The Strokes

Is This It

First released2001

Is This It, The Strokes' debut album, was recorded primarily at Sorcerer Sound Studios in New York City between 2000 and 2001. The album was produced by Gordon Raphael, who worked closely with the band to capture their raw garage rock sound using relatively minimal production techniques. Raphael recorded the album on a limited budget with vintage equipment, favoring live takes and direct instrumentation to achieve the album's signature lo-fi aesthetic that contrasted with the polished pop production dominating early 2000s rock radio. The recording sessions took place during a pivotal moment in New York's indie rock revival, and the album's stripped-down approach and infectious melodies helped define the sound of early 2000s alternative rock. Is This It was released in 2001 and became a critical and commercial success, influencing countless bands in the garage rock and indie rock genres that followed.