Very few bands have defined 21st-century indie rock the way The Strokes have. From their rapid arrival in the early 2000s to their reflective revival with The New Abnormal in 2020, their sound has always been tied to a very specific kind of energy: raw, stylish, and nostalgic. It feels fitting, then, that on their most recent album, the final song, ¨Ode to the Mets¨ plays like a curtain call. A gentle, introspective farewell that incentivizes where the band has been and what they’ve become.
A Brief History of The Strokes
Formed in 1998 in New York City, the Strokes are composed of members Julian Casablancas (Lead Vocals) Nick Valensi (Guitar), Albert Hammond Jr. (Guitar), Nikolai Fraiture (Bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (Drums). They went straight to the top with their 2001 debut hit Is This It, an album that critics regard as one of the most influential rock releases of the century. The gritty guitars, and on-the-nose lyrics helped revive garage rock at a time dominated by polished pop and nu-metal. Throughout the 2000s, The Strokes evolved while maintaining their signature sound. Albums like Room On Fire (2003) and First Impressions of Earth (2005) showcased a band experimenting with structure, tone, and emotional depth. But the 2010s brought turbulence, side projects, tension, and long gaps between albums leaving fans wondering whether there would be a return for the band. After a seven-year hiatus after the releases of Angles in 2011 and Comedown Machine in 2013, The New Abnormal was released on April 10, 2020, a nine-track synth-rock album that redefined their sound, combining new synth-y pop music with their iconic grunge sound.
A Summary of “Ode to the Mets”
Despite the name, the song isn’t actually about the New York Mets baseball team, although it would be fitting considering their origin. Julian Casablancas has explained that the name started as a joke, but the song’s mood, tired and loving, fits the idea of rooting for something imperfect and familiar. Musically, “Ode to the Mets” is slow and almost weightless. It opens with gentle, looping chords and gradually builds into an emotional swell. Unlike many Strokes songs, there’s no driving guitar riff or explosive chorus, just textures and introspection. Lyrically, the song touches upon disappointment, forgiveness, and letting go. Lines such as “The only thing that’s left is us” and “I was just bored, playing the guitar” feels like Casablancas reflecting on not just a personal relationship, but the band’s own long history, written with love and even resignation.
Why It’s a Perfect Ending
“Ode to the Mets” works as a finale on a long, twenty-year career on multiple levels. It captures The Strokes’ evolution, with the song’s mellow sound that contrasts sharply with their early chaotic and energetic upbringing in 2001, shows just how far they’ve come, growing and maturing throughout the years. It serves as a quiet and powerful though unofficial goodbye to the band’s career, and it feels like a final bow. It’s an emotional tone that suggests acceptance of past mistakes, time passing, and creative cycles ending. It mirrors the theme of the album it is on, The New Abnormal, which is about confronting the present and reconciling with the past, hence, coming to terms with a “new abnormal”. Placing a song centered on remembrance and release at the end of the album completes the narrative arc of the whole album. Lastly, it’s understated in a way only The Strokes could pull off. Instead of going out with a loud anthem, they closed with something subtle and personal, proof that maturity and growth don’t have to be flashy.
“Ode to the Mets” stands as one of the most quietly impactful songs in The Strokes’ catalog. It is one of my personal favorites, and it embodies their legacy, acknowledges their imperfections, and expresses a tenderness that was often buried underneath the swagger of their earlier years. Whether or not it ultimately becomes their final music statement, it functions like one. Reflective, nostalgic, and raw in feeling. For a band that helped define a generation of indie rock, it feels like the perfect way to close the book, softly, thoughtfully, and honestly.
