STROKES, THE - Is This It LP (Euro Press)

Label: RCA

Arriving on a wave of well-earned hype rooted in tight chops and a confident swagger, the Strokes offer a rock and roll antidote to the plague of boy bands, teen divas, and petulant rap-rock outfits. Despite this quintet's prep-school background, their sound comes from the same primordial ooze that spawned big apple legends like the New York Dolls, the Modern Lovers and the Velvet Underground. Clocking in at 36 minutes, Is This It packs its perfect length with stellar songs that draw inspiration from all over the map.