Hard to Explain " is the first single from New York garage rock band The Strokes ( their only previously released material was '' The Modern Age '' EP ) . It was released first in the UK and was later released in the US with different album artwork . ( The UK version has a photo of two chairs , one red and one black , facing the camera . The chairs appear to be in a diner or restaurant of some sort . ) Because this single is the first from their debut LP '' Is This It '' , " Hard to Explain " made the anticipation for the album proper very high , and when '' Is This It '' did come out it was widely hailed as one of the best of the year . The B-side of this single , " New York City Cops " was omitted from the US version of the album in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center ( the chorus to the song contains the lines " New York City cops/They ai n't too smart " )
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Hard to Explain