The Strollers are among the most accomplished emulators of 1960s American garage punk in the early 21st century. Accomplished does not mean original: The similarities to
the Sonics and
the Music Machine in particular are blatant, with the petulant yet aggressive vocals, ominous wiry guitar fuzz riffs, keening Farfisa organ, and more of a sense of pop hooks and vocal harmonies than many revivalists feature. The songs are mostly about fighting girls, leaving girls, putting down ex-flames, and defiantly claiming that girls can't change the way they live. Those are limited musical and lyrical scopes, even if the music is fairly catchy and forceful. They're best when they slow things down a little and lean on the minor melodies, as on "Not Good Enough for You" and the unexpectedly haunting, delicate bridge of "Captain of My Ship." ~ Richie Unterberger