HAVING set the bar so high with 2001 s debut Is This It, The Strokes seemed set for a fall no matter how good follow-up Room On Fire turned out to be. It was arguably underrated, and critics were predicting the bursting of the New Yawk five-piece s bubble

HAVING set the bar so high with 2001's debut Is This It, The Strokes seemed set for a fall no matter how good follow-up Room On Fire turned out to be.

It was arguably underrated, and critics were predicting the bursting of the New Yawk five-piece's bubble.

So the 'difficult' third album arrives - and is surprisingly good in spite of the cynicism.

Pulsing riffs make heads nod involuntarily, and Julian Casablancas' roughshod voice still delights.

There are twiddly guitar workouts, lacklustre melodies, directionless jams and a descent into shambles at the end of 15 Minutes, but there is still a great album hiding inside this 50-minute rundown. 4/5