The Strokes

The short and sweet Someday single puts the spotlight on one of the Strokes' poppiest songs, along with two barebones recordings of "Is This It" and "Alone Together." Amidst all the hype generated in their wake, it's easy to lose sight of just what a good band the Strokes actually are, but the mix of jaded cool and earnestness in "Someday," along with its bouncy guitars and clever lyrics like "Alone we stand, together we fall apart," reaffirms why most of that hype was generated in the first place. The demos, meanwhile, strip away any measure of hype or polish around the band. Not that Is This It was a particularly glossy album, but the tinny, homemade sound quality emphasized the band's tight songwriting. Julian Casablancas' vocals on both "Is This It" -- which almost sounds like it was recorded with toy instruments -- and "Alone Together" are muffled and much more vulnerable, and the stiff drum machines backing both tracks are a far cry from Fabrizio Moretti's powerful drumming, but the bones of each song still show through as being cleverly crafted. By pairing one of their shiniest recordings with two of their roughest ones, on Someday the Strokes span the extremes of their sound. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide