Released: 2020

Genres: Indie Rock, New Wave, Post-Punk Revival, Synthpop

The Musiquarium’s The New Abnormal Review Score: 10 out of 10

Other than a four song EP in 2016, The Strokes hadn’t released a proper album since 2013’s Comedown Machine, which many fans were disappointed with (though it’s definitely underrated). Before that album, the previous two records were also seen as disappointments when compared to their landmark debut, Is This It and its nearly-as-good follow up, Room on Fire.

By the mid 2010’s, vocalist Julian Casablancas had started another band called The Voidz and released two albums that garnered much better reviews than the Strokes had been getting, especially with 2018’s Virtue. At this point, it seemed like Casablancas was going to put more of his creative talents and best ideas into The Voidz. The New Abnormal proves that theory wrong, as Julian Casablanca’s rejuvenated creativity after two excellent Voidz albums carried over into his work with his original band.

Working with legendary producer Rick Rubin, The New Abnormal finds The Strokes having a second wind after a period of declining relevancy and mixed critical success. Where some may argue that Comedown Machine was a slapdash record, The New Abnormal feels more deliberate and organic, with the most sonic variety of any Strokes album yet. It seems as though Rick Rubin was just what the band needed.

The Adults Are Talking is a career highlight and is easily the best song they’ve made since the first two records. Why Are Sundays So Depressing makes use of some nice rotary guitar. Bad Decisions and Eternal Summer interpolate different songs from the 1980s (Generation X’s Dancing with Myself and The Psychedelic Furs’ The Ghost in You, respectively), which is a trend I’m not exactly thrilled about, but they still manage to make good songs out of it all the same. The synth-heavy At the Door and Ode to the Mets are both wonderful ballads, with some of Casablancas best vocal performances yet.

The New Abnormal is one of the best comeback records in recent memory, made all the more impressive considering it released nearly two decades after the seminal Is This It. Next to their debut, this is easily The Strokes’ best and most essential work.

Trivia: The New Abnormal won Best Rock Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view The Strokes on Discogs.

Back to the 2020 Album Guide or the The Strokes Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard