The Strokes Release 'In Transit: Part II' Documentary 22 Years Later: Inside the 'Reality Awaits' Recording Sessions

The Strokes gave fans something truly special today.‘In Transit: Part II’, a ten-minute behind-the-scenes documentary, hit the internet, and if you’ve been following the band since their early 2000s days, you’re probably experiencing some serious nostalgia right now. This is the sequel to the original‘In Transit’mini-doc that became a cult classic after being released on DVD to fan club members in 2004. For over two decades, that footage has been passed around, rewatched, and celebrated as the definitive look at how The Strokes started. Now the band is finally giving us a follow-up, and the timing couldn’t be better.

Director Johann Rashid captured the new footage during the band’s six-week recording session in Costa Rica with legendary producer Rick Rubin. Instead of the chaotic energy of their early days, we’re seeing The Strokes at a different stage of their career, working in an incredible studio environment. The documentary shows drummer Fabrizio Moretti laying down drum tracks, Julian Casablancas on keys, and the band perfecting recent singles like‘Falling Out Of Love’and‘Going Shopping’. What’s wild is the visual contrast itself. Fans on social media have already pointed out how funny it is to see them in this gorgeous, organized setting compared to the raw scrambling of the original doc. As one Reddit user perfectly noted,‘So funny looking at this picturesque recording studio and thinking back to the chaos of In Transit part one. The boys really did make it.’

‘Reality Awaits’, their seventh full-length album, arrives today after a six-year gap since‘The New Abnormal’. Band member Albert Hammond Jr. has been vocal about how much he loves this record, calling it‘intoxicatingly good’and his favorite thing the band has ever created. Add in the fact that The Strokes are about to embark on their first major UK and Ireland headline tour in over 20 years, including multiple shows at the O2 in London, and you’ve got a complete full-circle moment for longtime fans. Have you had a chance to watch the documentary yet, or are you planning to dive into the album first?