# The Strokes – Reality Awaits

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-strokes-reality-awaits/
- Published: 2026-07-23T15:40:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-23T23:24:31+00:00
- Original publisher: Clash
- Original article: https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-strokes-reality-awaits/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- An ambitious Strokes album with an unresolved feel.
- Autotune drives its themes of technology and authenticity.
- Vulnerable songs are sometimes undermined by the vocal effects.

## Summary

The Strokes’ seventh album, ‘Reality Awaits’, is presented as an ambitious but curiously unresolved follow-up to their Grammy-winning ‘The New Abnormal’. Produced again with Rick Rubin, it leans into Julian Casablancas’ self-mythologising, humour and social critique, while using prominent autotune to explore tensions between sincerity, technology and artificiality.

The review highlights ‘Going Shopping’ for its critique of consumerism and political numbness, and ‘Lonely In The Future’ for its surreal lyrics and vocal effects. More vulnerable tracks, including ‘Falling Out of Love’ and ‘Liar’s Remorse’, address failed relationships, pain and isolation, though the reviewer suggests the album’s continual autotune can make some emotional moments feel disjointed. The record had been in development for over four years and its release was delayed by a month.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.