u/bamisbig

Voted Trump +18.6 in 2024

Genuinely insane how overlooked this album is. It might actually be the top 1 Strokes album for me (though Room on Fire probably gets the edge)

The three song run at the start is probably the best three song run to begin a record in strokes history (though again Room on Fire is right there).

Machu Picchu is one of the catchiest Strokes songs ever. Genuinely “I’M JUST TRYING TO FIND A MOUNTAIN I CAN CLIMB” has been stuck in my head for years.

Under Cover of Darkness has incredible guitar work and again maybe one of the best choruses in band history.

Two Kinds of Happiness reminds me of a Jack Stauber song during the bridge (in a good way) and then the chorus is once again just fantastic.

The rest of the album is great too. You’re So Right is the only sort of flop on the record, but I appreciate what it does. Feels like it could almost be on Tyranny.

Taken For a Fool is again just such a bop. Casablanca’s vocals shine so much here.

Games is also a great song. The vocal distortion on LIVING IN AN EMPTY WORLD is perfect.

Call Me Back is sort of different for a Strokes song but it does what it sets out to do so well. Very laid back and the Billie Eilish cover is great too.

Gratisfication is for me a top 10 strokes song. Feels like Steely Dan; legitimately impossible not to sing along to from the first verse.

Metabolism is also different but so good at what it tries to do. Like a slightly more poppy spiritual successor to Juicebox.

And then Life is Simple in the Moonlight is a perfect closer. No notes.

I genuinely don’t get how people consistently rank this album near the bottom. It reaches the highs of the records that surround it (FIOE and Comedown Machine) but stays at those highs instead of oscillating up and down.

10/10 record.

Personally, I would’ve kept Going Shopping. It has a very catchy vibe and introduces audiences to the auto tune. I would’ve picked either Dine N’Dash or Liar’s Remorse as the second. Slower songs, like FOOL, but a little more digestible. Probably Dine N’Dash js because I prefer it personally.