Customer Reviews

Is This It (Bonus DVD) (Special Limited Edition)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I went ahead and bought this limited edition 2-pack. Since I don't have MTV2, and therefore never get to see these videos, I figured it was a good deal. And I'm glad I got it! The videos look even better on DVD, and the two performances from MTV's $2 Bill show are nice to have. So buy this special edition release and pass your original CD on to someone who doesn't have it yet!

When I got this CD I had already gotten the most popular albums by the premier garage bands: "Veni Vedi Vicious" by the Hives (good the first few times but gets really old after that; 3/5), "White Blood Cells" by the White Stripes (first four songs are wonderful, the rest are good but not quite as much so; 4/5) and "Highly Evolved" by the Vines (very, very good, great mix of hard and soft songs; 5/5).

Then I got this CD. All I've had to say about is this: absolutely love the album, absolutely love the band. Every song on here is wonderful and original in their own special way, and yet they flow so well from one to the next. And no I've listened all the way through this song many, many times and it hasn't gotten old at all. And no again, the processed vocals of Julian Casablancas do not deter from the songs. In their own special way, I really can't describe how, but the songs wouldn't be as good without them. They just fit with the songs. There is no reason to go through the songs and discuss them because I would have the same thing to say every time. I will say that my favorite songs are "Is This It" and "Last Nite."

But what do I think about the DVD???

Wonderful as well. The CD just wouldn't have been the same without it. It showcases the band's attitude in a great way and never goes away from that. Tell me, in what other band would the lead singer try to mess up the other members playing their instuments? And where else would you find a guitarist like Nick Valensi dance around in antic movements onstage? And where else would you find a guitarist like Albert Hammond, Jr. stick his burning cigarette in his guitar strings for safe keeping? I can't think of any other bands with these qualities that the DVD showcases so well. Favorite video: "Someday" for its wonderfully portrayed bar scene and its hilarious "Family Feud" rip-off. I'm serious, I watch this DVD once every day. It's that good.

All in all, a magnificent combination of the album and the DVD. If I could I would give it a 6/5. But considering I can't do that, I'll have to give it a 5/5, even though it's so much better than anything else out there. Trust me on this one.

...I don't really understand what all the hype is over this band. I've been reading things like these guys are the "saviors of rock music" and the such, which I completely don't buy into. I wasn't really all that impressed with "last nite", but I dug "hard to explain" quite a bit and I really dug "someday", it just sticks in your head better than some of the other tracks, and it's the main reason I finally broke down and decided to buy the album, plus the video is their best so far in my opinion, featuring another excellent lo-fi band that I love, Guided by Voices, but all of the songs are good, none of them what I would consider "filler" material. All the videos they've released so far are included on the dvd, plus two tracks recorded on Mtv including "NYC cops", which is a great song. There is a definite Velvet Underground influence present, but I've heard some people also mention a likeness to the Stooges, which I really disagree with because the Stooges(a band I dearly love) were just much more raw, chaotic, violent, and in-your-face to the point where a similarity between them and the Strokes is just inappropriate. But don't take that the wrong way, I genuinely love the Strokes, and "Is This It" is an album that has grown on me, they've just got that retro vibe about them that is sorta refreshing considering the current state of rock music with all this "nu-metal" [stuff] and the like muddying up the airwaves(not that I've ever been a big fan of commercial radio). It just seems that a lot of the current crop of bands (at least major label ones) are a disgrace to the genres of punk and metal or alternative or rock in general, and the Strokes have gone back to a sound and a "vibe" that harkens back to the days when music really meant something, rather than just being a commercialized pawn in the money-making machine(which, with all the media hype surrounding them up through now, I'm afraid they've been thrown in that mix as well) but regardless, it's nice to hear a band take music forward a bit simply by being retro-minded and going back to a sound that reminds us of the simple beauty in rock 'n' roll. All in all, I think these guys are worthy of the praise they've been getting, and with the bonus (limited edition, I might add)dvd(how limited? who knows?), you have a great deal on some excellent music and video footage that I just can't help but to recommend.

The Strokes are an amazing band. Their music makes me happy! I definitely like their sound. Sadly though, I can't get the DVD to work on any of my computers at home--just on my dvd player for my tv.

The Strokes are the essence of cool. People love to hate on them because of all the hype but they are without a doubt the band of the year in my book (and in many more qualified critics opinoins as well).

This is one of the greatest albums ever produced. if you want something that blows your mind BUY IT! NOW! All the hype is true, they just rock. there is not enough words in my vocabulary to describe this band. although there has suddenly been an outpour of indie, underground bands, i think the strokes started it by putting out a great album without filler songs that you skip over. it's like a soundtrack, all the songs were handpicked because they're all good.

once in a while every ten years or so there are a few bands that will be remembered for years to come unlike the hundreds of one hit wonders over this period of time, the strokes are one of those bands that will be remembered and go onto do great things. Well this is how it looks with their album is this it.

Out of all the pearl jam wanna be bands out there (creed, nickelback, defualt etc etc) and all the 'THE' bands out there now claming to be the saviours of rock (the white stripes, the vines, the hives etc) the strokes are the bands that will carry on with a huge fan base and be remembered for years to come.

Take a listen to is this it and hear the smooth vocals of julian, the simple but very effective light sound of albert and nick on the guitars. Also fab and nickolia on the drums and bass adding to the songs sound and not just trying to show off. Every song on is this it has a signature strokes sound but is each different in its own way. Not to mention they are all fregin catchy specially barely legal and someday.

My favourite song on the album being barely legal should be the place to start for a person who has heard the singles (someday, last ngiht, hard to explain) but is scared the rest of the album doesnt mesure up.

The real strokes winner though is the song NEW YORK CITY COPS a superb song but was taken off the album and replaced with when it started becuase it was a bit sensitive becuase of 9/11. NYC COPS can still be found ont he european version of is this it or on the hard to explain single. SO i really suggest picking one of those up as well.

Now, as i am reviewing the dvd version of is this it the dvd includes the 3 music videos. Last night is played live but not to an audiance, fun video, the guys are looking great and the video just rocks. Hard to explain is a weird video, its my least favourite strokes song and the video is very weird. I guess its hard to explain it (excuse my terrible pun). Someday video si cool, shows the guys in rehersal and chilling out in a bar. THe live preformances are where this dvd is at though. NYC COPS sounds great live, they are on a sqaure stage lit from the bottom and surrounded by an audiance , nick looks so cool when doing the awsome solos NYC COPS contains. ALthough julians vocals are not quite loud enough at points. The modern age live is a great preformance the band is very tight and once again nick hammers that solos with style.

SO all round is this it is the best album since pearl jams yeild, and the dvd is the icing on the cake. GO get it soon!

I have (hands-down) listened to this cd way more than any other cd I bought this year... and I buy alot of cds! I love it. I listen to the disc all the way through usually 2 or 3 times in a row. I can't get enough and I can't wait for the follow-up.

Also, I think Julian's vocals are great on the disc... I like the scratchy effect. It sounds kinda like the levels are cranked and his voice distorts just enough to add a bit more punk to the rock. Very well done.

This CD is one of the best, if not the best I've heard in a long time. The Strokes have a very catchy sound. I've recently attended one of their concerts and can testify to the fact that they sound great live! Allot of bands don't sound anything like their studio version of their music, however the Strokes do. Between their catchy sound and great songs, you can't go wrong!

I can honestly say the best album in a long time. Amazing vocals by Julian Casablancas, same with guitar by Albert Hammond Jr. and Nick Valensi, the bassist Nickolai Fraiture actually has a keep role in the band's music and drummer Fab Moretti sounds like a drum machine. Buy it, its worth it.