text: what's the big deal with the strokes?   i think the reason much is made of the strokes is that they are an "authentic" rock and roll band.  when their first album came out in '99 - '00 the airwaves were saturated with the likes of boy and girl singers, who were just not rock and roll by any stretch.  i think the strokes represented a true alternative to that.  kind of like when nirvana came and blew away the hair metal bands.  i think the strokes did a similar thing (though by no means are they at nirvana's level).  anyhow, i think they are stil taken seriously because their music is rock 'n' roll.  it's edgy.  and they are a really good live act.  of course this is all my opinion.  but if you listen to their albums, you can judge for yourself.