Essential 5 – The Strokes

Many of you might be new here so let me explain briefly what Essential 5 is. When I’m trying to get into a new band I wish there were a guide to tell me what are the essential songs I should listen too to GET the group. To understand what they are all about. Sure you might go with the hits, but so many times a band’s best or more poignant songs are obscure and not widely known. What I try to do with Essential 5 is bring these songs to light. I cant stress enough how this is solely based on my experience and taste so feel free to disagree and even contribute to the list.

Anyways Ive been itching to do an Essential 5 for The Strokes for a while now. This post was supposed to coincide with the “Angles” release more than two months ago. What can I say, laziness and procrastination got the better of me.

Although The Strokes are what you would call “mainstream” this was not always the case. I remember when they first came out with their throwback 70′s Ed Sullivan-esque video for “Last Night”, the only thing that came mind was “Who the hell are these guys?”. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t alone. I became a fan right then and there and promptly bought their freshman release “Is This It”. These dudes made shopping at the Salvation Army hip for the hoards of hipsters who would try to emulate their style and music in the years to come. While they are considerd dinasours in buzz band years, it says a lot that some of their best songs were released on “Angles”.

Anyways here goes the list after the jump. Enjoy.

5. Last Nite – Is This It (2001)