THE STROKES CAME BACK WEIRDER, BOLDER, AND COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE | Reality Awaits First Reaction

Reacting to The Strokes - Reality Awaits, and this album felt like a band refusing to become trapped by its own history. Instead of simply recreating the sound that made them famous, The Strokes delivered something strange, restless, melodic, messy, playful, and completely unpredictable. Reality Awaits is their first album in six years and another collaboration with Rick Rubin, but it does not feel like The New Abnormal Part Two. The familiar guitar chemistry is still present, yet it is surrounded by vocal effects, synths, dub-inspired rhythms, new-wave textures, tropical grooves, extended song structures, and some of Julian Casablancas’ most theatrical performances. What impressed me most was that The Strokes still sound curious. Reality Awaits may challenge listeners who only want another Is This It, but that risk is also what makes it interesting. Twenty-five years into their career, they are still willing to confuse people, divide opinions, and chase ideas that may not always lead somewhere predictable. Overall, Reality Awaits felt like classic Strokes melodies colliding with Julian Casablancas’ most experimental impulses. It was strange, catchy, emotional, frustrating, funny, and occasionally chaotic, but it was never boring. 🎯 Want to Request a Track? To request a song for me to react to, pull up to Request Night when requests open. Drop your request in your tier thread and come hang with the community. 💿 Want to Request an Album? Monthly album requests are available through the Executive Producer tier on Patreon. Full projects submitted there receive a proper listen and dedicated reaction. 💬 Let’s Talk What’s your favorite track from Reality Awaits? Did “Dine N’Dash,” “Going to Babble On,” “Lonely in the Future,” “The Fruits of Conquest,” or another track connect with you the most? How did you feel about the vocal effects and experimental direction? 💌 Patreon — AceUnplugged Supporting the content is always optional but greatly appreciated 💜 Tiers: $2 Soundcheck (Ace Fam) • $5 Co-Producer (Backstage Pass) • $10 Executive Producer (Front Row VIP) Right now on Patreon, we’re mainly doing Request Nights, BTS variety content, K-dramas including Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Vincenzo, VODs, exclusive reviews, watch-alongs, bonus videos, and more. 👉   / aceunplugged   📌 Stay Connected 💬 Discord:   / discord   YouTube: @ProdByAceTV📺 Twitch: AceOnCam📸 Instagram: @daw.byace timestamps Intro 0:00 Psycho Shit 1:18 Dine N’Dash 6:39 Lonely in the Future 11:42 Falling out of Love 15:02 Going to Babble On 22:08 Going Shopping 26:54 Liar’s Remorse 31:11 The Fruits of Conquest 36:02 Tyrants of the Mellow Moon 41:51 Closing 46:17 #TheStrokes #RealityAwaits #TheStrokesReaction #RealityAwaitsReaction #GoingShopping #DineNDash #JulianCasablancas #RickRubin #IndieRock #AlternativeRock #AlbumReaction #FirstListen #MusicReaction #ProdByAceTV #AceUnplugged