Album Review: The Strokes, Reality Awaits

In the 25 years since they reinvented rock for the new millennium with their landmark debut Is This Is It, The Strokes have at times struggled with the immortal question posed by Jarvis Cocker on This Is Hardcore – namely, what exactly do you do for an encore?

Along with the obligatory inter-band tension, drug-fuelled mayhem and rehab stints, there have also been one or two unconvincing creative detours. The epitome of swaggering, downtown NYC cool – frontman Julian Casablancas once memorably compared their teen years to Larry Clark’s cult classic film Kids – the band made a highly unexpected venture into Rage Against The Machine territory earlier this year.

During their Coachella headliner, the group displayed an array of visuals calling out the CIA’s role in overthrowing various international regimes. As powerful a moment as it undoubtedly was, on Reality Awaits, The Stokes wisely forgo an album of barbed political commentary à la Gang Of Four or The Pop Group.

Instead, recording in Costa Rica with Rick Rubin – who provides satisfyingly crisp production – the band largely play to their strengths. Both ‘Dime And Dash’ and ‘Going To Babble On’ traffic in the thrilling new wave that’s The Strokes’ stock-in-trade, the former boasting Cure-style guitar, and the latter climaxing with some impressive shredding.

Having flirted with reggae rhythms in the past, the band – perhaps influenced by their proximity to the Caribbean – here lean harder into the style. The likes of ‘Lonely In The Future’, ‘Going Shopping’ and ‘The Fruits Of Conquest’ at different times incorporate dub and calypso grooves, which sit nicely with the infectious melodies.

Having said all that, there the kind of idiosyncratic flourishes The Strokes have become increasingly fond over the years. For a start, Casablancas vocals are almost entirely Autotuned – which doesn’t always pay dividends – and the songs have occasional unorthodox sections that are quirky for quirky’s sake.

Nonetheless, The Strokes in 2026 are in pretty damn good shape. And as evidenced by the fact they continue to pack out prestige venues around the globe – including Dublin’s 3Arena later this year – they’ve also become the choice of a new generation of music fans. Not a bad position to be in, all told.

7/10