The Album Julian Casablancas Wants The Strokes to Be Remembered For

In 2001, the indie rock landscape was forever changed with the arrival of Is This It. Armed with electrifying guitar riffs and effortlessly cool melodies, The Strokes spearheaded a movement that reshaped modern rock. Their gritty, garage-inspired sound brought an edge that contrasted with the polished pop-rock dominating the mainstream at the time. Without their influence, bands like Arctic Monkeys or the broader indie rock resurgence of the 2000s might not have carried the same impact.

Following the Britpop-dominated ‘90s, The Strokes revived a rawer, more stripped-down approach to rock music. Is This It delivered instant classics like “Soma” and “Barely Legal,” capturing the essence of New York’s underground scene while resonating on a global scale. Their sound, both urgent and refreshingly laid-back, made indie rock exciting again.

A couple of years later, in 2003, The Strokes followed up with Room on Fire. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, they doubled down on what made their debut great—tight, punchy songwriting and an unfiltered energy. While sophomore albums often carry immense pressure, Room on Fire didn’t fall into the trap of being a mere imitation or an over-polished deviation. Instead, it built upon Is This It with sharper precision, showcasing the band’s ability to refine their signature sound without losing its essence.

Songs like “Reptilia,” “12:51,” and “Under Control” exude a quiet confidence, free from the anxieties of proving themselves. Julian Casablancas himself has expressed a particular fondness for Room on Fire, considering it the true evolution of what they started with their debut. In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, he reflected, “I wanted to finish the Is This It? thought; even when we were doing it, I always thought it was part two [of Is This It]. I remember when we started ‘Reptilia’ and ‘The End Has No End,’ I was like, ‘This is the new vibe.’ I think we always felt like we were in jeopardy. When we did Room on Fire, things were established, but things were internally, at least from my perspective, not healthy.”

His sentiment highlights how Room on Fire represents a turning point for The Strokes—not just a continuation, but an assertion of their artistic identity. While Is This It was their breakout, Room on Fire cemented their place in music history. The album’s balance of rawness and refinement shaped the trajectory of their later works, including Comedown Machine and The New Abnormal, which still echo the foundational sound established in Room on Fire.

Ultimately, while Is This It introduced the world to The Strokes, it’s Room on Fire that Casablancas sees as their defining statement—a record that solidifies their legacy and continues to influence rock music today.