Album Review: Room on Fire

The Strokes have been a top-of-the-list name in the rock world of the 21st century. Two years after their acclaimed debut album Is This It was released, the band put out Room on Fire in October of 2003. Picking up after their unique debut, Room on Fire attempts to expand on the band’s distinct indie rock sound while delivering something new in the form of one or two tracks that stand out from the rest.

From start to finish, every track has its own merit. The dual guitars of Albert Hammond Jr. and Nick Valensi mixed together with Fabrizio Moretti on drums and Nikolai Fraiture on bass is perfectly topped off with Julian Casablancas’ matter-of-fact vocals. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Room’s songs sound too similar to the Strokes’ first album. The fact that it was produced by the same producer (Gordon Raphael) certainly doesn’t help the band’s attempt at musical progression. However, the half pent-up, half laid-back feeling of Is This It transfers over to Room on Fire quite nicely without sounding like an identical copy of the former.

Even when most of the tracks sound similar to Is This It, the band puts in a little extra “oomph” here and there. Most people can recognize the relentless guitar riff of “Reptilia,” but the beauty of Room on Fire doesn’t just come out of its three singles. For instance, the mellow “Automatic Stop” – which comes right after “Reptilia” – is far more delicate and marvelous in its simplistic way than the aggressive, over-played “Reptilia.” Further into the album you also get “The Way It Is,” which is one of the most garage rock-type tracks the band has ever created. In addition to “Automatic Stop” and “The Way It Is,” the memorable vocals and superb guitar work on “The End Has No End” shine brighter than most other numbers on Room on Fire.

While there’s little that is “new” about Room on Fire, the album itself is a solid piece of work. Every other track is filled with a surprise or two in the form of a transcendent vocal performance or tasteful guitar effect, but too much of the record sounds like recycled material from Is This It. If you’re a Strokes fan, then you can certainly find enjoyment in Room on Fire. If you’re looking to become a Strokes fan or just in need of some modern rock, you might find more pleasure in checking out Is This It.