The Strokes returned in 2026 in a big way – headlining several festivals including Coachella, world tour with sellouts across the UK and Europe, and a new album to boot. Once again working with Rick Rubin, Reality Awaits is their first release in six years. First single “Going Shopping” is immediately catchy, warm guitar tones throughout, similar to second single “Falling Out of Love”. Similar to all the songs.
Knives come out several times on the disc including the powers that be that keep sending others out to do their deadly bidding on “Psycho Shit”. But also bizarrely about YouTube music critic Anthony Fantano who gets name checked on “Lonely In The Future”, telling the listener that Fantano doesn’t understand art. The autotuned vocals of Julian Casablancas and the smooth guitar, jagged edges be damned make for a decent listen that on song after song after song, floats by.
7/10
The Light Appears 