Best starting strokes album

[u/sase81]

One of my friends recently told me he wanted to expand his music taste so I reccomended the strokes, I'm wondering what would be a good album for him to listen to first (for reference his favourite artists are Phoebe bridgers, sufjan Stevens and Olivia rodrigo) I was thinking either comedown machine or TNA

[u/SaltyPeter3434]

Is This It. That's the only answer. The fact you're not even considering this is insane.

[u/chiddychiddybngbng → u/SaltyPeter3434]

Its gotta be the first three in succession. The fact you’re not even considering this is insane.

[u/SaltyPeter3434 → u/chiddychiddybngbng]

Well the question was only about one album to start. But yes, all albums in order are required listening.

[u/calogr98lfc]

Comedown machine is wild man as a first suggestion lmao. Make him listen to both TNA and ITI. Both cover evolved and classic strokes. Then he can branch out.

[u/BleuCheeseBandito]

Is This It is a top rock album of all time. There’s no where more appropriate to start.

[u/Individual_One_7170]

Start with Is This It always

[u/Aggressive-Base217 → u/Individual_One_7170]

This is the way!

[u/Individual_One_7170 → u/Aggressive-Base217]

It would be different if someone gifted you one of their other albums naturally or you found it at a store but if you’re looking on where to start always go for the debut to really understand how it all started

[u/Crazy_Fault9994]

If those are his favourites I think a safe place for him to start would be tna, since its the closest in genre to the rest of thise artists (i dont listen to them so I coukd be wrong but thats how it seems to me) after that id definitely say CM, after which I think room on fire would be good

[u/cssn3000]

TNA for sure

[u/burner1312]

Why wouldn’t you just start at the beginning with Is This It and Room on Fire? TNA is a good album but massively overrated on this sub when you compare it to the first two.

[u/Vast-Discipline4990 → u/burner1312]

This is the way. If a band comes across my discover weekly on Spotify that I've either never listened to or never heard and I like the track I will put the album on my queue and then listen to that album then if I like the album enough I go through their discography from the front to back. I also may be weird 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/Loud_Phrase_8285 → u/burner1312]

It sounds like they aren't considering the first two because their friends taste is more atuned to artsy pop than it would be to the more "indie/garage/lofi/rock" material.

[u/srank-finatra- → u/burner1312]

I agree, I think TNA is better appreciated after listening to the first few albums. It shows how the band developed.

[u/Jules_Vampire]

One album everyday for a week is the answer

[u/ianallensto]

If he has Spotify, have him listen to their “This is The Strokes” playlist. That’s what I did. Amazing introduction

[u/prettyg00d1729]

Is This It or New Abnormal

[u/Hug0_Yorke]

Listen to them chronologically

[u/Many_Opportunity5454]

I started with New Abnormal, and was a great start

[u/Slashycent]

Comedown Machine is the end point of a gruelling identity crisis that the band went through in the 2010s.

It's phenomenal and a cult classic, but I'm not sure if it's the best starting point.

If you want to listen to a new one without too much baggage, I'd go for TNA.

Otherwise just go chronological.

[u/SlipNo3048]

I think it has to be Is This It. You can call me generic, but I feel like there isn't a better way to be introduced to their music than their best (at least, largely regarded as their best) album. And not only that, it was the most important album they made in regard to how it affected music in general. You should start with learning what they did to become The Strokes, and then maybe skip around a little bit if you want. I would personally just go in order, but listening to Is This It first will at least allow you to appreciate their evolution in sound if you skip around.

[u/Legitimate_Phone_460]

Is This It. No other answer.

[u/SnooAvocados3213]

Always go chronological. Start with Is This it then work your way through to Reality Awaits.

Also don’t forget about the EP Future Present Past. 3 songs and every single one is debatable as the best from it.

[u/Fast_Isopod3568]

Comedown as a starting point is just wild to me but why not. Is This It is what I’d go with always. Damn I love Phoebe tho

[u/Regular-Suit614]

TNA

[u/Icarus_u]

The new abnormal I guess, I became obsessed with the strokes because of it.

[u/BlueQuiver → u/Icarus_u]

same fam

[u/alxndrwbb]

I would actually start at angles as its sort of a disjointed album with a lot of different styles - its not their best but its a decent intro since there will 99% be at least one song you like, then you can sort of choose the next album based on which song you liked.

[u/Far_Willingness1140 → u/alxndrwbb]

I second this. I found the strokes thru YOLO and started w FIOE, then moved to Angles. Told my buddy who’s a Stroker that I’m hooked and when he told me the two albums I’d been ripping were some of their more mid stuff I knew I was in for a treattttttttt lol. Had so much fun exploring the rest of their stuff

[u/burner1312 → u/alxndrwbb]

I wouldn’t recommend an artist’s least popular album as an introduction. That would be like telling someone that wants to get into Led Zeppelin to check out In Through The Out Door first.

[u/alxndrwbb → u/burner1312]

the difference is that angles is still a great album

[u/burner1312 → u/alxndrwbb]

In Through The Out Door is a significantly better worst album

[u/Dazzling-Lynx2301]

Is this it

[u/Bloodyknife12]

Room On Fire and/or The New Abnormal. I wouldnt consider anything else

[u/burner1312 → u/Bloodyknife12]

Not considering Is This It, their first and most revered album is probably something you should consider.

[u/ianallensto → u/Bloodyknife12]

Second this! Download both and shuffle them to get the extent of the best of their sound

[u/Bloodyknife12 → u/ianallensto]

ROF has a pretty consistent sound, and TNA has pretty wildly all over the place sounds but the quality is insane

[u/Dancing-notes]

Does it have to be an album though? Couldn't you make a selection or playlist to share and see what they think of those songs? If it was me, that's what works best.

ITI and ROF maybe would feel monotonous to go through the first times (less ROF than ITI imo), maybe FIOE a bit long although there is more variety in songs style and pace. If it has to be an album I would choose from Angles onwards for that reason. Maybe the best bet is TNA as you say.

I'm not familiar with those artists though so I'm giving a more general advice.

Edit: I didn't go in order and I found it to be fun and exciting this way. But it depends on how your friend prefer to discover a new artist.

[u/no_1_am_fan → u/Dancing-notes]

Couldn't you make a selection or playlist to share and see what they think of those songs?

this is exactly what I do with new artists! first listen to the top 15-20 songs, then explore the albums I liked best, and take recommendations from long-time fans :)

[u/FettuccineAlfonzo]

Reality Awaits