Room On Fire
The second album from The Strokes, weekend shopping and yes, weekend beer
My Twitter timeline yesterday was flooded, in a way, with tributes to the iconic 2001 debut album from The Strokes, “Is This It” — which I’ve written about previously in this music-menswear-craft beer newsletter (check out my daily style blog while you’re at it!). But that’s not exactly the record we’re here to talk about today. You see, to me, the (20th!) anniversary of “Is This It” actually hits this October, when the American CD edition was initially released. Yesterday’s anniversary, to get technical, marked the release of the record in Australia, of all places. But that’s really beside the point. Any online discourse about The Strokes leads me to dive right back into the famed NYC band’s catalog, as if I didn’t listen enough already.
That leads me to today’s post — I’ve been listening to the incredible garage rock of “Is This It” a ton lately, but moreso than that, I’ve found myself firing up (pun intended) the group’s rip-roaring (at times), subtly sweet and heartbreaking second album, “Room On Fire.” It goes pound-for-pound (at times) with “Is This It,” and it even inspires debate over which record is better. We won’t get into that debate today, but I’ll share one of my favorite Strokes songs off of that second record below. To go along with that track for your weekend, you’ll get some shopping and sipping picks, per tradition. To check out my other bylines for some weekend reading, head to my portfolio here. Be sure to read, subscribe and tell all your friends!
What To Listen To This Weekend: “What Ever Happened” By The Strokes
“What Ever Happened” is one heck of a way to jumpstart the group’s much-hyped, closely scrutinized second album, as guitars and drums crash and join the fray alongside the rasp-throated howl that is Julian Casablancas. Simply put, it’s a terrific track, one the band continues to play live to this day. And it’s also a fitting summation of the pressure and attention directed towards the quartet. They shot to fame after “Is This It,” and yet here, we have Julian singing, “I wanna be forgotten.” It’s an interesting look at the pitfalls of fame, and Julian appeared much more anxious about the reception of this record than “Is This It.” If you ask me though, this song, with its blistering guitar and equally blistering vocals, is more than worthy of praise. It’s part of the reason why (as of this week, at least) “Room On Fire” is my second-favorite record by The Strokes (I’d wager you already know the first!). By this time, the band had also made a splash in the fashion world, to say the least. Without further ado, how about some Strokes-inspired menswear?
What To Shop This Weekend: Levi’s Sean At Work Denim Trucker Jacket
Past newsletter entries on The Strokes have also touched on the landmark fashion trends they helped spread, the downtown New York look quickly gaining steam across the globe. One such menswear staple, undeniably, is the denim jacket, which soon became an integral wardrobe piece if you fancied yourself an aspiring rocker or a “downtown cool kid.” These days, it stands for much of the same in terms of style, recognizability and functionality, and with this Levi’s trucker jacket, you get a unique take on the classic silhouette. It also helps that it’s done up in an NYC-ready black denim. I think Julian would approve.
What To Sip This Weekend: Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn Lager
Today’s beer is less about The Strokes itself or about New York City as it is about what the arrival of The Strokes meant. Stick with me here. The indie rock craze swept New York, and expensive at the same time and in the years after pushed artists out into Brooklyn — eventually. Brooklyn Brewery was well-established in Williamsburg by 2001, but mere years before, the area was still controlled by the mafia. As the NYC rock revival came roaring back, Brooklyn became a major part of the scene. Who was waiting there to provide some suds (if you had some extra cash, that is)? Why, that’d be NYC staple beer Brooklyn Brewery and its excellent Brooklyn Lager, available citywide at every bodega and deli worth its salt. It’s still a reliable beer these days, and it’s still a classic, kind of like “Room On Fire.” You can even get it delivered to you via Drizly as you listen to today’s Strokes classic. Cheers to that!
The Final Pick: Converse Colors Chuck Taylor All-Star
Look, you can’t talk about The Strokes, lovers of denim jackets and Converse sneakers, without talking about, well, Converse sneakers themselves. The high-top sneakers have been in the style lexicon for years, worn by basketball players decades ago and eventually co-opted by stylish teens and indie rock stars the world over. Even today, they’re a comfortable, easy-wearing and instantly recognizable set of stylish sneakers, and you’d do very well to make them yours. They even come in some eye-catching colors. It’s another Strokes-inspired style steal, to say the least.
Although you might be at first tempted to listen to “Is This It” during your laidback weekend shopping and sipping, I’m all for listening to “Room On Fire” instead (or perhaps, right after you listen to The Strokes’ debut). It’s a seriously underrated and yet stellar record, and one of my favorites from this iconic band. Taken together alongside Converse sneakers and a Levi’s trucker jacket, it’s an unstoppable combination for any weekend, let alone a summer weekend where refreshing Brooklyn Lager is on hand. Let me know in the comments which Strokes album you prefer — I’ll be here to keep the conversation going. Cheers!