When discussing the visual identity is as important as the music. The international cover (and the superior one, according to fans) features a black-and-white photograph of a nude female hip and thigh, hand resting on the hip. It is tasteful, abstract, and sensual.
The Coolest Kids in the Room: How The Strokes' Is This It Redefined Rock the strokes is this it
In the pantheon of rock music, few debut albums carry as much weight—or as much swagger—as Is This It by The Strokes. Released at the turn of the millennium, the album arrived like a lightning bolt to the bloated corpse of late-90s nu-metal and post-grunge angst. When people search for they aren't just looking for a tracklist; they are seeking an artifact, a cultural reset, and the blueprint for indie rock in the 21st century. When discussing the visual identity is as important
This is the controversial track. In the original US release, the song follows "Hard to Explain." However, due to the September 11th attacks (the album was due to be released just weeks after), the band voluntarily removed the track from the US version out of respect, replacing it with "When It Started." The lyric "New York City cops / They ain't too smart" felt tactless in the wake of the tragedy. On the international version, the raw aggression of this track remains a highlight. The Coolest Kids in the Room: How The
didn’t just define an era; it completely re-lit the fire for rock music when we needed it most. Whether it’s the frantic energy of "Last Nite" or the effortless cool of "Someday," there isn’t a single skip on this record. The tracks that still hit: "Hard to Explain" : That metronomic, monolithic sweep. "Barely Legal" : The ultimate anthem for "work hard and say it’s easy". "New York City Cops" : The raw energy that almost didn't make the US version.