"The Strokes first released their single 'At the Door' from this album in February, and I listened to it on the subway while crossing over the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan. It was ruminative and redolent of past struggles, and it nearly brought me to tears. When the LP finally dropped, I wasn't disappointed. Right away, I knew that the cover art featured a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting (it's the late creative's 1981's work 'Bird on Money,' to be exact), so that was already a major bonus point in favour of the New York band. I'd be lying if I said I thought The New Abnormal was objectively amazing, but I also can't deny that it's reminiscent of a pivotal time in my life, which gave it an emotional impact that stuck with me. Besides, Julian Casablancas's falsetto in 'The Adults Are Talking' should make up for anything that's lacking within the album." — Brea Cubit, assistant editor, celebrity and entertainment
Purchase The New Abnormal by The Strokes ($10) or stream it.