Under Control
Song DNA
A mellow track exploring themes of control and vulnerability.
Cultural Context
Showcases a different side of the band's songwriting.
Listening Prompt
Great for relaxation or winding down.
What to Expect
Consistent pace with gentle shifts.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: calm, intimate
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in The Strokes's catalog
We have 23 songs from The Strokes in the library. Of those, 1 are rated Safe, 20 Moderate, and 2 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits below the artist average of 6.7, making it the #21 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Comedown Machine
We have 2 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- One Way Trigger — moderate DR 6
2013 context
Released in 2013. We have 408 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.5/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-05. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Under Control"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Under Control" by The Strokes?
"Under Control" by The Strokes rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Under Control" — what is its dynamic range?
"Under Control" has a dynamic range of 6/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Under Control" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Under Control" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Under Control" best for?
In our library "Under Control" is recommended for: meditation, sleep. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Under Control" released?
"Under Control" is from 2013, on the album "Comedown Machine". It appears in our 2010s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Under Control"?
We tag "Under Control" as calm, intimate. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Under Control"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Under Control"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Under Control" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
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