Ten Years On: The Making Of The Strokes' 'Is This It'

2001 marked the year that five young NYC residents got together and created an album that would go on to shape much of the musical landscape for the rest of the decade. Ten years later The Strokes' debut album 'Is This It' is as important and timeless now and it was when it was released, its indie, lo-fi recording setting a benchmark for the bands that would form and follow in the wake of its arrival.

To coincide with the release of The Strokes seminal album 'Is This It' Gigwise takes you through the recording decisions and process that the band went through during the creation of an album that inspired, and still continues to inspire guitar music 10 years later.

From initial writing ideas, recording processed and getting a record label deal, through to the decision to omit the grammatically correct question mark at the end of the title and the censorship of 'Is This It''s original, and now iconic album cover, the gallery below explores the life of 'Is This It' from inception through to critical response.

Is 'Is This It' the best material that The Strokes ever made? How do you think it compares with 2011's 'Angles'? Let us know what you think by using the comment box below.