The Strokes

Is This It

First released2001

Is This It, The Strokes' debut album, was recorded primarily at Electric Lady Studios in New York City during 2000-2001, with additional sessions at Sorcerer Sound. The album was produced by The Strokes themselves alongside producer Gordon Raphael, who played a crucial role in shaping the band's raw, energetic sound. Raphael utilized relatively lo-fi recording techniques and minimal overdubbing to capture the band's live energy, recording much of the material on a modest budget that contrasted with the polished production typical of major label releases at the time. The album's crisp yet somewhat compressed aesthetic became iconic, featuring straightforward drum recording and prominent guitar work that defined the post-punk revival sound of the early 2000s. Released in 2001, Is This It emerged from New York's Lower East Side garage rock scene and became a landmark album that revitalized interest in stripped-down rock music during an era dominated by nu-metal and pop-punk.