The Strokes: Room on Fire

Unlike The Strokes' fantastic debut Is This It, Room on Fire, its follow-up, has been somewhat lost to time. Most people remember it as sounding exactly like Is This It, or as the one with "Reptilia." It's a shame, because this is a terrific album, one that's just about on par with Is This It.

For those who complain this album is too similar to Is This It, think about this: If this album had come out at any time other than when it did (that is, if it had been their third or fifth album instead of their second), how would it have been received? It probably would have gotten higher scores and been hailed as a "return to form." But since it came right after their fantastic debut, it's labeled as a too-similar disappointment.

Me, I'm fine with similarity from certain bands, especially now that we know what the alternative is for The Strokes. Here, they're still in their Is This It groove, with the distorted vocals and machine-like drums. The guitars are improved here as well (ask any band that has tried to cover "Reptilia," they'll tell you it's practically impossible). What makes this album great is that it returns that sound from Is This It, and they still sound like the coolest band on the face of the earth here.

What really sells me on this album, though, is that when I try to think of a weak spot, I can't think of one. The album is full of highlights-- "12:51" is basically the greatest Cars song The Cars never wrote, and "Under Control" is a standout as well-- but no songs that drag down the album. In fact, its only crime, really, is not being Is This It. And that's OK- that album was a one-time thing, and we can clearly see that now. But far from simply being not bad for a follow-up, this one can go toe-to-toe with its predecessor. The shame of their career isn't how they followed up Is This It; it's how they followed up this album. Julian Casablancas ends the album by saying, "I'll be right back." But that wasn't really true; they made more albums after Room on Fire, but they would never reach its heights again.

Grade: A-