The Strokes Push Past Abnormal on Wildly Engaging, AutoTuned Reality Awaits: Review

A quarter-century after their breakout debut, The Strokes are in an interesting stage of their career. Over the past 25 years, the New York City quartet have gone from rock music messiahs to absent icons to TikTok’s favorite indie band, thanks in large part to the creative refresher that was The New Abnormal. Now, shortly after opening for Justin Bieber their rousing, headline-grabbing Coachella performances, the gang returns with Reality Awaits, a release that proves their 2020s form is indeed their new abnormal. As the band does on the new set, let’s begin by jumping headfirst into the deep end. Reality Awaits opens with “Psycho Shit,” which beckons you in with an ominous arpeggio and ethereal swells. An AutoTuned Julian Casablancas (more on that vocal choice later) then joins to guide the song through its five-minute crescendo. “Dine N’Dash,” the absolutely batshit second track, immediately follows that extended intro with one of the most unpredictable listening experiences you’ll find in The Strokes’ catalog. The tune kicks off with an icy, post-punk groove and a melody that sounds like an evil echo of their New Abnormal hit “The Adults Are Talking,” while later sections of the...