stripes. I listened to some of their songs.. and I thought they were awful. But, maybe I just like my music a little more polished than that.

Originally posted by martin q. blank
Yes. In fact, I like them a lot. Believe it or not, dork, there are quite a few people who have never heard of them.

It's not the best record ever, but I think it's pretty good. I think a lot of the reviews of Is This It just want to attack the band because of the hype, which I think is a tiresome tactic.

I don't know if they're the "Saviors of Rock 'n' Roll," but I certainly wouldn't mind if they were. I mean, who would you rather have, them, or Staind?

Btw, The White Stripes are great, too. Nuggets-esque, which is always a good thing.