Need new music to listen to while studying for finals?

Look no further than the Strokes first studio album, Is This It. I know it isn't even close to being new music in the literal sense of the word and if you're already aware of how great it is, then disregard this article. However, if you are someone who hasn't graced their ears with Is This It, I strongly advise you give it a listen.

The best way to listen to Is This It is to start from the beginning and let the album play straight through. Skipping around songs or mixing and matching simply does not do the album justice. By listening from start to end, you get a keen sense of the artistic direction that The Strokes were getting at in their first go at an album and it does not disappoint.

Just for some background and context, so you don't have to take my unqualified word for it, Rolling Stone ranks Is This It as the number two album of the 2000s. On an even larger scale, many people consider this album as the catalyst for the revival of punk/alternative/Velvet Underground scene in New York City and in the UK. Artists such as the Arctic Monkeys owe a part of their success to the scene which was reborn again by The Strokes.

A friend of mine once said, "if you listen to Is This It straight through and you like it, it'll become one of your favorite albums". If you end up really connecting with the music, I can guarantee it will be an eye-opening experience.

Songs on the album such as "Last Nite", "Someday" and "Hard To Explain" are the most known songs on the album. My favorite song is the first on the album, conveniently named "Is This It". Some other songs on the album that I love are "Soma" and "When It Started."

So, if you have 35 minutes and a desire to get a taste of a classic gem, give Is This It a listen through.