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Is This It 2001
Album · by The Strokes ↗ View artist

Is This It

When The Strokes were preparing their first album, they were looking for a raw sound, something that didn't feel excessively polished in the studio. They recorded most of what would become Is This It in March and April 2001, at the Transporterraum studio in New York, under the production of Gordon Raphael. The idea was to capture the energy of live performances, as they had been doing since their previous EP, The Modern Age. The lyrics, written by Julian Casablancas, continued to explore the experiences and relationships of urban youth. This album marked the beginning of a new wave for guitar music after the year 2000, and it became an important reference for the genre.

Year
2001
Songs
11
Duration
36 min 29 seg
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About the album

Is This It, according to DoReSol

The release of Is This It had some particular details. The original cover art was considered too explicit for the US market and had to be replaced. Following the events of September 11th, the CD edition for the United States was delayed and had to modify its tracklist, removing "New York City Cops" and including "When It Started". However, the vinyl version released the same day did retain the original track. Singles such as Hard to Explain, Last Nite, and Someday emerged from this album. The album reached number 33 on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the UK Albums Chart, earning platinum certifications in several countries.

The band, formed by Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Nikolai Fraiture, and Fabrizio Moretti, had already been working together since 1998. Albert Hammond Jr. joined as a second guitarist shortly after, bringing a new dynamic to the group. By the year 2000, they were already rehearsing several nights a week in a small recording space. It was then that their demo caught the attention of Ryan Gentles, who booked them for several shows at the Mercury Lounge. With the support of Gordon Raphael, they recorded three songs that would later be part of Is This It: "The Modern Age", "Last Nite", and "Barely Legal". These songs were released by Rough Trade Records as the EP The Modern Age in January 2001, generating a positive reception in the music press. After this, The Strokes signed with RCA Records in March 2001.