The Strokes' third album arrived with a divided critical reception
In short: When The Strokes released First Impressions of Earth, the music press was deeply split. While some critics hailed a revitalized sound, others dismissed the record as a significant step backward, sparking a debate about whether the band could maintain their legendary momentum.
Released in late 2005 and early 2006, First Impressions of Earth marked a period of transition for The Strokes. The recording process spanned ten months and was marked by a shift in production. While the band originally intended to work with Gordon Raphael, who produced their first two albums, the lineup eventually pivoted. Following an introduction by guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr., the band brought in Grammy winner David Kahne. Although a collaboration between Raphael and Kahne was attempted, Raphael eventually stepped down, leaving Kahne to produce the majority of the project.
Critical reaction to the album was famously polarized. On Metacritic, the album holds a score of 69 out of 100, reflecting generally favorable but contested reviews. Some critics, such as AllMusic's Heather Phares, were quite harsh, labeling it the band's weakest effort to date. Conversely, Entertainment Weekly's Will Hermes viewed it as a marked improvement over their previous record, Room on Fire. Other outlets like Playlouder and MusicOMH found moments of exhilaration, though some reviewers, including those from Slant Magazine and PopMatters, criticized the album for a sense of boredom or even called it a flop.
Despite the critical friction, the album achieved significant commercial milestones. It became the band's first release to hit number one on any worldwide chart, specifically topping the UK Albums Chart. In the US, the album peaked at number four, with an initial sales week of 88,000 units. While its chart longevity and platinum status didn't match previous releases, the album eventually earned RIAA gold certification in June 2021 for exceeding 500,000 units sold in the US.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: First Impressions of Earth
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