Like so many underground NYC rock bands, the Strokes first generated publicity in the U.K., though it didn't take long for their no-frills sound to catch on at home. Paying homage to their influences, the group purveys a mix of Velvet Underground/New York Dolls proto-punk and Pavement-like lo-fi slacker rock. In 2001, The Strokes' highly anticipated first album, IS THIS IT, made it onto plenty of year-end Top Ten lists despite the inevitable backlash against the hype machine that helped put their album on the charts. Sure, they hang around with models and movie stars--isn't that what rock stars are supposed to do?