The Strokes influences almost guaranteed they would be critics darlings. Originating from a similar arty, affluent background, they're most obvious influence is The Velvet Underground (lead vocalist Julian Casblancas often sounds like a dead-ringer for Lou Reed). On "Is This It?", The Strokes combine the sonic harshness (though less severe) of The Velvets and The Stooges with the terse, palatable song-structures of The Ramones and Television.

While their influences are faultless, "Is This It?" is characteristic of a talented, but immature band that emmulates well, but hasn't learned to steal (as the old cliche' goes). That is to say their sources are so obvious that The Strokes never really create their own identity. These are certainly infectious songs with better than average emotional substance, but (at the risk of seeming self-righteous) they'll probably seem fresher to casual listeners than to those of us with an understanding of pop music history. Repeated listens of "Is This It?" only reveals the superiority of The Strokes's influences.

The Strokes are undeniably talented, but at this stage of their career they simply aren't groundbreaking enough to deserve their anointed title of "rocks saviors". One day, they might live up to the hype, but right now artists like PJ Harvey and Wilco are more artistically credible.

One a side note: The hype surrounding The Strokes is indicative of something I've suspected for about 7 or 8 years. Rock simply isn't as artistically viable as it once was. Every form of music eventually runs out of new, creative incarnations. For instance, in jazz most would argue the last truely creative variation occurred when Davis experimented with electronics during the early 1970s. Though still respected, jazz as an art-form hasn't seen any major progressions since and isn't the creative force it once was. The technology that emerged in the early-mid 1990s allowed rock artists to create a few new forms, but there haven't been any innovations since. With continuously diminishing sales and artistic credibility, rock music seems to be in the same phase jazz was in the late 1970s; respected, sometimes viable, but ultimately nostalgic. The hype surrounding The Strokes indicates there are a few devoted trying to keep the dim flame burning, but it will likely remain dim because the creative fuel is gone; only fumes remain.

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The funny thing about hype--I think--is that it works both ways. People complain that an album sucks because it's "too hyped", but, aren't they really just buying into the hype? I had never even heard of The Strokes until I downloaded some of their stuff off of epitonic.com. I was totally blown away. I am a die-hard fan of vintage rock and roll, and rarely listen to anything made past the 1980's, and I love this album. Yes, they have influences--every band does--but they have added something to the old "insert 1 part angst, two parts catchy guitar riffs, 1 part good hair" formula that people have been copying for years. One thing is apparent about this album that I value: The Strokes aren't trying to hard to be obscure and different--they're just playing good old rock and roll for music's sake, and what, may I ask, is wrong with that?

But, whatever, I'm not going to lend a hand to you clueless fools who choose to buy into the pretentious anti-hype. You can listen to the indie-posers and I will keep The Strokes all to myself. Thank you!

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