But about a year ago, five guys between the ages of 20 and 23, products of wealthy families in Manhattan, got together in a squalid basement on the city's East Side. As the quickly developed legend has it, they brought with them nothing but a carton of Camels, pictures of pretty girls to hang on the walls, cheap beer, their beat-up instruments, and a desire to rock not unlike that of their heroes Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Paul Westerberg.
The result, the Strokes' "Is This It," has not only made me question what I've done with my life (why am I not in the hottest young band in America?) but has also restored my faith in the art of rock and roll, which has been waning of late. Don't believe the self-deprecating title; this is an album that truly lives up to the hype.
The album has an incredible impact for one that blows by its listeners in a mere 36 minutes. The guitars are sometimes choppy, sometimes distorted, but always rhythmic. Nikolai Fraiture's prominent bass loops and dances around and begs you to bob your head in rhythm. In true punk rock style, the drum beats are simple but relentless. Frontman Julian Casablancas apparently has a rather endearing aversion to singing directly into a microphone, as his vocals always seem like they're coming to us through some distortion-producing filter. No matter what effect he puts on his voice, however, he can't hide the jaded, heartbroken feelings these guys clearly have or the decadent lifestyle they clearly love.
The album opener and title track rides on a spooky, almost dirge-like melody which is as close to a ballad as the Strokes come on this record and quickly establishes their recurring fascination with going back to girls' apartments and the sordid scenes which ensue. "The Modern Age" and "Barely Legal" will bring a smile to the face of any Velvet Underground fan. They rock without any pretension or embellishment, which is a claim you can't make about virtually any other new band these days. "Someday" and "Last Nite" bring a distinctly Motown flavor to their frenetic Stooges-influenced guitars, as Casablancas croons with a passion and arrogance that brings to mind Mick Jagger in his 20s. Perhaps their finest moment, "Hard to Explain" features the band changing tempo as effortlessly as the early Who.
No doubt, these are lofty comparisons for a bunch of City kids who didn't follow the beaten path of prep school, elite universities and a life of socialite functions. Even apart from their very obvious influences, however, there is something very visceral about this music that makes it completely unique. They are clearly not doing this for the record label, the critics, the consumer public or even that one girl they all really wanted to kiss in high school. This is rock for rock's sake.
"Is This It" could become the debut album by one of the greatest bands of the next decade or the oft-forgotten album by a band that once had such promise. Either way, swallow this one up now and start questioning what you've done with your life.