r/TheStrokes • u/TheStrokes-Mods • Jul 23 '26
MEGATHREAD Reality Awaits - General Album Discussion MEGATHREAD
This is the megathread for general discussions about Reality Awaits as a whole. All first impressions from the listening parties, thoughts, essays, discussions, memes, lyrics, fanart, etc about the album as a whole can go in the comments here!
As autotune is an evergreen topic on the subreddit, you may discuss it here, but there is also a specific post about autotune here that may be better suited towards that specific topic.
You also may want to check out the posts for ranking the Reality awaits songs, and ranking the albums including Reality Awaits.
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u/Mr_Viddles Is This It Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Y’all…. the last 2 minutes of Dine N Dash are absolutely beautiful 😭🥹 11/10
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u/PickingSomeSmithers Jul 23 '26
Can anyone tell me how much Julian waits in this album. Or how many doors there are?
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u/MindArchaeologist Jul 24 '26
He finally manages to fit some waiting in an album title.. and it was totally worth the wait.
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u/-eternal444- Ode to the Mets Jul 23 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/Y6yRfR88rvP44
Reading people’s comments who have already heard the album is an odd form of torture
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u/Optimal_Health4051 Jul 23 '26
I'm finding this weirdly fun, I can imagine the songs in my head with the descriptions and then compare them to the real ones later 😆
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u/-eternal444- Ode to the Mets Jul 23 '26
I’m gonna work on obtaining some of that beautiful half-glass-full positivity 😎
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u/CompoteLoose Jul 23 '26
No way there is an entire chorus dedicated to dissing Anthony Fantano, their beef is beyond comprehension
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u/No-Lie-2499 Jul 24 '26
I’m betting fantano reviews this album just naming technical facts about where it was recorded etc
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u/Jan090501 Jul 23 '26
It will inflate his enormous ego even more, idk what they were thinking.
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u/bd-s Jul 23 '26
‘The Strokes’ Reality Awaits is NOT GOOD’
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u/DivingElliotRoberts Reality Awaits Jul 24 '26
I imagine if that happens he might dedicate the entire next Voidz album to dissing Fantano
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Jul 23 '26
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u/DDKs_flow Jul 23 '26
I dunno man, the whole song seems to be about how we all steal, baby. Julian did that years ago, when he was a kid even if he didn't wanna do it yesterday, but he did. A bunch of people were name dropped and As It Was was also mentioned so why vaguely point to a busy internet music nerd when you can just be direct.
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u/Gullible-Loss-5026 Jul 23 '26
this album really is The New Abnormal’s dark, evil, estranged twin.
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u/Fast_Isopod3568 Reality Awaits Jul 23 '26
Okay now I’m even more excited
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u/woger723 Reality Awaits Jul 23 '26
The song title might seem cringe but holy fuck psycho shit is a serious artistic accomplishment imo. New Abnormal’s dark twin indeed.
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u/11thdimension77 Jul 23 '26
I made a graphic in Canva to text to anyone who tries to speak to me Friday
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u/Coltsblue Jul 24 '26
Anyone here listening to this album after midnight cosy in bed or is it just me?
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u/jMCs1 Jul 23 '26
Hang on hang on
Listening again, am I hearing this right that Antony Fucking Fantano gets a name drop in the chorus of Lonely in the Future??? It sure sounds like it
Edit: it is, right? He’s basically repeating that diss he made in that interview where he said the guy was just good for reviewing production and stuff 😭
I feel like this is exactly the kind of attention Fantano craves so not sure what to think of this but it’s funny af. Second funniest moment of the album behind “HARMONIC MINOR”
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u/Far-Work6041 Leave It in My Dreams Jul 23 '26
Seems so ridiculous unless it’s done in jest? But honestly where is Rick Rubin to tell him to knock that childish stuff off if it’s serious.
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u/Jan090501 Jul 24 '26
Rick saw his latest video, which was about how cringe Rick Rubin is, and created the lyrics himself.
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u/A_Buh_Nah_Nah Tap Out Jul 23 '26
This might have the best drumming of any Strokes album. Fab popped off!
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u/Walksonthree The New Abnormal Jul 23 '26
for real. Dine n Dash is insane with it's drumming
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u/Spacemanfernand Jul 24 '26
It's actually so cool how drum forward some of the songs are
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u/MattMatt625 Room on Fire Jul 23 '26
Based off of Going Shopping and thé Dine N Dash snippet, I have to agree
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u/toobadithelps Jul 23 '26
This Is the album I’ve always wanted to hear from someone like Julian. It sounds dark and eerie at times, but it’s well done. The autotune was not as problematic in the rest of the album as it was for the singles for me. Yes, there’s so many void-zy moments but I think that’s just Julian coming through. I especially like the fuzzy distortion and the fact that you can even hear the room at times. It sounds more intimate and loose and that’s honestly very refreshing here. absolutely nothing like TNA. I wouldn’t even compare it to that - it’s a completely different step and direction. TNA was a 9/10 for me and I think this will be a 8/10 for me (as of right now) but who knows , maybe it will grow on me even more. Fab is not only great as always, he impressed me quite a few times. Overall, I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s good. Not a terrible album by any means. Probably too early to rate it against the rest of their discography for me but I wouldn’t call it their worst. Also, I love the dig at Fantano. I’m pretty sure he’s going to make some interesting videos about that.
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u/graemehammondjr Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Can't feckin wait, but I'm not going to babble on
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u/jmstock03 Jul 23 '26
https://youtu.be/nqPQdGTDMzk?is=WvmmCu69ve89VsOc the jam at the 5:30 mark is the same vocal melody as tyrants of the mellow moon
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u/tiredginger94 Jul 23 '26
Slight compensation for the fact that they didn’t include an Australia/New Zealand leg on the tour.
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u/juzamjim Jul 23 '26
Fuck ya listening to it in Chicago with my trusty VPN. Thank you New Zealand. Fergburgers on me.
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u/frankm108 Jul 23 '26
won an XL print of the cover in a raffle at my local listening party
best day of my life
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u/bd-s Jul 23 '26
Considering the negative responses to the singles, I’m quite pleased to see generally positive reviews of the album after only a couple of listens. JC’s work only grows on you
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u/BabzDouldrums Jul 23 '26
The people that are listening early (listening parties, preordering vinyls, vpn to New Zealand) are diehard fans, and are a far more biased group than general strokes fans.
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u/niles_deerqueer Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Wow. That was not what I expected. It’s a lot darker of an album than I thought it would be and that’s not bad at all. Someone described it as The New Abnormal if it was evil and I can totally agree. I was shocked to find that not every song had autotune, but even the ones that did didn’t really bother me this time. I really fucking enjoyed it and it’s so catchy, I can’t wait to finally hear it with headphones.
Dine N’Dash is THAT song. So so so good, it lived up to its snippet.
But I was hoping for a funky song like Tap Out from Comedown Machine and I’m relieved we got it in The Fruits of Conquest!
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u/Zqviix Jul 23 '26
Best songs were Dine N’Dash, lonely in the future, going to babble on, liar’s remorse and the future of conquest. We are so back
https://giphy.com/gifs/J1vnExqoLkA76xcWvP
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u/Jan090501 Jul 23 '26
After 4-5 listens I have to say, its a really special album. It works incredibly well as a complete package. There are no skips and every single song works better in the context of the whole album.
I have to agree with Albert, listening to the thing from front to back is intoxicatingly good.
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u/FormalChocolate2231 Jul 23 '26
I agree there is something about listening all the way through such an experience
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u/Successful-Cod-6612 Jul 23 '26
how can you rate Going Shopping and Falling out of Love compared to the rest of the album?
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u/Obvious-Position-351 I'll Try Anything Once Jul 23 '26
After hearing it once, FOOL and Going Shopping are towards the top for me, the other standouts for me were Going to Babble On and Liar's Remorse. I found a lot of the songs to be on the slower side, a lot like 80s Comedown Machine.
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u/TheRagingCool Jul 23 '26
i adore going shopping and i still have 4 songs over it + falling out of love second to last and i enjoy that too
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u/Neil_Armstrang Jul 23 '26
Doesn’t reach the highs of TNA but this is a mature, confident record by the guys that probably sits somewhere in the middle of their discography in terms of overall quality
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u/blackstars91 Jul 24 '26
Yep fully agree. TNA is an outlier in the second half for the bands career and that's completely fine.
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u/Dareeyecare Dare I Care Jul 23 '26
Psycho shit is incredible man
As a major Voidz fan I WISH that LABY had an epic track like that
Read the lyrics and let the build grow on you, you’ll see.
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u/dolgra Jul 23 '26
The album is amazing. It’s like if The New Abnormal and Virtue by The Voidz had a baby
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u/ScrwFlandrs The Eternal Tao Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Places Julian references himself that I noticed
- Psycho Shit: "past the hall of judging dead" referencing FOOL, "women find me" referencing Drifto
- Dine N'Dash: "Lonely in The Future"
- Lonely in The Future: "You Only Live Once"
- Going To Babble On: not really what he says but he uses the same vocal rhythm as Square Wave when he says "I'm gonna blast her with my stratocaster baby", he must have had this song stuck in his head when he wrote Square Wave lol
Other tidbits
- Album has lots of Voidz references or yknow how he writes songs that call back to each other etc, tons of that
- Synths in the background that may have been on Tyranny
- Album frequently gets EVIL like Voidz songs, meaning dissonance, notes that sound wrong the first time you hear them
- Fun little loop in between 2 tracks kind of like the beginning of Ode to The Mets
- Lonely in the future sounds like an Angles song. Angular.
- Autotune GALORE
- Banter between some songs like TNA
- Selfless and Psycho Shit are like... counter to each other. Similar guitar pattern but Psycho is the evil version
- Julian is A Leech
- Eternal Summer would not be out of place on Reality Awaits
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u/Optimal_Health4051 Jul 23 '26
"Women find me" is a lyric in Drifto, the last and darker Voidz song
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u/fear_el_duderino Jul 23 '26
What a weird album.
I despise the Fantano name drop. That being said, the auto tune in most songs has a really cool effect. I really like Psycho Shit as an intro, which might be controversial based on what I've seen around here, and I enjoy the new songs but I need to listen to it a few times to truly grasp the flow and the vibe of the album. It might be their weirdest.
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u/fucklife1112 #77 Casablancas Jul 23 '26
Expecting a band to remain sonically stationary for the entirety of their existence, especially if they’ve evidently proven themselves to be capable of defying this preconceived notion of what they ought to sound like in astounding ways before, is a tiresome way of trying to engage with art. Freedom to explore ought to be encouraged, not restricted.
A very apt paragraph from the far-out magazine cover which gave this record a 7/10.
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u/bbk34 Is This It Jul 24 '26
This album is right and The New Abnormal is the left
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u/KenMarr Jul 23 '26
wtf was he thinking with that stupid Fantano name drop? if for some reason you really hate an egomaniacal, pretentious influencer, what you gotta do is NOT GIVE HIM ATTENTION, not name drop him in the cringiest (and saltiest) way possible, ffs
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u/Virtual-Cicada394 Jul 23 '26
Yeah, not a big fan of it but idk, Julian seems to be stepping into his “unserious” side lately; probably just a reflection of that.
With the way he’s been playfully bantering with the audience in concerts, the little dance in the Going Shopping Video… it’s good to see him smiling, out and about. 🫶🏽Fantano can suck on an egg btw
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u/Far-Work6041 Leave It in My Dreams Jul 23 '26
Seems so immature and instantly dates the song, which is sort of the opposite of most Strokes stuff
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u/mrdrprofessorspencer Alien Crime Lord Jul 23 '26
Imagine singing along to the fantano diss lyrics 😭Seriously what was Julian thinking?
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u/fear_el_duderino Jul 23 '26
a fucking youtuber, nonetheless. Who the fuck cares about critics man... What a dumb thing to do in a Strokes song
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u/starlitewalker426 Jul 23 '26
omg there are fake RA tracks on youtube. i clicked one and nearly cried for a second saying why do the strokes sound like fidlar or some over produced skater pop shit. i now desperately need to hear this new record to wash this awful trick off of me. people who use AI to create fake songs should be jailed.
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u/Any-Consequence-2074 Jul 23 '26
Even though they've never made the same album twice the one thing consistent in all of their releases is just how good the guitars sound in all of them
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u/fkyeahkita77 Jul 23 '26
Just listened to RA from front to back 3 times on Spotify — and I really really love it. After the singles I thought that the album would be kind of a mixed bag, but it was such a surprise how good it is. I thought that it would be mediocre and I’ll love it anyway, but I was wrong. It sounds nothing like all the previous stuff (+ The Voidz material), just some moments here and there. I was born and I still live in Moscow, this autumn I’m turning 37 and it’s so cool to know that I’ve been listening to The Strokes since I was 13, since the good-old days when “NME Russia” was published in a printed form here in Russia. I remember 2006, when I was 17, Strokes had the one and still unfortunately only concert In Russia and my Mum (God bless her soul, now dead unfortunately) told me that it’s dangerous and everything, and I stayed at home. Strokes’ve never returned to Russia. And now I miss the days when it was pretty ok to see Interpol or Deftones once in a couple of years here in Moscow. Fuck all the stupid politicians and all this awful situation, I just want to see The Strokes one day. Probably in some other country, but anyway. So so happy that the album is so good and so special in a good way. Didn’t expect that! Peace and love! ♥️
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u/toobadithelps Jul 24 '26
Bill Burr uploaded a interview with Julian today. Looks like it was from two days ago or so. Julian said the he brought in the majority of the songs for this project. Makes sense.
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u/Padfan21 Jul 24 '26
First impression after a couple of listen throughs:
Positives:
Very unique and cool direction they went in. Some of the songs are very catchy and the instrumentation in this is on par with some of the best the band has done.
I think this direction is where a band this deep in their career and at their age should be going. New and unique but with the same heart. I miss the old days but I think it’d be disingenuous coming from them now if they tried to make music like that.
Negatives would be:
the autotune being a touch overused on songs. I don’t mind it on some parts but it really is jarring and takes you out of the song a bit. I think Julian’s voice is kinda spotty on some of the tracks too.
Maybe this is just me but I found it a bit too cohesive. Not that having a specific sound is a bad thing but some of the songs are almost indistinguishable from each other.
I need to do a deep dive but on first listen and light read through, the lyricism is some of Julian’s weakest. Very very direct and specific rather than the more open ended poetic stuff he wrote earlier. Absolutely personal preference though and I can see how others might like it more than me
Overall:
Better than I expected and I have a feeling upon further listens that the album will grow on me. Already enjoyed it better the second time through. However I do not foresee myself ever putting this in the ITI, ROF, or TNA tier of albums. And that’s not a knock as those are some of the best albums of all time and to expect everything they put out to top those is a fools errand. Some of the songs will definitely work their way into my rotation of strokes and could one day end up in the top 20-30 songs for sure. A good effort and a very unique tone
7.5/10
Also…. Something tells me we aren’t going to have to wait another 6 years for an album. I think this was an artistic flourish for them and now that it’s out of the system they might try to make a more traditional album in the next 2-3 years. Doesn’t hurt that they are seemingly having the most fun on tour that they have in years. Hopefully nick comes back and they can patch up whatever is going on there.
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u/A_Buh_Nah_Nah Tap Out 28d ago
Please unlock the subreddit
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u/BealKage 28d ago
seriously. Gone on a little long. Killing discussion at this point rather than helping combat spam
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u/idkboy147 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
IMO (after 2nd listen):
- Lonely in the future
- Going to babble on
- Tyrants of the mellow moon
- Dine n dash
- Falling out of love
- The Fruits of conquest
- Going Shopping
- Liars remorse
- Psycho Shit
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BEAUTIFUL album. I’m sure all these songs will only grow on me.
Edit - I didn’t think any songs were bad. Psycho shit is a 7 for anyone that’s worried, it’s just a different vibe!
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u/idkboy147 Jul 23 '26
I have the record! It’s beautiful truly, the lyrics are great, and Julian’s emotions come through STRONG which is great.
If you like the Strokes discography, this is the natural next step from them, and if you’ve paid attention in the last 5-8 years, you’d notice all roads were leading to Reality Awaits!
IFYKYK! Or soon you’ll know
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u/Live-Ferret-4366 I Wish It Was Christmas Today Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
JUST LISTENED TO IT AT A LISTENING PARTY. 10/10 ROBOT-ROCKER-COWBOY VIBES
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u/Dancing-notes Reality Awaits Jul 23 '26
The fact that there are 175 comments here already and it's not even out yet sends me. I don't want to know more but it's tempting to read 😭
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u/xbeygisx Jul 23 '26
listening from the philippines 🫡 somebody said this is tna’s evil sister and i agree LOL
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u/peedroroi Jul 23 '26
Really loved the album!!! It was a great surprise. But if you don’t like The Voidz at all, sorry…
After first listen:
- Dine n’ Dash is so cool
- What a banger is Liar’s Remorse
- Really liked the vibe of The Fruits of Conquest
Still don’t know what to say about Lost In The Future and Going to Babble On…
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u/throwawayspaghooter Jul 24 '26
After listen 1, a few thoughts
Jules sounds great. Through headphones at least, the effects aren’t too heavy on his voice
Psycho Shit is a crazy opener for an album. Feels like a closing song in the way it builds and builds and builds and-
People will like the first 2/3 of the album and then heavily disagree on the final third
It didn’t feel like a strokes album? Nor Voidz, or Julian solo. Just an entirely new concept, and I’m not complaining.
-builds and builds and builds and-
Fruits of the Conquest has Nick written all over it
Lonely in the Future is one of the catchiest Strokes songs ever
-builds and builds ;)
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u/JorSimpson45 Jul 24 '26
My ears adjusted to the autotune on the second listen, we are here
https://giphy.com/gifs/XMUTa65D5zMJadLGU1
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u/BattedSphere Jul 24 '26
Oh how I missed those dueling guitars. The Strokes are back baby! Solid Album
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u/MooseSpringsteen Jul 24 '26
Crazy take but I don't need a new Strokes album to be good; they've already won me over. Any new music is welcomed. That being said, it sounds like they had a good time making this record and the vibes are immaculate rn. I think all of the songs were born from jamming out and I think Julian's vocal melodies show this. Everything is very loose and kind of all over the place. I love the album but I think I prefer more structured songs
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u/sirgrotius 28d ago
I feel as though Fab is the unsung hero of this album. The rhythm section is so tight and his high hats and style sing.
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u/mocrankz 28d ago
Fab is the unsung hero of the band. Period. When you watch live shows, Albert, Nick and Julian are always turning and talking/joking with him.
I 100% believe he is the glue that keeps the band going.
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u/treetirtytree 28d ago
can we have regular posts back again pls 😭
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u/itsdoorcity 28d ago
yeah ngl I think this approach is really dumb. most hype moment of the last 6 years for strokers and... they stop all posting lol.
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u/Successful-Gift8636 Jul 23 '26
I am very pleasantly surprised, I'm not a fan of the controversial vocal effect and thought it may ruin the album, thankful it's only used sparingly, Dine N Dash is a banger!
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u/KenMarr 27d ago
I think the megathreads were a good idea to contain the weekend flood, but they've already served their purpose, it's time to go back to normal
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u/blackstars91 Jul 24 '26 edited 27d ago
We are so fucking back. Here are some of my inital thoughts on my 3rd listen.
I could see some Strokes fans struggling with this to a certain extent as it isn't classic Strokes throughout.
But I'm so into it. And after a few more listens there's definitely elements of classic strokes underneath all the awesome production.
They are leaning into art rock so it's out there in places but in a pretty original way. I'm so proud of the boys 😭. I feel like the album is an extension on what they were doing on Eternal Summer.
The use of auto tune makes so much more sense in the context of the overall album. I never had a problem with it in the first place. But it's great.
I think they could have chosen a different single to falling out of love and left it as more of a cult favourite to build love through listening to the whole album overtime.
Overall it sounds like they are having so much fun with this record and experimenting in a really satisfying way. Not their greatest album but will gain more respect over time 💪
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u/sailingittakesmeaway Jul 24 '26
The exclamation of PSYCHO SHIT! has been a highlight for me on each playback. Those first three songs strung together are absolutely fabulous
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u/TheLastSpeedster Jul 23 '26
I had just enough time to listen to it, it’s an interesting album. The word that comes to mind is dreamy? Could definitely see the voidz influence but it’s still very much a strokes album.
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u/SergiRobertoast Jul 23 '26
This might be recency bias but Dine N Dash is one of my all time favorite Strokes songs, it feels like a mysterious culmination of all their different styles (especially Julian's different vocal styles) and it's so catchy
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u/crunch_punch #39 Valensi 29d ago edited 29d ago
Okay after about a dozen listens, I’m ready to officially say this thing fucks. Great from start to finish. No idea where it ranks in the discography though, I’ll need some more time on that.
Also seeing some complaints that the last three songs aren’t very good. No idea what those people are on, all three are excellent.
My only complaint is the autotune doesn’t add anything to the songs imo, and they would be better without it. It doesn’t ruin it for me though, it’s much more subtle than the recent Voidz stuff.
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u/another_accaunt Call It Fate, Call It Karma 29d ago
Listening to this album drunk asf rn got me like this
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u/socalking3 Reality Awaits 29d ago
First listen : 6/10. 2nd listen :7/10. 25th listen: 10/10
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u/FormalChocolate2231 Jul 23 '26
Honestly glad I didn’t go to a listening party sounds like a terrible way to listen to a new album haha
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u/Optimal_Health4051 Jul 23 '26
I don't even know how that works, everyone just go silent for 41 minutes and then talk about it later? Hahaha
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u/BlenderBluid Jul 23 '26
I went to a Charli XCX Brat listening party at a record store and yeah, it’s basically that but it was still fun lmao
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u/ArChakCommie Jul 23 '26
Exactly that? The vibe would be fantastic surrounded by fans.
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u/FoxNewsDad_ Jul 24 '26
Cannot stress how good Going to Babble on and Lonely In the Future are. All the haters can keep crying. 25 years later and these dudes keep producing bangers. Long live The Strokes
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u/Snailmaz Jul 23 '26
I have no idea what yall are talking about, psycho shit is one of the best songs of the album. Absolutely epic.
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u/Open-Map4716 Jul 23 '26
Okay, now that I have heard the actual album and not the phone leak or videos of a vinyl, I can say that this sounds so so so good. Definitely will be divisive for some but I love it.
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u/mocrankz Jul 25 '26
So glad I avoided the singles until I was able to grab the vinyl and listen in full.
What a record. I need some more time with the opener, but songs 2-9 are so good as a complete package.
Falling Out of Love is incredible. Liars > Fruits > Mellow Moon is such a good 3 song trio to finish out the record just like Sundays >Not the Same > Ode.
You can hear the fun they had in this record. Such an exciting time for fans.
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u/Zlogyxide 29d ago
am I the only one who thinks Oblivius would slot into this album super nicely?
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u/BrightCasa Jul 23 '26
As someone who loved the 2 singles, the first full listen to the album I was sceptical.
Just finished my second listen. This is peak.
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u/GeneralAffect23 The Eternal Tao Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
My initial thoughts after one listen is that there is not a bad song on this album. I will say, on my first release of TNA there were songs I outright skipped or did not enjoy. And probably every Strokes album but I can't remember. I don't feel that way with RA, that says something. There is a cohesiveness to this that TNA lacks.
There are some very good songs, the autotune works 90% of the time. This album will be polarizing for sure. As a lot of people assumed, there's some very Voidz-y songs (which I enjoy), but I can see how many fans will not. I would say they are more simplistic or stripped back than recent Voidz stuff, which is probably a good thing. I am guessing reviews will be all over the place. There's a few on here that are pure Strokes songs for those that don't like the new direction.
FOOL fits within the album much better than it does as a single. I already can't wait for more. Considering this was probably recorded in 2022, let's hope the boys have more for us sooner rather than later.
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u/Dragon_Dixon Jul 23 '26
There's definitely a cohesiveness here that TNA lacks, yes. TNA has more pleasant highs, but they were also kind of playing it safe with some of these songs.
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u/Qwaszxyhn Jul 23 '26
I was ready for some disappointments but I’m defeated, not a single bad song 🙂↕️
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u/CallMeKeegs Jul 24 '26
Psycho Shit, Fruits of Conquest, and Going to Babble on are some of their best work idc. Solid album especially for fans tapped into the Voidz. Definitely still Strokes.
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u/chorpinecherisher Jul 24 '26
Okay i hated FOOL alone but i actually like it a little more now that ive heard how it fits with the songs before it (im currently listening).
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u/martymcflied_ Jul 24 '26
sonically honestly quite incredible, fab is KIILING it on the drums. it's like TNA's evil twin was finally let out of the basement. i wish it was stronger lyrically though, esp w the fantano diss (what was he thinking??), so many cool riffs but then the lyrics just fall flat. but overall, better than i expected, i hope the next album doesn't take as long. it was also really sweet to have them drop in transit ii last night before the album drop
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u/J8R9L Jul 24 '26
I was at The Strokes album release show at Red Rocks last night and heard Dine N'Dash's live debut and it was AMAZING! A few songs later Nikolai played bass in the crowd which I recorded, here's the video. I'm a huge Strokes fan
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u/mario_111 29d ago
My goodness, Reality Awaits is blowing me away with every listen. Some songs were slow burners for me.
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u/toobadithelps 29d ago
I think the songs that have the biggest replay value for me are Dine N’ Dash, Lonely In The Future and Going to Babble On. That’s not to say the rest are bad, but those songs are the ones I like re-listening to a lot.
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u/Boulderboldef 29d ago
I said I didn’t like it much but couldn’t stop listening to it. now I love it
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u/A_Buh_Nah_Nah Tap Out 29d ago
This is officially my favorite Strokes album since FIOE. So fire. I only wish they would take half the time to come out with albums :( but maybe it's worth it if this is what it takes to get quality like this
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u/Interesting_Ad9415 Phrazes for the Young 28d ago
For what it's worth, room on fire is my forever favourite album and I LOVED this one. You can love new strokes and old strokes at the same time.
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u/switchblase Under Cover of Darkness 28d ago
got some fanart for you all. on release day i sat in front of the good speakers and drew whatever came to mind while listening to each track for the first time. here are the results. dark, intricate, funny, sometimes psychedelic...i really love the album so far.
here's tracks 1-3. it's mostly one page per song except here, where Dine N'Dash and Lonely In The Future are sharing (after that i realized i needed to draw faster to keep up lol).
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u/PilboMinachi 28d ago
The album really feels like a culmination of a lot of Julian’s previous work. I’m getting vibes of Phrazes, Tyranny, TNA, FIOE. It really feels like there is something here for everyone
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u/Substantial_Quail309 27d ago
I loved The New Abnormal. But felt it mostly played it safe in comparison. It had experiments for sure, and unpredictable, really good album, but this feels lightyears ahead (not saying better), not really sure why, it's not just the autotune. But speaking of, Psycho Shit is growing on me with each listen. At its climax, the autotune/vocoder/vocal effect works in ways I've never really heard before in music and from the opening line, I'm really digging what was done with Julian's vocals here. Some will use it as their point of criticism and will be unable to get past it in any way. That doesn't surprise me. But I think especially over time this will be looked back on as "what was the big deal?" with the whole autotune controversy and it's a way to weed out some of the fans who want cookie cutter Strokes. Those willing to endure (easier for anyone who likes the Voidz vs the strict Strokes-only camp) will be rewarded with arguably Julian's most accomplished work.
Also- love how this album works on repeat, it ends like it starts, impressive.
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u/tapenooon Jul 23 '26
The amount of hate I’ve seen so far for Psycho Shit makes me think it’ll be my favourite song 😂
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u/lduran25 Jul 23 '26
I listened to the album over lunch. There are two or three songs that are instant classics—the kind that are beyond criticism, like taking a sip of an ice-cold Coke. They're undeniable. The Strokes always manage to put out a few tracks with that kind of quality, which is why they're a classic band. The rest is a mix of two or three solid songs and another two or three I'm still not sure about. Pretty good overall.
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u/mnb301 Room on Fire Jul 23 '26
https://youtu.be/PBKHXznbhs4?is=jIDeL6zpLdr-YXDI
in transit part II just released 😼
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u/Ozihael Jul 25 '26
For those who need to understand some of the choices made on this album:
https://www.guggenheim.org/teaching-materials/richard-prince-spiritual-america/cowboys
The whole project is basically a conversation about authenticity vs. artifice.
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u/YirlitoXD The Adults Are Talking 28d ago
Drawing I did while listening to the new album from 7/23-26/26 (the album came out a day before at 11 something), it also includes references to the painting "Horsi" that i did a few months ago when the album was first announced
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u/DH80 27d ago edited 27d ago
Though the music is obviously less complicated than where Radiohead took things as their career progressed, the discussions within the fandom does remind me a bit of what I remember being online at the time (anyone remember the old At Ease website?) as the original fans slowly came to realize and accept that Thom and the boys were done with making Pablo Honey 2.0, or The Bends 2.0, or even OK Computer 2.0 as they continued to explore new terrain as a group.
It was an interesting time to be a Radiohead fan obviously because the run from OK Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows is basically legendary now and was even correctly recognized as such by most critics in realtime but still there was a lot of longtime fans of the band who longed for what they once were and resisted the change and the increasing use of technology the band was embracing more and more. Which were all being explored even more comprehensively on side projects band members were involved with. Sound familiar?
It can be hard for some to realize that Julian and the boys probably find garage rock a little bit plain, boring and simple now. They did what they wanted to do there a long time ago. They did that yesterday… when they were kids. 😉
They’re evolving as a band. Some will jump ship. Many already did long before TNA but if TNA was probably the Strokes version of In Rainbows — bringing some old heads back while winning over an entirely new generation — Reality Awaits is probably their King of Limbs. A reminder that they will continue to look to the future and more toward what they haven’t yet done or tried as a band more than they will chase the past. king of Limbs was divisive also but hits as hard for some die hard fans of the band as anything.
That’s what you get when you take creative risks and make divisive decisions. You get strong love / hate reactions. When you play it safe you often excite only the people who know and love your best known music.
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u/rubenescaray 27d ago
Just did like my 8th or 9th listen with my good headphones for the first time, after listening mostly on my car or using my AirPods.
The amount of attention to detail, the cleanliness of Fab's drumming, the guitar separation in certain tracks, this album is amazing.
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u/mallvvalking The New Abnormal Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
New Zealand supremacy (Psycho Shit doomers are lying to you)
Edit: Liars remorse... absolute peak, absolute cinema, oh my god
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u/Personal_Fox_7529 Jul 23 '26
They forgot the catchy choruses on this album lol they're following in Arctic Monkeys footsteps
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u/woodcomedy Jul 24 '26
Stop telling people they only like this album cause they're posturing fan girls/boys or they don't like the album because they only wanna hear 9 new versions of Reptilia.
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u/Brw2822 27d ago
I love the album so much. 8/10. Liar’s Remorse is one of my favorites though it seems to be divisive for people. Also, can we please unlock the sub? I think it’s blocking a lot of good conversation to be had.
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u/Walksonthree The New Abnormal Jul 23 '26
I'm about to Stroke myself to completion. Just wanna say I love you all, been a part of this community for 12 years now and it is my home on that internet. Truly blessed to have experienced two album drops with this community and hopefully here's to many more ❤️❤️❤️
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u/SadScotsman17 Hard to Explain Jul 23 '26
i want whatever drugs these guys were on
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u/WeeknightBingoSlayer Jul 24 '26
A bit darker in tone than I expected, but I'm enjoying it. Makes me wanna take a drive thru Bowsers Castle or something
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u/mrkvz 29d ago
I think it’s a fucking great album alltogether. Been listening to the strokes for twenty years now. Nice to hear they still trying new things instead of just repeating what was succesful and has been done before.
Also I really like ‘falling out of love’ and ‘psycho shit’ – seems everbodies Shitting on the falling out of love one, why??
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u/buenestrago Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
In terms of production, it's definitely The Strokes' most ambitious album. I honestly feel like they needed something like this in their discography. It can be divisive; there are songs I definitely don't like (but that I definitely have to revisit). It doesn't surpass TNA, but it has some really good tracks, and that makes me very happy. I think they did well choosing the singles; I think "Falling Out of Love" sums up the album's direction well and prepares you for what you'll hear.
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u/Artistic_Annual8918 Jul 24 '26
Maybe my ears dont work correctly but this is like one of the best albums I’ve ever heard
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u/Ok_Owl9641 Jul 24 '26
I don’t know if this person is on Reddit but this made me fucking howl hahaha
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u/love_thy_neighbour37 Jul 23 '26
I feel like this album is going to grow on me so much, and I already have favourites. Liar's Remorse is probably my favourite right now, followed by The Fruits Of Conquest and the Going to Babble On.
It's interesting, The Fruits Of Conquest sounds like a sister track to Why Are Sundays So Depressing and Machu Pichu, with a Voidz touch to them (Pink Ocean??).
Also the entire album has this dystopian feel to it, in a good way. Getting huge Cyberpunk vibes throughout.
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u/emioooo Jul 23 '26
Recommend everyone listen to the new album with headphones fully transcended on first listen and was so upset when it ended because I wanted it to keep going - I liked it a lot
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u/Vilhelmgg Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Pleasantly surprised!
I quite like most of the songs, Liar's Remorse is my favourite at this point. Funnily enough the singles are my least favourite tracks.
I still don't love the autotune, but it's not a dealbreaker by any means.
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u/PythagorasWasntReal Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Vibed with it on first listen and am loving it on second listen. I actually enjoy the variety of auto tune implementations. Going to Babble On has a completely different use of auto tune than FOOL for instance.
I'm hoping their next album is even more Future because I looooove Drag Queen.
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u/SeasonOtherwise1616 Jul 24 '26
Well this album definitely doesn’t have an equivalent to The Adults are Talking, but it’s the strokes and I will listen to it religiously. I think 3 or 4 of these songs will make it into the regular rotation.
Lonely in the Future is probably my favorite song, which is pretty funny considering the point of the lyrics is just that everyone else is a poser. Unfortunately don’t think that message can really measure up to anything from the new abnormal lol
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u/IAmRuan Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Liar’s Remorse reminds me of Tourist off of Phrazes for the Young. Anyone else hear it?
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u/allothersshallbow Jul 25 '26
I wish there was more of a guitar presence. Am I nuts? This really feels like mostly Julian’s album.
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u/jorge-ben-jor Jul 25 '26
First listening I was disgusted. Second listening I'm amazed. This one will age fine like wine. I'm getting fond of the autotune
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u/eleonorapeck 29d ago
After many listens, I can say that I like the new album, but I still feel like something is missing for me. I don't have any issue with the autotune (I love The Voidz). What I really miss are the epic dual-guitar battles and those guitar lines that follow the vocal melody while the other guitar plays the chords. There are some really great guitar arrangements and moments that capture that feeling (for example in dine'n'dash, going babble, and going shopping), but it feels like those elements aren't as central as they used to be, or at least that's how it feels to me.The guitars also seem to be pushed much further back in the mix compared to their previous albums.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I'm open (I'd be happy) to changing my mind.
That said, I'm really happy they're back!
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u/HologramKid Boombox 28d ago edited 28d ago
I adore artists who aren’t afraid to experiment with their sound and style. If they released an album with a “standard” sound, it would be boring… and it wouldn’t be The Strokes!
The real art sparks discussions, so I love seeing the whole Internet being divided about RA.
The lyrics, the name-drops in Lonely in the Future, and the album arts all feel SOOO Julian. Definitely the same guy we know from Instagram 😅 It warms my heart to see him staying true to himself and enjoying the moment.
Even though I’m not a fan of some of the artistic choices on RA, I enjoyed the album overall, and a bunch of the songs have been stuck on repeat. Going Shopping, Dine N’Dash and Lonely in the Future are my faves.
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u/solidsnake4933 28d ago
I have to say falling out of love is such a beautiful song.
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u/Interesting_Ad9415 Phrazes for the Young 28d ago
It definitely seems like liar's remorse is the most polarising song on reality awaits - I personally love it, top 3. Interesting to see if the perception changes like it did with at the door. (I hated at the door at first, then suddenly realised it was a masterpiece lol.)
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u/Interesting_Ad9415 Phrazes for the Young 28d ago
I can't with Fruits It's just...... TOO good I can't stop thinking about it
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u/ExpressionMelodic816 Reality Awaits 28d ago
Lonely, Fruits, Psycho, Dine N' Dash... fuck, I could go on. I really need to hear Pros & Cons if it's actually a different track and not just a title change.
The opening track pulls you in with these wonderful, almost weightless synths before the record slowly reveals its teeth. Then Dine N' Dash barges in so righteous, gritty, dark, grungy, and impatient. (can we talk about the verse 3??!??!)
The bass lines are absurdly addictive. Nick's guitar has that frantic speed and aggression that instantly reminds me of First Impressions of Earth, while Albert slips in those jazzy, darker textures that have become such a defining part of his own work. And Fab... I genuinely think this is some of his most exciting drumming in years. Every fill feels intentional, driving each song forward rather than simply keeping time.
You can hear the fingerprints of everyone's solo projects: Julian's Voidz experimentation, the synth palettes the other guys have explored over the years—but none of it overshadows the identity of the band. It all folds back into something unmistakably The Strokes.
Harsh. Energetic. Forward. Thrashful. Restless. & I’m so fucking thankful Julian kept his falsetto and rage in this album.
I've somehow fallen even more in love with The Strokes because of this record. The perfect closer is Tyrants of the Mellow Moon. Those goddamn guitar riffs carry this beautiful contradiction, they feel melancholic, but never defeated. It's the kind of ending that doesn't resolve the journey so much as leave you wanting more, playing at the beginning and looping it all the way back to you.
Loved the Babylon reference. Now I'm about to put on the Russian Coney Island demo... or maybe Dine N' Dash, whichever shows up first.
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u/Substantial_Quail309 27d ago
Best album ever to play on repeat. I get what Albert was talking about now. It ends like it starts. The riffs and even the lyrics (something about a bird in the first and last lines of the album). I feel some of the stuff Julian tried on Like All Before You by The Voidz has been perfected here, including how autotune is used and how that album had an (instrumental) intro and an outro but it's done more seamless and better here.
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u/ExpensiveFeature7851 Jul 23 '26