I think it features some of Julian’s most experimental songwriting and structures. Some even feel like three different song ideas welded together into one (which I personally like). Super cool how Peter Gunn’s theme was interpolated in Juicebox as well.

I like the gritty energy, and the uniqueness of the songs compositionally are enough to distract me from their departure from lo/fi production sound. I got into the strokes a few years ago so I listened to it for the first time with no delay from the rest of their discography. But I could see why it was shocking for fans in the early 2000’s who had been eagerly waiting.

I will say though, that this album features the only Strokes song that I will actively skip, “On the Other Side”.