The Strokes: ''Is This It' was born from confusion and alcohol'

The Strokes

Band speak about their seminal album sessions

Nov 20, 2008
25 Comments
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The Strokes have spoken about the recording of some of their most important songs in a new NME.COM video, saying that their debut album, 'Is This It', was created via "confusion and alcohol".

Speaking in the video, bassist Nikolai Fraiture claimed that when the band recorded 'Hard To Explain', from their 2001 debut album, they still had focus despite their monumental booze intake.

"'Hard To Explain' was a vague ball of confusion from that [recording] session, coming back to [bar] 2A and listening [back to it]," he said. "The vibe in the studio at the time was a lot of alcohol and focus.

"It sounds impossible but it was [feasible] at the time. That's how 'Hard To Explain' came about."

Click below to watch the video in full, with contributions from The Strokes' drummer Fab Moretti as well as Fraiture.

Plus, get the new issue of NME, for a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the formation of The Strokes, featuring new interviews and reports, as well as contributions from Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and Lightspeed Champion.

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Comments (25)

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possitive mental attitude

Nov 20, 2008

Right well i suggest you get together get pissed and start writing a f**king good album... 10 years since the formation of the band not been seen for about 6 WOW they really took the music scene by storm.

jeepcat

Nov 20, 2008

And wealthy parents...

Beatle_Matt

Nov 20, 2008

Terrible band. No idea why they get so much attention.A bunch of spoiled rich kids who date models and write shite music.

time_for_something_biblical

Nov 20, 2008

Agrees with the above comment....And to be honest, its not really a surprize....you have to be booze-filled to create such a genius album (with the best album cover ive ever seen!)

ThePopSong

Nov 20, 2008

Let's copy The Velvet Underground!Wow, we're famous!

time_for_something_biblical

Nov 20, 2008

ugh, i meant i agree with "posstive mental attitude'...not 'beatle_matt'...

DaisyChainsx

Nov 20, 2008

Strokes? Terrible? Hah. You're a funny kid.You were serious? oh. well then. You're a dick.

xindiekid94x

Nov 20, 2008

fab's got a beard!aaah i can't wait till next year when they make more music. It's been toooooo long! :( x

callaby

Nov 21, 2008

Listen to the Velvet Underground before you compare them to The Strokes, they don't sound anything like them really.And who gives a shit if they have rich parents they actually did something with their lives rather than going to art school like the fucking posh kids in this country.

Supermojo

Nov 21, 2008

I like them. Their last album was a bit similar to the new KOL album, in that the first half is good and then goes down hill. Although their last album had loads on it. As for the beer writing.... It's the best way, even classical musicans have a skin full of port before attacking the piano with their claws. Looking forward to the new strokes album/tour

97mde

Nov 21, 2008

Without a doubt one of most overhyped bands in the NME's history. And certainly one of the worst. Still, if it makes the NME happy.......

ant_klaxon

Nov 21, 2008

the strokes are amazing, beatle matt, just because they have rich parents it doesnt mean there shit, in fact, most of the bands around now, admittidly arctic monkeys and the libs wouldnt probably exsist without the strokes

Ace McWicked

Nov 21, 2008

Man, this has always annoyed me about you Brits - this pathetic class-based tall poppy syndrome.The Strokes came along when rock'n'roll was all Nu Metal and pop punk and did something that was almost the perfect, beautiful mix of exciting, interesting and cool.

neon_L0ve

Nov 21, 2008

there are really some tasteless, uncultured wankers on this website. let's just de-construct their arguments for a sec. the strokes - so they're parents are wealthy- so what? they worked hard for and earned everything they've achieved. their parentsâ€™ finances have nothing to do with the band's music, or the band members as people! that's the kind of lame criticism you'd expect a british tabloid rag to come up with, when theyâ€™ve got writerâ€™s block. ok, so they list the velvet underground as an influence - yes, granted, so do a lot of bands.. but i challenge anyone to name one song that sounds like it's ripped off lou reed's work. do u idiots even know any of the velvet's back catologue? i doubt it. Oh and 1 of them has a celebrity girlfriend? Good on him. What does that have to do with anything I wonder? the strokes revolutionised guitar music, saved rock and roll, garnered huge critical acclaim and commercial success and produced the greatest album of the new millenium. i really pity any misguided twat who fails to see this - for you must honestly be culturally and musically retarded to have such pathetic taste

dave diamond

Nov 21, 2008

i think that the strokes has some simple idea , mixed with pretty arrangement .it's great for a band. It's not a surprise...yes but if you listen stockhausen you'll understand that make something new it's so hard .the music is create , idea, sensation , experience .....and steal ehheehehethis is the true one example is mozart the note are twelve thanx a lot!sorry for my englishcheers dave

Kether

Nov 21, 2008

The Strokes opened up music to all that came after.. the bastards..yeah, they're a bit shit, first album was good but hardly something of relevance now... 'high concept' NME fodder for an indie scene about to crunch.

chocolate starfish

Nov 21, 2008

When the Strokes first appeared they were a breath of fresh air. It had been a long time since any band had made an LP with more than 2 good songs on it. The Strokes came up with a 90% great record that had no competitors at the time. Yes it did sound a bit like Lou Reed with a shit hot young band hacking it out and nothing wrong with that. â€œThis is itâ€ brought rockâ€™nâ€™roll out of a sever low point.If idiots want to have a go at the band for being rich kids then that only prejudice of lowest kind. A jealous argument.Lets salute the Strokes for the good times and hope more band can break the mould as they did.

stringsof6

Nov 21, 2008

OMG ThePopsong you're like sooo original saying they sound like The velvet underground.. NOT.People who say that usually can't hear any sort of comparison but are echoing what they've read from music critics right?And who cares if they have wealthy parents?Not like their parents are the ones that buy massloads of their albums you tosser.

qcardy

Nov 21, 2008

the Strokes are gods.

hness

Nov 21, 2008

oookkkkkk......most of the songs were from "is this it?" which was a truly great lp in a very dismal time for music....the world was going crazy for crap like LIMP BIZKIT at the time so it RADIATED BRILLIANCE! I love the Strokes but i feel that the momentum is now lost, and that their time is done.....and personally speaking ROOM ON FIRE is my fav lp...xxxx

gordonraphael

Nov 22, 2008

hey , as I remember it there was alot of intense focus, and amazing songs and the band was hell-bent on recording the best album they could imagine. They all took alot of care in what they were doing, and it was a very exciting time for all of us! x Gordon R

mrrogers821

Nov 25, 2008

too much attention...? Do you guys even remember how shitty life was before the strokes. There was no hope. It was like blink 182 or Linkin Park choose the lesser of two evils. Also this is a lot of bashing from a country of people whose favorite band is oasis.... if the strokes are a rip off of the velvet underground Oasis is a Beatles cover band.

ZiggyHeartless

Nov 27, 2008

The Strokes are in no way overhyped in terms of their musical influence. They inspired many good (and bad) bands to pick up their guitars and batter nu metal out of the stratosphere. Maybe 'Is This It' wasn't as good as the NME and everyone else said it was, but it was a beacon of optimism at the time and who can blame everyone for getting overly excited.To say that The Strokes are shite when they are going to go down as THE band of the early 00's is the statement of a dickhead.

red_wine_success

Dec 2, 2008

the strokes are awesome. is this it is by far the best album if the 21st century and i dont understand all this talk about them going downhill. FIOE was a class album