What is the best The Strokes album to start with?

The best album to start with is "Is This It" (2001). It's the most representative of what makes The Strokes worth hearing.

What are the best The Strokes albums?

The essential The Strokes albums include "Is This It" (2001), "The Modern Age" (2001) and "Room on Fire" (2003).

How many albums does The Strokes have?

The Strokes has 28 releases in their discography, including 8 albums and 5 EPs.

Photo: Matt · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Strokes

Q: Who is The Strokes for?

If you're into indie rock and new wave, The Strokes is worth your time. With propulsive rhythms and sharp guitar riffs, their music feels urgent and directly connected to the pulse of city life, creating a tightrope walk between chaos and clarity.

With propulsive rhythms and sharp guitar riffs, their music feels urgent and directly connected to the pulse of city life, creating a tightrope walk between chaos and clarity.

garage rock · indie rock · new wave · post-punk revival

United States Est. 1998

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Start here

The album

Is This It (2001)

Captures their signature sound with a blend of garage rock and indie elements, making it an accessible introduction to their music.

The song

“Last Nite”

Immediate hook and engaging rhythm that exemplifies their style, serving as a strong standalone introduction to The Strokes.

See the full guide

Songs to start with

If you'd rather pick a song than an album.

1

"Tap Out" — from Comedown Machine (2013)

establishes the sonic palette early
2

"Is This It" — from Is This It (2001)

establishes the sonic palette early
3

"You Only Live Once" — from First Impressions of Earth (2006)

establishes the sonic palette early
4

"The Adults Are Talking" — from The New Abnormal (2020)

establishes the sonic palette early
5

"What Ever Happened?" — from Room on Fire (2003)

establishes the sonic palette early
6

"Machu Picchu" — from Angles (2011)

establishes the sonic palette early

About The Strokes

The Strokes matter because they encapsulated a moment of revival in rock music when the genre was at risk of becoming overshadowed by pop and electronic sounds.

By revitalizing raw, guitar-driven energy, they created a sound that resonated with a generation longing for authenticity and grit, inspiring countless bands and shifting the focus back to dynamic live performances. Their influence extended beyond their own discography, igniting a renewed interest in garage rock and helping to define the early 2000s indie scene. Their approach is marked by a no-frills ethos, combining tight instrumentation with charismatic vocal delivery to craft songs that often feel both spontaneous and meticulously honed. The band thrives on a balance between urgency and restraint, maintaining an engaging tension that encourages listeners to lean in and experience every moment. This innovation lies not just in their sound but also in their ability to blend youthful irreverence with an undeniable sense of style. Lyrically, The Strokes often explore themes of disillusionment, relationships, and urban life through a lens that mixes irony with sincerity. Their storytelling tends to be impressionistic, painting vivid snapshots of experiences rather than linear narratives, allowing listeners to inject their interpretations into the spaces left by their lyrics. This creates an atmosphere where vulnerability meets bravado, drawing audiences into a collective emotional experience.

8 studio albums· 28 total releases· 2 decades· United States