Room on Fire

Immediately after touring for their debut album Is This It, the Strokes returned to the studio. They hired Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, but fired him when, according to the band, their work together proved "soulless".{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/everything-in-its-right-place-1.587693|title=Everything in Its Right Place|last=McKinnon|first=Matthew|date=24 July 2006|access-date=15 December 2013|publisher=CBC News}} Godrich said of the failed collaboration: "The problem there was that me and [singer Julian Casablancas] are just too similar, we're both control freaks. He wanted to do it his way, I wanted to do it my way, and obviously that's the point of me being there. And I'm saying 'Well, why am I here if you're not prepared to try and do it the way I want to do it?' We got on great, it was just one of those laughable things where it just doesn't work. I wanted them to change, and they didn't."{{Cite news|url=http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137177|title=From The Basement On A Television: DiS talks to Nigel Godrich|work=DrownedInSound|access-date=2018-05-21|language=en|archive-date=2018-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521191702/http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4137177|url-status=dead}}

Those sessions were ultimately scrapped and the band returned to their original producer, Gordon Raphael. The Strokes had exactly only three months of studio time to record the album. Guitarist Nick Valensi stated that "the album would've ended up a lot better if we'd had another couple of weeks."Jonathan Garrett (7 March 2011). [http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/7925-this-is-it-ten-years-of-the-strokes/ Is This It: Ten Years of the Strokes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308162923/http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/7925-this-is-it-ten-years-of-the-strokes/ |date=March 8, 2011 }} Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 10 December 2011.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 77/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/room-on-fire/the-strokes |title=Reviews for Room On Fire by The Strokes |website=Metacritic |access-date=December 10, 2011}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/room-on-fire-mw0000693088 |title=Room on Fire – The Strokes |website=AllMusic |access-date=December 10, 2011 |last=Phares |first=Heather}}

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1359 |title=The Strokes: Room on Fire |journal=Blender |issue=21 |date=November 2003 |access-date=April 30, 2016 |last=Power |first=Tony |page=106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122230505/http://blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1359 |archive-date=November 22, 2005 |url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = B{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2003/10/31/room-fire |title=Room on Fire |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 31, 2003 |access-date=December 10, 2011 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729164908/https://ew.com/article/2003/10/31/room-fire/ |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/oct/17/popandrock.shopping4 |title=The Strokes, Room on Fire |work=The Guardian |date=October 16, 2003 |access-date=March 23, 2013 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-strokes/7169 |title=The Strokes : Room On Fire |work=NME |date=September 25, 2003 |access-date=February 20, 2011 |last=Needham |first=Alex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215703/http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-strokes/7169 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 8.0/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7538-room-on-fire/ |title=The Strokes: Room on Fire |work=Pitchfork |date=October 26, 2003 |access-date=December 10, 2011 |last=Mitchum |first=Rob}}
9.2/10 (reappraisal){{Cite web|date=2021-10-05|title=Pitchfork Reviews: Rescored|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/pitchfork-reviews-rescored/|access-date=2021-10-06|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite journal |title=The Strokes: Room on Fire |journal=Q |issue=208 |date=November 2003 |page=102}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/room-on-fire-20031007 |title=Room on Fire |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 7, 2003 |access-date=December 10, 2011 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke}}

| rev9 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Cross|first=Charles R.|author-link=Charles R. Cross|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|chapter=The Strokes|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/788 788]}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10score = A−{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=crQoYila-dAC&pg=PA121 |title=Room at the Top |journal=Spin |volume=19 |issue=12 |date=October 26, 2003 |access-date=April 30, 2016 |last=Milner |first=Greg |pages=121–22}}

| rev11 = Uncut

| rev11score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/not-so-different-strokes |title=Not So Different Strokes |journal=Uncut |issue=78 |date=November 2003 |access-date=April 30, 2016 |page=108 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601121903/http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/not-so-different-strokes |archive-date=June 1, 2016 |url-status=dead}}

}}

The music of Room on Fire has been described as indie rock,{{Cite web|url=http://www.treblezine.com/35784-100-best-indie-rock-albums-of-the-00s/|title=Top 100 Indie Rock albums of the '00s|website=www.treblezine.com|date=July 12, 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-24}} garage rock revival,{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2018/10/album-review-the-strokes-room-on-fire/ |title=The Strokes' Room on Fire Still Exists on Its Own Terms |last=Sharples |first=Grant |date=October 27, 2018 |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=February 18, 2020}} and new wave.{{Cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2018/10/album-review-the-strokes-room-on-fire/ |title=The Strokes' Room on Fire Still Exists on Its Own Terms |last=Sharples |first=Grant |date=October 27, 2018 |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=April 18, 2023}} The album received generally positive reviews from critics: on the review aggregating website Metacritic, it currently has a score of 77 out of 100 based on 31 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". However, in general, reviewers found the album too similar to Is This It. Rob Mitchum of Pitchfork gave the album an 8 out of 10, but stated that the band "have all but given birth to an identical twin." A positive review from Rolling Stone said that "the Strokes have resisted the temptation to hit the brakes, grow up and screw around with a sound that doesn't need fixing — yet." The review also stated that "if you want comfort and clarity, you're definitely in the wrong room. This record was built for thrills and speed." Dan Tallis of BBC Music gave it a favorable review and said, "Bands should think themselves lucky to achieve such heights just once in their careers. However, they've done all they could have done. They've made Is This It part two. It's more of the same plus extras. And I'm more than happy to settle for that."{{cite web|last=Tallis |first=Dan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/cm4h |title=Review of The Strokes - Room On Fire |publisher=BBC Music |date=2003-11-20 |access-date=2011-02-20}}

Ben Thompson of The Observer gave it all five stars and said, "This is a feeling that can be inspired only by people making the absolute most of an opportunity to communicate: cutting through all the rubbish that surrounds them to make a clear and memorable artistic statement. And that the Strokes should have managed to do such a thing at this stage in their careers, is - I think - an achievement of real significance."{{cite news|last=Thompson |first=Ben |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,12102,1043919,00.html |title=The Strokes, Room on Fire: 5 stars | OMM | The Observer |newspaper=The Observer |date=2011-02-09 |access-date=2011-02-20}} Greg Milner of Spin gave it a score of eight out of ten and said that its "similarity to its predecessor ultimately bespeaks a purity of vision, not a dearth of new ideas." Jenny Tatone of Neumu gave it a score of nine stars out of ten and said, "The Strokes don't make the most original sounding music you've ever heard, but they make something that is only the Strokes."{{cite web|last=Tatone |first=Jenny |url=http://neumu.net/fortyfour/2003/2003-00181/2003-00181_fortyfour.shtml |title=The Strokes: Room on Fire |publisher=Neumu |access-date=2013-03-23}} In his Consumer Guide, Robert Christgau gave the album a three-star honorable mention ({{Rating-Christgau|hm3}}) while picking out two songs from the album ("Between Love and Hate" and "What Ever Happened?") and stating simply, "Narcissism repeats itself."{{cite web|last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=the+strokes |title=CG: The Strokes |publisher=RobertChristgau.com |access-date=2013-03-23}}

Not all reviews were positive, however. Raoul Hernandez of The Austin Chronicle gave the album a score of two stars out of five and stated that "even the half-hearted retreads... cashing in on the notoriously unwashed NYC quintet's debut can't muster a wink."{{cite news|last=Hernandez |first=Raoul |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2003-10-24/183047/ |title=The Strokes: Room on Fire (RCA) |newspaper=The Austin Chronicle |date=2003-10-24 |access-date=2013-03-23}} Iain Moffat of Playlouder gave the album only one star and said of the Strokes, "There's little of the pop sparkle that shone through the likes of 'The Modern Age' and 'Last Nite' even when - as with 'You Talk Way Too Much' - they're rewriting old material, and Julian's vocals are, to be blunt, awful, sounding uncomfortable to record and rather complacently nasal."{{cite web|last=Moffat |first=Iain |url=http://www.playlouder.com/review/+roomonfire/ |title=Room On Fire |publisher=Playlouder |date=2003-10-18 |access-date=2013-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031104171631/http://www.playlouder.com/review/+roomonfire/ |archive-date=2003-11-04 |url-status=dead}}

In 2013, Room On Fire was listed at number 360 on NME{{'}}s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2018, the BBC included it in their list of "the acclaimed albums that nobody listens to any more".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/41a5ae5f-45b4-4ee1-ac51-5ac6dc9397b6|title = 7 acclaimed albums that no one listens to anymore - BBC Music|date = February 9, 2018}}

In 2021, Pitchfork included Room on Fire on its list of album review scores they "would change if they could", upgrading its score from 8.0 to 9.2 out of 10, though they stated this would not change the actual score. Lane Brown of Pitchfork praised it as a "different, better album with major improvements over its predecessor". Scoring a 0.1 bonus point more than Is This It, Room on Fire is commended in marking confident progress and "at least partially thwarting rock history's most inevitable backlash."{{Cite web|date=2021-10-05|title=Pitchfork Reviews: Rescored|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/pitchfork-reviews-rescored/|access-date=2021-10-06|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}}

The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 in the US, and was later certified Gold by the RIAA in December 2003,[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the strokes|chart=all}} Room on Fire - The Strokes] Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2011.[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php RIAA - Searchable Database] RIAA. Note: reader must define search parameters as "Strokes". and platinum certification for selling over one million units in June 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=strokes#search_section|title = Gold & Platinum|website = Recording Industry Association of America}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Room on Fire track listing

| all_writing = Julian Casablancas, with "Automatic Stop" co-written by Albert Hammond Jr.{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/workID/310613628|title=ACE Repertory}}

| title1 = What Ever Happened?

| length1 = 2:49

| title2 = Reptilia

| length2 = 3:35

| title3 = Automatic Stop

| length3 = 3:21

| title4 = 12:51

| length4 = 2:33

| title5 = You Talk Way Too Much

| length5 = 2:58

| title6 = Between Love & Hate

| length6 = 3:10

| title7 = Meet Me in the Bathroom

| length7 = 2:56

| title8 = Under Control

| length8 = 3:02

| title9 = The Way It Is

| length9 = 2:17

| title10 = The End Has No End

| length10 = 3:00

| title11 = I Can't Win

| length11 = 2:34

| total_length = 32:15

}}

The Strokes

• Julian Casablancas – vocals
• Albert Hammond, Jr. – guitar
• Nick Valensi – guitar
• Nikolai Fraiture – bass guitar
• Fabrizio Moretti – drums

Production

• Gordon Raphael – producer
• Toshikazu Yoshioka – head engineer
• William Kelly – second engineer
• Greg Calbi – mastering
• Steve Fallone – mastering
• J. P. Bowersock – "sensei"

Design

• Peter Phillips – cover art ("War/Game", used with permission and courtesy of Zoe Phillips)
• Colin Lane – photography
• Brett Kilroe – art direction

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Room on Fire}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=Room on Fire|artist=The Strokes|award=Platinum|relyear=2003|certyear=2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=Room on Fire|artist=The Strokes|award=Gold|relyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|title=Room on Fire|artist=The Strokes|award=Gold|relyear=2003|relmonth=10|certyear=2004|certmonth=10|accessdate=2 June 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|title=Room on Fire|artist=The Strokes|award=Gold|id=2004-01-30|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=2003}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=Room on Fire|artist=The Strokes|award=Platinum|relyear=2003|id=5616-1510-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=Room on Fire|artist=The Strokes|award=Platinum|relyear=2003|certyear=2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true | streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

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Category:2003 albums

Category:Albums produced by Gordon Raphael

Category:RCA Records albums

Category:Rough Trade Records albums

Category:New wave albums by American artists

Category:The Strokes albums