The album cover of Is This It by the Strokes captures an era of nostalgic hedonism. Although the band's catchy guitars and garage-rock leanings made this album an instant classic, its provocative cover was arguably just as impactful. But years on, the casual objectification and sexual provocation of the image speaks volumes about the music and fashion scenes at the time, and just how much they have changed.
With Is This It, their debut album, the Strokes burst onto the music scene with a slouching, drawling rock'n'roll shrug that epitomized the frenetic nostalgia of the early 2000s. The time was ripe for the scratchy, post-punk influenced guitars and throwback basslines of the Strokes, together with their tousled hair and don't-care attitude.
Released in 2001, the album captured a zeitgeist for the hedonism of late nights in sticky-floored dive bars. The black and white image was shot by Colin Lane, who had been photographing the band in New York prior to the album's release. The model (his girlfriend at the time) agreed to pose impromptu in the black leather glove after emerging one morning from the shower. According to Lane's own account, he took 10 shots on film and thought little more of it. When he saw the results — "I knew it was the perfect shot - simple, straightforward, graphic and just so sexy."
Track Listing:
Side 1
1. Is This It
2. The Modern Age
3. Soma
4. Barely Legal
5. Someday
Side 2
1. Alone, Together
2. Last Nite
3. Hard To Explain
4. New York City Cops
5. Trying Your Luck
6. Take It Or Leave It