The Strokes return with highly-anticipated 'Room on Fire'

By: Kelly McCabe and Karen Kirr/ Staff writers

Posted: 10/31/03

Kelly says:

When the Strokes first burst onto the music scene two years ago, many critics thought that their hit album "Is This It" was just a fluke. They were thought of as some rich-boy New Yorkers who used daddy's money to get a record deal.

The band silences those critics with their sophomore album "Room on Fire," an album that builds on the vintage-sound of their debut album. Many bands think that they have to change their sound completely from album to album. And while change is often times a good thing in music, the Strokes stay loyal to their unique sound.

Back are the fuzzy guitars, the fuzzy vocals and the I-couldn't-care-less-attitude. Back are the amazing songs that in a perfect world, would exile disgraces like Nickelback and Limp Bizkit from the music world.

The album is short, clocks in 11 songs at just 33 minutes. But the Strokes-mania following "Is This It" likely gave them freedom to do so.

Singer Julian Casablancas delivers the album with as monotone and attitude-ridden as ever. On "Automatic Stop"-by far one of the stand-out tracks on the album-he dryly states "I'm not your friend/I never was." Casablancas' fuzzy vocals on "Meet Me in the Bathroom" lament "you tained me not to love/after you showed me what it was."

"12:51," the first single off "Room" borrows from the Cars for its retro, feel-good sound. The Strokes may not be known as a band with fantastic guitarists, but the guitar work goes along perfectly with the music and vocals on the album.

The Strokes managed to make an album that goes along perfectly with their debut disc. Although people may have gotten irritated by Strokes-mania after "Is This It," I'm praying for it to come back so it may perhaps yet again salvage the world of modern rock.

Karen says:

When you listen intently to Julian Casablanca's distinct raw drawl on The Strokes' latest, much-anticipated effort, "Room On Fire," you might mutter to yourself, is this it?

As the driving force of the garage band revival that was in its heyday in 2001, The Strokes struck gold with their debut release "Is This It," which has sold more than a million copies. Although the album's commercial success brought the band instant notoriety, perhaps being thrust into the media glare has stunted the quintet's creativity, that is if their latest effort is any indication.

"Room On Fire," containing 11 tracks and clocking in at just over 33 minutes, is much of the same sound-wise as "Is This It," but doesn't pack the punch the band's debut did.

As the old adage goes, too much of a good thing is bad. Noshing on the same candy for a week straight will make you straight sick of it. And with The Strokes' sophomore effort, Julian and company are ultimately shoving the same ear candy at you that initially parlayed the New Yorkers into the spotlight.

But it could also be argued that fans don't want The Strokes to stray from their trademark sound, they just want another dose of the same bass and drum lines.

Although the first few tracks incorporate more guitar solos than the total number on "Is This It," the album could have been dubbed "Is This It: part deux," with the exception that the band's sound isn't fresh like it was when their first album hit stores just over two years ago. Casablanca drones on about how he wants to be forgotten on the kickoff track "What Ever Happened?" while referencing in his lyrics to the obligatory and customary plaguing relationship issues.

The Strokes took a gamble by choosing to replicate their sound on their second album by refusing to depart even slightly from their original sound and choosing instead to produce another cookie-cutter album. Failing to incorporate other noise instruments besides the most overused instrument in rock, none other than the guitar, also might make one cringe and wonder if the future of rock is in jeopardy or just chaos. "Room On Fire's" collective repetitiveness inevitably will make you question how strong the market for garage bands will be in the future.

But on the other hand, considering The Strokes has established itself among garage band junkies, this album probably will have no trouble flying off record store shelves.

This album isn't by any means a total flop though. The last two tracks, "The End Has No End" and "Can't Win," will resonate with their catchy guitar riffs. "Automatic Stop" might also prove slightly enticing, despite Casablanca jam packing the song's lyrics with clichés.

The band managed to sneak in a few tracks that showcase their talents, but unless you're a diehard garage band fan or a manic Strokes follower, you are better off just keeping your cash pocketed and instead hitting up ITunes and downloading the tracks. However, if you do insist on forking over the dough for "Room On Fire," don't be surprised when it leaves you with a slightly bitter taste in your mouth.