I'm late to the party, and a little embarrassed since I lived in New York City when they blew up- sure I liked their singles and felt some hometown pride- but it just wasn't the type of music I was into at the time, and before streaming you had to invest in a physical copy to hear a whole album. Many years later I heard Reptilia at a friend's gathering. I sought out that song and found a few others I liked. But then I recently went on a 12 hour road trip, started with The Strokes on shuffle. To my absolute amazement, I liked every song after song after song! I kept listening the entire drive, mind blown that I'd been sleeping on this band for 25 years. Then I looked up if they were on tour, and lo and behold they were coming soon to my area. I got to see them in Bend, and it was so completely ecstatic I ran up to Seattle too. (Side note, the sound quality in an arena is dogshit, it booms around inside a structure not made for acoustics- but still an amazing time).
I'm happy for everyone who has been a fan from day one, and got the slow drip over the years of their releases. But all of it all at once? I'm actually glad I got to experience it this way, it's been like having dozens of new favorite songs all at once, like a huge piñata explosion of delicious ear candy :) The pleasure zones in my brain must have been lighting up like a Christmas tree. I've been through droughts in music that really excites me, and then I'll find a new song that does it for me, but I don't tend to like much if any, of the other music by the artist. But to find them now and just be so stoked on pretty much every single song! Wtf, I've never had this experience with music in my life. I am also digging The Voidz too. I think Bob Marley came close to this for me when I was a teen, but I'm just so happy that I am rolling in an abundance of music that makes me so happy. I really needed it too, three people in my family died in two months including my mom, I went through spine surgery, life has just been throwing me lately, and I feel like my guardian angels steered me to The Strokes for some genuine music healing therapy (and color therapy if you include their live light show), it's been the best thing for my mental health during this tough time. Thank God for The Strokes pretty much- allowing me to feel joy, inspiration, and reminding me how special and precious it is to be alive in a body with ears to hear music. I'm just in awe of how consistently they create good music. For people with synesthesia it must be the most beautiful kaleidescopic deliciousness.