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Album Details

• Artist: The Strokes
• Album: Room On Fire
• Label: RCA
• Year of Release: 2003
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-12-18

I have always thought that the Strokes are the wrong poster-boys for the new garage rock revival. New-wave or something like that, maybe, but not garage. The Strokes just aren't rambunctious enough. Room On Fire is The Strokes follow-up to their highly overrated debut, Is This It. Now, it wasn't overrated because of the quality but a band has to gain street credibility first. Something that critics obviously forgot about with The Strokes. They were raving about them before they had even released an album. This is usually a recipe for disaster but The Strokes were able to deliver a perfectly fine debut album and critics loved them even more. Now, time for the even more dreaded sophomore album. Room On Fire actually delivers more of the megaphone (lo-fi) vocals and more strong songs. I think what would have done the Strokes a world of good was to build up hype rather than running out of the gate with it. Anyway, hindsight...blah, blah, blah. This album has some great tracks on it including the lead single "12:51" and the equally brilliant "I Can't Win". Another great track that should be pulled as a single is "Meet Me In The Bathroom". "Reptilia" is an instantly catchy song with the guitar riffs standing out on their own. Room On Fire could easily bookend Is This It. The music is very similar on both of the albums and while this works for a short time, they will need to add to it on the next album. I know I'm hard on these kids but when a band is handed success on a platter like this, you're allowed to be overly critical. In the end, this is great music and I would really like to hear Julian's voice without the megaphone style vocals. He sounds like he's got a great voice but it's so hard to tell with all those effects added.

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