Few bands have been as burdened by their early success as The Strokes. After helping to revitalise rock music at the turn of the millennium, much of their later output was judged against the impossible benchmark set by their first two records.
But if ‘Is This It’ and ‘Room On Fire’ still cast a long shadow, ‘Reality Awaits’ underlines their commitment to venture onto a new creative paths. A playful record unconcerned with nostalgia and featuring an adventurous focus — more spacious, less breakneck yet still packed with earworms — it’s a vindication of their approach.
It was hardly surprising then when ‘Reality’ Awaits arrived under a cloud of scepticism: the use of AutoTune on two singles divided fans long before the album’s release.
Anyone hoping for something radically different to those early tasters will be in for a disappointment as the band double down on this new vocal approach. But it’s actually a strength, not a weakness.
Produced again by Rick Rubin, their seventh album opens with Psycho Shit, an eerie slow burn where ominous guitar work builds tension around Julian Casablancas’s reflective musings. Likewise, the album’s best track Dine N’Dash expands on this with pensive synth textures and echoes of early New Order and The Cure.
Later, the frontman’s escapist lyricism on Going Shopping offers an insight into his recent state of mind against breezy guitars, while Lonely in the Future closely aligns to this vibe with carefree words and infectious, bright grooves.
If this paints a picture of a surface-level Strokes record, that’s not the case. Falling Out of Love reveals the devastating breakdown of a relationship, while they land an emotive final blow on Tyrants of the Mellow Moon which, perhaps worryingly, sounds a lot like a goodbye as Casablancas sings: “So we go for one more ride/ And that’s okay ‘cause I did my time.”
Perhaps the album’s potential to elicit a dicey reception is proof that ‘Reality Awaits’ is doing exactly what it should. After all, alternative rock rarely moves forward by playing it safe. And while this record can be accused of many things, it certainly isn’t boring.
The Strokes Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue August 25 2026 - BEND Oregon - Hayden Homes Amphitheater (USA)
Thu August 27 2026 - VANCOUVER British Columbia - Rogers Arena (Canada)
Fri August 28 2026 - SEATTLE Washington - Climate Pledge Arena (USA)
Sat September 12 2026 - TAMPA Florida - Benchmark International Arena (Formerly Amalie Arena) (USA)
Sun September 13 2026 - HOLLYWOOD Florida - Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood - Complex (USA)
Thu September 17 2026 - CHARLOTTE North Carolina - Truliant Amphitheater (formerly PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte) (USA)
Fri September 18 2026 - ATLANTA Georgia - Pedmont Park (USA)
Sun September 20 2026 - EAST RUTHERFORD New Jersey - Asbury Park (USA)
Fri October 02 2026 - NEW YORK New York - Flushing Meadows Corona Park (USA)
Tue October 06 2026 - LONDON Arena
Wed October 07 2026 - LONDON Arena
Sun October 11 2026 - AMSTERDAM Ziggo Dome (Netherlands)
Tue October 13 2026 - DUSSELDORF PSD Bank Dome (Germany)
Thu October 15 2026 - BERLIN Uber Arena (Germany)
Sat October 17 2026 - BOLOGNA Unipol Arena (Italy)
Tue October 20 2026 - BARCELONA Palau Sant Jordi (Spain)
Thu October 22 2026 - PARIS Accor Arena (France)
Sun October 25 2026 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Utilita Arena
Mon October 26 2026 - MANCHESTER Co-op Live
Wed October 28 2026 - DUBLIN 3Arena
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