Gruff and catchy:

With their debut album Is This It, The Strokes make a considerable splash amid the sad collective of current popular music.\nThese guys arrive on a music scene dominated by money-hungry boy band franchises, and for all technical purposes could qualify as a boy band as well (members of the band range between the ripe old ages of 20 and 23). But they are the very antithesis of their contemporaries. Their music is gruff and unpolished yet undeniably catchy. Is This It wasn't recorded in some massive studio or written by a team of Swedish pop luminaries. It was recorded in a dingy, smoke-filled sub-basement in Manhattan and was written entirely by The Strokes' lead singer Julian, Casablancas.\nThe Strokes didn't break into the mainstream through packaged mall tours. Their credibility came about through a series of now legendary New York club gigs. They didn't lure audiences with lyrics of puppy love and pelvic thrusts. But they are known to incite numerous brawls, make out with one another on stage and simply rock the house with their unique brand of roots rock. \nIs This It is a shot of adrenaline to the now fledgling rock world. The album clocks in at slightly more than a half hour, but the disc is so chock full of tight rhythms, raspy vocal stylings, simultaneously jerky and sharp guitar solos and insightful lyrics that any listener of discernable taste should walk away satisfied.\nIs This It reaches its musical peak during a series of sweetly twisted yet rocking love songs including the album's title track, "Barely Legal", "Someday" and "Hard to Explain." But the album's real coup comes in the form of one of the greatest party songs of all time, "Last Nite." \nThe Strokes have released an immensely entertaining freshman effort. Is This It is a tightly crafted album of smooth rock precision that hearkens back to the days of the British Invasion and '70s punk revolutionaries. The Strokes aren't especially deep, slick or overtly flashy, but they sure are fun.\nRating: 9