Julian Casablancas, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture, Nick Valensi, and Fabrizio Moretti, collectivelyThe Strokes, have churned out an impressive collection of songs in their 24-year career.While helping to modernizegarage rock in the early 2000s, the five childhood friends from New York City captured grit, rebellion, and Lower East Side coolness with songs.
Whether it’s the fast-paced,rhythm-guitar cutson the band’s glorious debut,Is This It,or the beautifully stripped-down and melodicThe New Abnormal, their latest LP, some of what makes The Strokes a standout band is their willingness to venture down new musical paths without being afraid.
At times, the group’s bravery was praised; other times they were hammered by music critics, many who seemingly compared everything toIs This It, since oftentimes nostalgia keeps some music fans from appreciating newness. However, that hasn’t stopped The Strokes from building an epic career, and they did it with these songs.
10One Way Trigger
Album: Comedown Machine (2013)
Casablancas' baritone is sandwiched by his falsetto on “One Way Trigger,” and his higher vocal registry handles the big, sweeping chorus where he implores someone, possibly his then-wife, Juliet Joslin, to find new ways of occupying herself while he travels. “Find a job, find a friend, find a home, find a dog, settle down, out of town,” he sings.
The Strokes — who could be called the faces of the garage rock revival — left the garage on “One Way Trigger” andventured into synth-popby incorporating a choppy, yet melodic key riff that provides enough space for Casablancas to weave in and out with varying vocal styles. “One Way Trigger” is definitely a song that pushed The Strokes' career forward.
9Ode To The Mets
Album: The New Abnormal (2020)
OnThe New Abnormal, producerRick Rubin did for The Strokes what he did for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 2002 albumBy the Way: he removed whatever could be considered sonic filler, leaving behind lovely, eye-watering melodies. In fact, the percussion doesn’t come in until the song’s 1:42-minute mark, when Casablancas politely asks Moretti to play the drums.
It’s a part of the song audience members love at shows, but perhaps the highlight of the cut is after the final guitar solo, when Casablancas sings about missing the days of yesteryear and his younger, carefree self. He also apologizes for his increasing silence in his relationships, which he admits has turned into a “painful and shameful roar.”
8Electricityscape
Album: First Impressions Of Earth (2006)
Music critics were pretty hard on The Strokes' third studio album, because of the new musical direction the band took after their belovedRoom on Firealbum. It’s almost like The Strokes took a Jackson Pollock approach to craftingFirst Impressions of Earthby splashing a hodge-podge of ideas onto the canvas, hoping that it morphs into something beautiful.
While they were accused of falling short of that goal, everything came together on “Electricityscape,” making it a career-defining song.Moretti’s drumming is stellarand serves as a driving force that makes for an intense listen, while the other members make the song sound big and important, like it was made only for arena performances.
7New York City Cops
Album: Removed From Is This It (2001)
When The Strokes first hit the scene, they may have looked like a bunch of cool, thrift-store-shopping musicians who only cared about songwriting and dive bars. However, they’re actually politically aware, and “New York City Cops” serves as proof.The song was removed fromIs This Itafter the 911 tragedy due to its title and subject matter.
For the most part, The Strokes aren’t known for making political statements in their music, but due to the song’s New York City focus and the band’s sheer rebellion on the cut, it represents them perfectly. It also displays The Strokes' incredible talent of turning angst and dissatisfaction into a catchy tune.
6Last Nite
Album: Is This It (2001)
“Last Nite” first lived on the band’s EP,The Modern Age,before it was onIs This It,andthe song truly launched them into the rock stratosphere. It’s the ideal cut to play for those not familiar with the EP, since it perfectly showcases the band’s no-frills, bare-bones approach to music making.
One could say the song made The Strokes even more of a household name when they played it onSNLon July 16, 2025. The single also perfectly showcases Casablancas' deep-voiced raspy delivery, as well as the band’s image then, which was artsy, scruffy-looking twenty-somethings who were into late nights, after-hours watering holes, and groupie encounters.
5Under Control
Album: Room On Fire (2003)
Besides being influenced by The Velvet Underground, Blondie, and The Cars,Casablancas' music taste was also shaped by Bob Marley, and a small bit of the late reggae legend’s style can be heard on “Under Control.” It could be considered Casablanca and The Strokes' version of Marley’s “Waiting in Vain.”
One main difference, however, is Marley’s cut is about seeking love, and The Strokes' is a break-up song. To add, it’s always a treat when the band slows things down, since it makes focusing on Casablancas' lyrics easier, which in this case is about him telling his partner that, despite the hard work they put into their relationship, it’s over.
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The Cars influence stands out on this “Room on Fire” gem in a big way, yet, it’s still unmistakably The Strokes. Casablancas' voice sits low in the song, and each verse precedes simultaneous guitar riffs that don’t compete but enhance one another.
Lyrically, Casablancas seemingly reasons with someone that he courted while younger and wants another chance since he’s older and knows more.
There’s a real sing-song quality to the tune as well, which is the case with most of the band’s music, because if The Strokes have proved anything, it’s thatthey have a bottomless bag of melodiesto make each song palatable, regardless of the subject matter.
3Reptilia
The main guitar solo at the beginning of “Reptilia” has a sound of urgency, like the band had no desire to slowly lure you into the song but wanted to grab you by the collar, pull you close, so you’re able to fully understand what they’re communicating. It’s a classic approach by the band,making the song a true career accomplishment.
It can also be said that the same ingredients that makeIs This Itso delicious sounding are also inRoom On Fire. That was done with intention, based on what Casablancas explained, saying in an interview that he wanted to makeRoom on Firepart two ofIs This It.He referenced “Reptilia” while explaining that approach.
2Someday
If there’s one song by The Strokes that defines who they are as a band, why they’re loved, and why their music won’t age, listen no further than this gorgeous expression of regret and lost youth.The lyrics also seem to be one part aspirational, one part documentationfor Casablancas.
The band did a stellar job of creating both a verse and chorus melody that forever lives in your head, a true sign of a classic song. It really is one of The Strokes' quintessential cuts, the one they often played during TV performances when first exploding onto the music scene.
Plus, at a show, it’s easy to get the sense that the crowd waits in eager anticipation for Moretti to hit that drum intro and for Casablancas to start singing about how he misses the good old days.
1Hard To Explain
If you’ve never heard The Strokes' music, you have to play “Hard to Explain” first, asit’s the best example of why their debut album is considered a masterpiece. The infectious guitar intro clearly represents the band’s classic sound, as does Casablancas' vocals and detailed storytelling. That’s probably why “Hard to Explain” was the album’s first single.
It has a sound that made finicky music critics heap praise on the band and made fans run out to purchase the LP. It also led A&R representatives to Downtown Manhattan, so they could check out the underground music scene, which suddenly had a loud buzz because ofThe Strokes.
