My ex is listening to...

Oh dear. Well, now you can indeed look back and laugh.

I simply won't have you two badmouthing the Strokes.

Since it's been brought up, I should mention that I got the record, have listened to it, and think I'm going to find it hugely enjoyable for the next three or four days at the very least. And the album, more than the single, makes clear what it is about them that sort of works for me: they trigger a particular nostalgia button not by sounding pretty much like the Velvet Underground, but by sounding like every band through the mid-eighties that sounded pretty much like the Velvet Underground. Most of it could be Wedding Present material, could be Automatic-era Jesus and Mary Chain, could be macho-er Primitives tracks, etc. -- could just basically be that "when indie became indie" sound.

Not that that's a huge achievement, but I know it's going to interest me for at least ten more listens, and I can't see that as completely bad.

Needless to say, I feel very ashamed and conflicted about this stance, but I'm sticking by it nonetheless.

Bad phrasing -- don't mean to imply that the Weddoes sound too much like the Velvet Underground in overall terms. I think what I mean is that period of massive Velvet Underground influence that resulted in this wide swath of just "indie" bands, back when "indie" basically mean, "hey, we're influenced by the Velvet Underground."

Hey I *still* haven't heard them! is this a record or something?

neither have i

The Strokes is good, folks. Don't believe the anti-hype.

The Strokes hype is very bad - it's particularly bad because it doesn't actually describe the record. If you want an album dripping with New York arrogance and attitude and sharp tunes, go and buy the new Jay-Z record. The Strokes album will give you something else (though the tunes are sharp there too), something harder to put a finger on - though I like Nitsuh's idea - but almost as good.

What's the obsession with Jay Z? I think he's an awful rapper and has no attitude whatsoever. He's not real at all. Del that Funkee Homosapien is the greatest rapper on the planet and anything Dan the Automator touches turns to gold. (er except Gorillaz a bit, but I blame Damon Albarn) Handsome Boy Modelling School, Deltron 3030, Dr Octagon, Primal Screams song pills, Dan the Automator is a genius.

Going back to the Strokes, maybe its not New York attitude and arrogance but theres certainly attitude and arrogance on "Is this it". It's an instant classic with my friends actually which surely is a litmus test for accessibility. Thing is, were people expecting some kind of sonic art rock album or something? It's a pop rock type record so it's never going to be profound or mind bending, it's just dead dead slick and catchy.

"Primal Screams song Pills"

!!!!!!!!!! Great! You get to hear a gerbil saying "Fuck!" over and over again. Thanks Dan the Automator you have saved hip-hop.

It's a pop rock type record so it's never going to be profound or mind bending, it's just dead dead slick and catchy

Yeah of course but this is exactly the argument that a hell of a lot of Strokes fans would use to diss, say, Five.

I don't hear any arrogance or attitude in "Is This It". No, actually. on a couple of tracks I think they try for it and it doesn't quite work. But not on any of the good tracks.

Primal Scream's 'Pills' - not the old Bo Diddley song, as covered by The Lurkers and The New York Dolls? If so, wld bring us nicely back to The Strokes (who I also haven't heard, btw)...

I agree Tom, alot of people will think anything with guitars is automatically better than anything without, however I think people like to make the distinction between say Five and the Strokes. Obviously the manufactured thing comes into their argument. I can't find a distinction but then can you ever conclusively say one thing is better than another with proof? As for Dan the Automator, even if you hated Pills, I really urge you to check out some of his other projects. The Handsome Boy Modelling School album is really great. On reflection I can't believe we're still talking about the Strokes.

Actually Tom on a separate note what are your favourite tracks on it? I detect the arrogance thing all the way through. Maybe I'm just arrogant. I like Sometimes and whatever the second last track is called.

PS' Pills - not the Bo Diddley song no. At least I hope Bo Diddley didn't write such a thing.

Ronan - fav'rits: all the first three tracks, Hard To Explain, Take It Or Leave It (which is kind of attitude-y but it's also very catchy). I like all the rest too mostly - Last Nite works better as a ramalama album middle than it did as half a single. But those five tracks I enjoy every time I put it on.

God that's funny, no overlapping in song choices, predictable I suppose if we're going on this mornings musical discussion. I do like the whole album though even if I expecting to get sick of it some time soon,

every person I fall for seems to have but one thing in common- a weakness for the utterly wretched Indigo Girls.

Uh-oh. I detect Chasing Amy syndrome, G.

"The Modern Age" sounded tepid, half-baked to me, so I was tentatively ready to side to with the 'nothing-special' crowd. The hype factor was pretty much a non-issue to me- everything I've heard about the Strokes has originated from FT. When the talk continued ( and Master Tom told of his fandom ) I figured I had to hear a little more. "Last Night" and "Barely Legal" don't impress me, but "Hard to Explain" has lodged itself in my brain. Like Dave "Motherfucking" Popshots, I am a Spoon fan, and the Strokes do bare some resemblance, so make of that what you will. BTW, What's the latest count? 3 Strokes-centric threads?

On both boards? 4 or 5. But they've had a thread dedicated to them anyway so Baran's Law doesn't apply.

Baran's Law? Is this like invoking H!tler on a listserve? Or is it about drinking?

Baran's Law: mentioning someone/something on three separate threads (in legitimate context) means they get their own thread. It's more like Baran's Guideline.

I think the Strokes will serve as a giant referendum on indie rock. I.e., "Prop 124: Do you think indie rock was better back when it consisted of fuzzy pop bands who played everything in eighth notes?"

What I think would really make the Strokes would be if Prince sang "Barely Legal."

And another just-plain-indie resemblance: I could see pretty much any one of the tracks on Is This It having appeared in slightly prettier form on Velocity Girl's Simpatico, which makes me think the VU/Television resemblances are just the work of people afraid to make the lamer-sounding but much-truer references.

I want to thank you all for showing such concern at my break-up. I love you guys!

Hey, you were laughing first! ;-)

Let the record show I thought "Last Night" was an amiable little song that reminded me of the Smiths. I have had little reason to pursue them further.

my ex is listening to the 12" promo of barrington levy vs the rebel mc: under me sensi. bitch stole it out my box.

wow, ronan. wow.

Peggy Lee.

Indie rock for the most part sucks. At least the "garage band" aspect of it does. If you want beautful, amazing, intelligent and insane indie music? listen to Neutral Milk Hotel.

I'm planning to sell the album. I still like "Hard To Explain" OK.

ILM saddens me.

Not that I know for sure, in fact I don't think I know a single Strokes "fan", but I'm guessing the Strokes have the hottest groupies of all time.

That depends on the sort of groupies you're after I guess. I'd be happy with Cooper Temple Clause or Hundred Reasons' groupies..

That SO didn't come out right

Oh dear. Well, now you can indeed look back and laugh.

I'm still not laughing. He's actually moving to New York soon, to presumably live a more Strokes-like lifestyle.

Wish him well in trying to live off the worst cocaine in existence.