After six long years of anticipation, The Strokes have finally unveiled their long-awaited new album, Reality Awaits, released today via Cult Records/RCA Records. The LP arrives with singles that have already quickly become fan favorites—”Going Shopping” and “Falling out of Love”—and marks the band’s first studio album since 2020’s acclaimed The New Abnormal. Recorded with legendary producer Rick Rubin, who previously collaborated with the band on that Grammy-winning release, the album took shape during sessions in Costa Rica before the band and Rubin continued meeting across the globe to finish the project wherever inspiration struck. The result is a collection that sees the New York City icons continuing to evolve while staying true to the signature sound that has defined their beloved discography since their groundbreaking 2001 debut.
The creative journey behind Reality Awaits has been documented in In Transit: Part II, a short film directed by Johann Rashid that debuted yesterday, offering fans an intimate glimpse into the Costa Rica sessions and the band’s collaborative process. The film serves as a sequel to the group’s 2004 documentary In Transit, providing a compelling look at how the album came to life across multiple continents. The band has also shared a music video for “Going Shopping” that pays homage to Paul Simon’s classic video for “You Can Call Me Al,” with actor Walton Goggins stepping into Chevy Chase’s iconic role. Goggins, who was on location for a feature film in Tenerife—a Spanish island off the coast of Morocco—told the band during a call, “let’s go shopping!” and in late May, Julian Casablancas and friends traveled to meet him there to shoot the playful tribute. In addition to the visual offerings, The Strokes debuted “Falling out of Love” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May, delivering one of the show’s final music performances and further building excitement for the record’s release.
Reality Awaits features a tracklist that showcases the band’s signature blend of garage rock, post-punk revival, and introspective lyricism, with songs including “Psycho Shit,” “Dine N’Dash,” “Lonely in the Future,” “Going to Babble On,” “Liar’s Remorse,” “The Fruits of Conquest,” and “Tyrants of the Mellow Moon.” The album’s cover art features Richard Prince’s Untitled (Cowboy) 1989, a fittingly evocative image for a record that finds the band reflecting on fame, disillusionment, and the chaotic state of modern life.
The release comes ahead of a massive global tour that continues through August and beyond, including a monumental hometown show at New York’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park—the band’s first headline performance in the city in years—with support from Beach House, TV on the Radio, and Fcukers. The tour also includes two nights at London’s O2, Paris’ Accor Arena, Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, and many more sold-out dates across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. With festival appearances at Outside Lands, Summer Sonic, Just Like Heaven, Shaky Knees, Sea.Hear.Now, and Primavera Sound stops in Santiago, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo, The Strokes are proving once again why they remain one of the most vital and enduring acts of their generation. As they bring Reality Awaits to fans around the world, the band continues to cement their legacy as defining voices of a generation, reminding audiences everywhere that some things—like the raw, timeless power of rock and roll—are truly worth the wait.
Rome is a freelance writer and photographer. He brings a fresh perspective to the indie music scene and highlights emerging artists and underground movements. His writing style is drawn from personal experiences and a deep love for the art form.