The Strokes – Is This It (Vinyl LP)

Raw, effortlessly cool and dripping with New York attitude, Is This It arrived in 2001 and helped drag rock music into a new era. The Strokes' debut album stripped guitar music back to its essentials: sharp riffs, wiry melodies, scruffy production and Julian Casablancas' detached, unmistakable vocals. At a time when mainstream rock was often chasing bigger sounds, this record proved that a handful of great songs and the right amount of swagger could be more than enough.

From the irresistible opening of “Is This It” to the frantic energy of “Last Nite” and the instantly recognisable guitar interplay of “Someday”, the album is packed with lean, addictive songwriting. Beneath its laid-back exterior sits a band with an instinctive understanding of melody, rhythm and attitude, capturing the restless energy of early-2000s New York in a way few records have matched.

Compact, confident and almost impossibly catchy, Is This It is an essential record for anyone who loves indie rock with sharp edges and timeless hooks.