Photo: Roger Woolman, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Top 10 Strokes songs list takes a look at the material of a great New York City Band that originated in the early 2000s. Sounding somewhere between The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty and a bit of Pearl Jam, the Strokes released classic rock sounding material that helped them develop a loyal following and critical praise. The band has released six studio albums between the years 2001 and 2020.
# 10 – Hard To Explain
We open up our Top 10 Strokes songs list with the band’s debut single from their debut album. The song “Hard To Explain,” was released in 2001 on the album titled Is This It. The album featured musicians Julian Casablancas on vocals, Nick Valensi on guitar, Albert Hammond Jr. also on guitar, Nikolai Fraiture on bass and Fabrizio Moretti on drums. The song “Hard To Explain,” was a top 10 hit in Ireland and a top 20 hit in the United Kingdom. The song failed to make the U.S. Billboard Top 100 but it did reach the top 30 on the U.S. Billboard Alternative rock charts.
# 9 – 12:51
We continue our top 10 songs from the Strokes list with one of their finest songs that defined the band’s pop sensibilities. The song “12:51,” was released on the band’s sophomore album entitled Room On Fire. The song “12:51,” was released as the album’s lead off single. The song would become the band’s most successful charting song in the United Kingdom. It peaked at number 7 on the U.K Pop charts making it their only top 10 hit in the U.K. of their career.
# 8 – Someday
The great grooving song “Someday,” was the third single released from the band fantastic album Is This It. The song have been covered by many rock artists including a great version by Paramore. The video features a host of legendary rock stars and is not to be missed.
# 7 – The Modern Age
The song “The Modern Age,” is pretty much where it all began for The Strokes. The song was released on their debut EP The Modern Age which stood as the first released recording by the band. The EP contained three songs “The Modern Age,” “Last Night,” and “Barely Legal.” All three song were re-recorded by the band when they signed their major label deal and released their first full length album titled Is This It.
# 6 – You Only Live Once
“You Only Live Once,” is one of our all time favorite Strokes songs. The song “You Only Live Once,” was released on the album First Impressions of Earth. The album was released in 2006. The song was issued as the third single from the record. The band promoted the song hard through social media which was just in its infancy at the time on sites like myspace. It proved to be a very successful formula as the song went Gold in sales.
# 5 – Under The Cover Of Darkness
As we enter the second half of our top 10 Strokes songs list, we turn to the classic Strokes song “Under Cover of Darkness.” The song was released on the band’s fourth album titled Angles. The album was released n 2011. It had been quite a while since the Strokes had released and album since the previous album had been issued five years earlier in 2006. “Under Cover of Darkness.” became a very popular song for The Strokes
# 4 – Bad Decision
The great Stokes songs “Bad Decisions,” was released on the album The New Abnormal. The album was released in 2020 during the Coronavirus Pandemic. The album was produced by the brilliant Rick Rubin who has produced so many great artists from Mick Jagger to Johnny Cash. “Bad Decisions,” was released as the second single from the album. It was by far our favorite song on their new record.
# 3 – Juicebox
The Strokes song “Juicebox,” was a great one. Its remains one of their heaviest singles, yet still retains their great pop hooks. It owes a little to Henry Mancini’s Peter Gun – a fact in which they actually had to give him some songwriting credit on the song. “Juicebox,” stands as the only Strokes song to break the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song was released in 2005.
# 2 – Last Night
When I first heard this song, I thought this sort of reminds me of Tom Petty’s
“All American Girl.” Well it turns out they kind of did lift a but of Tom Petty’s hook on purpose. But if Tom Petty could laugh about it, I guess it was okay. In the end, It still stands on its own and its such a great rock and roll song. I think Tom Petty probably realized that too.
# 1 -Reptilia
Hands down, this has always been our favorite Strokes song. That bass line just kills it in a very similar fashion to actually the band the Killers. The song “Reptilia,” was released on the album Rooms on Fire. The record was released in 2004. This one just smokes.
