The Strokes' iconic debut album Is This It reached its 25th anniversary this year. The boutique record label 22Twenty is marking the occasion with the release of a new Is This It tribute album, billed as the first in a series. Will it be as good as Stereogum's own Is This It tribute comp? Probably not, but the source material merits this treatment several times over.
Familiar Strangers Vol. 1: Is This It will be out a month from today. Its lead single is a rendition of deep cut "Trying Your Luck," the first Strokes song I ever downloaded off Napster ?, by the quirky, ascendant Philadelphia siblings Sam and Louise Sullivan. These two were a blast in conversation this summer, and their album Love & Devotion is one of 2026's best. Recording on a 4-track, they've taken a propulsive, almost mechanistic track in a surprisingly dreamy and minimal direction.
A portion of proceeds from the compilation will benefit Sounds Of Saving, a youth mental health nonprofit rooted in music culture. Hear "Trying Your Luck (4-track)" below.
TRACKLIST:
01 Jermango Dreaming - "Is This It"
02 Tommy Oeffling - "The Modern Age"
03 Rubber Band Gun - "Soma"
04 Kaycie Satterfield - "Barely Legal"
05 The Motor Show - "Someday"
06 Budge - "Alone, Together"
07 Baseball Greg - "Last Nite" (Feat. Sleap-e)
08 Son Of The Challenger - "Hard To Explain"
09 Dejima - "When It Started"
10 Sam And Louise Sullivan - "Trying Your Luck"
11 Cameraman Never Dies - "Take It Or Leave It"
Familiar Strangers Vol. 1: Is This It is out 12/4 on 22Twenty. Pre-save it here. As always, if you're listening to Is This It without "New York City Cops," you're not really listening to Is This It.
