The Strokes

Released: October 28, 2003

Songwriter: Albert Hammond Jr. Julian Casablancas

Producer: Gordon Raphael

[Verse 1]
So many fish there in the sea
I wanted you, you wanted me
That's just a phase, it's got to pass
I was a train moving too fast

[Pre-Chorus]
Didn't understand what to see
Yeah, then I got a different view, it's you... no

[Chorus]
Wait, I'm not gonna give it a break
I'm not your friend, I never was
I said, wait, I'm not gonna give it a break
I'm not your friend, I never was, no

[Verse 2]
So many fish there in the sea
She wanted him, he wanted me
That's just a phase, it's got to pass
I was a train moving too fast

[Pre-Chorus]
Yeah, I know you won but this is too important
Now I got a different view, it's you

[Chorus]
Why can't you wait? I'm not gonna give it a break
I'm not your friend, I never was
I said, wait, I'm not gonna give it a break
I'm not your friend, I never was

The Strokes burst onto the scene at a time when rock fans were desperate for an alternative to the rap-rock that was dominating the airwaves. That the band lived up to expectations after being hailed ‘saviors of guitar rock’ solely based on the strength of a three song EP is a testament to the quality of their flawless debut, July 2001’s Is This It.

Ultimately, they are a band that truly relies on the strength of the entire lead singer Julian Casablancas, lead guitarist Nick Valensi, drummer Fabrizio Moretti, guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., and bassist Nikolai Fraiture. However, much of The Strokes' output has been influenced by the domineering vision of Casablancas' songwriting.

Before he took a small step back on their third album, January 2006’s First Impressions of Earth, and then isolated himself to record March 2011’s Angles, Casablancas was involved in almost every step of The Strokes' recording process. He wrote all of the lyrics and the music on their first two albums and was constantly involved in the mixing of the records.

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