Tired of your Spotify playlists? The Purbalite is here to help, with our Essential Listening series.

Is This It, the debut studio album from New York rock band The Strokes, changed the course of rock music.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, rock music was in an interesting state. As a listener then, one might have heard “Rollin’” by Limp Bizkit or “Higher” by Creed come across the rock channels quite frequently.

Rock at that point in time consisted of two main genres – post-grunge or nu metal. All of the singers had deep voices that evolved from the vocals of Eddie Vedder or Chris Cornell, and every track had an overly masculine tone to it.

While there is merit to be given to many bands of this time – like Foo Fighters or System of a Down – most of the rock music of the time appealed to the lowest common denominator. The songs were repetitive, simple, and generic. (The word “rollin’” is repeated in the song “Rollin’” 80 times).

When The Strokes released Is This It in 2001, it represented not only a wave of refreshment but an entire tsunami. The tracks had experimental instrumentals, meaningful, fun lyrics, and most importantly, passion.

Take the first single released, “Hard to Explain.” A few seconds into the track, the guitar blasts into full view, breathing a little bit of life back into the soul of rock music. It is bright, fun and upbeat – all elements that were not present in post-grunge or nu metal.

Also, it is not afraid to play around with musical elements to some degree. Multiple times throughout the track listeners hear abrupt starts and stops that add explosions of enjoyment or fun ends to sections of the song.

Being the first track by The Strokes many were exposed to, “Hard to Explain” clearly shows that the band is having a great time making this music. So much of the other music of the time was just 30- to 40-year-old men trying to sound as macho as possible, without putting any true emotion into the music they made. The Strokes turned rock music back to its core – young kids having fun.

This is again evident on “New York City Cops.” It starts with a bouncy, punk-like guitar line that is sure to inspire listeners to dance around. The chorus only brings more amusement to the track, with lead singer Julian Casablancas repeatedly poking fun at NYC police offices by saying “New York City cops / they ain’t too smart.”

While the lyrics here aren’t anything to write home about, and actually got the song taken off the American release in the wake of 9/11, the pure exciting energy radiating from the track is apparent. The chorus is so light and expressive that any lyrics could fit.

Another thing that The Strokes, and particularly Casablancas, do well to create a tone of jovial depression on many of their songs.

Take a look at “Last Nite.” The instrumental present here is not different from any other Strokes song, yet Casablancas is able to use his strained vocals to create a longing mood. One’s first instinct would be to feel bad for him, yet the music is telling you otherwise.

The listener actually has to think about the emotions they are feeling from the track, and evidently listeners like this quality. The song is by far the most streamed Strokes track.

This feeling is again created on “Someday.” The drums and guitar strums at the beginning would not be out of place on a KC and the Sunshine Band tune, yet the lyrics all talk about the limited time that everyone has on earth. Casablancas spends most of his time reminiscing about past memories and relationships.

The title song and opener of the album, “Is This It,” again creates this tone, possibly to the best execution. Casablancas repeatedly questions his own existence over an almost whiny guitar line. While the song is far from happy, it fails at being dreadful either.

Overall, The Strokes managed to break out of the common trends of rock at the time and bring their exciting and passionate songs to music listeners all over.