When The Strokes’ debut ‘Is This It’ was released back in 2001, it was the start of the return of guitar music post Millennium.
Sure, at the turn of the Millennium there were some great albums just released, there’s no doubting that. Red Hot Chili Peppers stand out ‘Californication’ was the main buzz around town, along with a few perhaps forgotten gems, including Moby’s ‘Play,’ Blur’s ’13,’ Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Fragile’ and of course not forgetting Limp Bizkit’s ‘Significant Other.’
But what for the noughties? It wasn’t until 2001 that a sound so original was finally found. The Stroke’s debut ‘Is This It’ seemed to come out of nowhere as the New York quintet captured the twin guitar melodies from the days of Thin Lizzy circa ‘Live And Dangerous.
Six years and three albums later, The Strokes may have fallen out of the spotlight slightly, but their influence on today’s music culture and fashion still holds up strongly with the masses.
The new indie guitar bands that keep popping up every five minutes are attributed to The Strokes. Razorlight, The Kooks, The View, The Cribs and many others have all taken strong musical influences from The Strokes. This is nothing to be ashamed of though. These bands need influences as much as any other. Perhaps The Strokes wouldn’t be around if Lizzy or The Doors never existed. Perhaps Oasis wouldn’t have existed if four guys from Liverpool hadn’t decided to form a band in the 60’s.
The influence of The Strokes spreads across a wider field than just musically. When Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond JR, Nikolai Fraiture and Fab Moretti burst onto the scene in 2001 clad in skinny jeans and converse trainers, know one would have predicted that six years later every indie teen would be wearing these. Just look at Topman. A store that is obligated to keep up with the latest fashions is inundated with skinny jeans and tight t-shirts.
This hasn’t just appeared out of the blue. The rise of the indie star has been bubbling away for a long while now and recently exploded last year. The main new band to hit the big time last year is undoubtedly Razorlight. Love them or hate them, singer Johnny Borrel crafted a unique style for himself that has had a lasting impression on every teenager who listens to indie rock. But if The Strokes hadn’t been around, neither would have Borrel’s style probably. Take for instance the Kooks. Last summers hottest band that adhered to the fashion had hoards of indie teens following suit like this had never been done before.
The thing is, it has been done, by The Strokes six years ago. Though it’s happening again now, except on a much larger scale. The question is, do these kids know?
1 comment:
Yes These KIds Know. I first heard the strokes when i was in gade 4 it was during their boom time, 2003-2004. Some how i lost track of them but later in grade 10 i began to listen to them again and im hooked. the are my number 1 band. Also before i was not old enough to under stand the music they were producing.
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