Listening to Room On Fire (it had been a couple of years) earlier this week, I decided to list what I consider to be the most essential tracks by The Strokes. Album-wise, it's pretty easy: 'Is this it?', 'Room on fire' and 'Angles' are all good and consistently so, 'First impressions of earth' is mediocre at best, and 'Comedown machine' does very, very little for me.
Here we go: (everything apart from the top 3 listed in random order)
Top 10
1. Under control
It's a ballad-type song, but yet, it sounds powerful, and has a retro feel. (Making the superposition of The Virgin Suicides-footage work really well).
2. Hard to explain
Most people think of 'Someday' and 'Last nite' when discussing the 'Is this it?', but I always preferred 'Hard to explain'. Indestructible.
3. You only live once
The only track of 'First impressions of earth' to make it in my top 10 and top 15, on this light and poppy track, with a jumpy rhythm, we see The Strokes steering away even further from the garagerock sound of their early days.
Taken for a fool
A verse riddled with start-stop mechanics coupled with a rock chorus with a piercing riff. My favourite track off 'Angles'.
Reptilia
Second single off the 'Room of fire'-album. Definitely a solid bass intro, and I love the (long) bridge onto the "Our lives are changing lanes/You ran me off the road"-chorus.
Barely legal
Playful album track off the debut album.
The end has no end
Third single off the 'Room on fire'-album. Soundwise comparable (guitars almost sounding like keyboards) to first single '12:51', but this single has more to offer in the songwriting department, in my opinion.
Macchu Picchu
Also going for pop sensibility and almost reggae-esque rhythms, the second single that came off the 'Angles'-album.
Take it or leave it
Closing track off the debut album. The Strokes at their most urgent.
Meet me in the bathroom
One of my favorite 'Room on fire' album tracks. Riff-wise not too far away from some of the material 'Kings Of Leon' would come out with a couple of years later.
Because 10 tracks is not enough to feature all my favourite tracks, I need a top 15.
Top 15
What ever happened?
Opening the 'Room on fire'-album with a bang.
The modern age
Second track on the debut album, driven by a repetitive verse that lasts for over a mintue until we reach the chorus.
Between love and hate
Slower "Room on fire"-track, with Julian repeating "Never needed anybody/It won't change now" throughout the song.
Soma
Another debut album track, with some catchy guitar riffs.
I can't win
Final track on the 'Room on fire' album, that sounds pretty chipper, which contrasts with the resigned lyrics.
Wildcard
Life is simple in the moonlight
Interesting track, didn't make the top 15, but notable due to its lack of percussion.
