The indie album Billie Eilish calls her favourite: “I love everything about it”
Billie Eilish came of age during a somewhat lacklustre phase in The Strokes’ trajectory. The band had fallen out of favour with many after the release of Comedown Machine, and their absence from the music scene for six years generated little anticipation for their comeback.
Nevertheless, the emergence of The New Abnormal in 2020 marked a crucial juncture, coinciding not only with the challenges of the pandemic but also signifying a notable comeback to the indie rock music scene at large. Tracks such as ‘The Adults Are Talking’, ‘Ode To The Mets’, and ‘At The Door’ demonstrated that the New York ensemble had kept their touch.
Recruiting Rick Rubin for their updated mix of indie and electronica, The New Abnormal impressed many, from existing fans to general music lovers. One such enthusiastic devotee was Eilish, who has made her appreciation for the band known before. Speaking to the Australian radio station Triple J, Eilish named ‘At The Door’ one of her favourite songs, describing the entire album as one of her most cherished.
She also praised its overall arrangements, explaining how it resonated with her deeply: “It’s been my favourite album in many years,” she explained. “There is something about The Strokes, I don’t know what it is, man. I love ‘At The Door’, I love the melodies, I love the lyrics, I love everything about it. The Strokes hit a nerve.”
This occurrence is one of the instances where Eilish praised The Strokes. In The New York Times‘ ‘My Ten’ series, she elaborated on how the band played a crucial role as a source of support for her during the first lockdown in 2020. “When I first found the album, I was going on a lot of bike rides,” the singer recalled. “I would play the whole album on my speaker backpack and ride around random neighbourhoods, and it was always sunny and breezy and pretty and green.”
Adding: “Julian Casablancas is just a genius — every time I hear his lyrics, I think, ‘I would never think to say that’. That’s what I love about them — they’re so unexpected but also relatable. Every single song is good.”
In The New Abnormal, The Strokes defied sceptics, partially owing to Rubin’s adept touch, who successfully guided them back on track. While, for many, the album may not rival the seminal Is This It, it has played a role in introducing a new wave of fans like Eilish, who were too young to experience The Strokes’ initial heyday.
