I first heard of Interpol some time in late May, as I strolled through the book section of the Union Square Virgin Megastore in Manhattan and heard a cool-sounding song on the speakers above. I had discovered The De-Stijl-era White Stripes the same way early last year, so I asked the guy working there who it was, and he retrieved the manager, who gushed that this was "a new band called Interpol- what you're listening to now is their four-song demo," but their first full-length would be out sometime in the late-summer/early-fall. I was so impressed by those four songs that I even mentioned it on my blog, hoping the eventual album and its inevitable hype wouldn't disapointment me the way The Vines had.
That full-length, "Turn on the Bright Lights," arrived last month and it lives up to every bit of the hype. Now just about every word written about Interpol since the record's release has either lumped them in with the Strokes/Stripes/Hives/Vines juggernaut or compared the band to the '70s Manchester group Joy Division (fresh in everyone's minds due to the new movie "24 Hour Party People"). Both comparisons have some merit to them, although it's clear Interpol isn't following anyone- their style is very original, very unique, and very rockin'.
While it would be wrong to consider Interpol a "neo-garage" group, they are both from New York and fond of British affectations (most notably in their modes of dress, and in the faux accent of frontman Paul Banks). The Joy Division comparison makes sense too, but the songs aren't quite so melancholy (that is, don't expect Banks to hang himself anytime soon, thus necessatating the creation of a New New Order).
The two best songs on the album, ironically enough, are "Obstacle 1" and "Obstacle 2," which share little except a title and a pair of rollicking choruses in which too many syllables somehow fit the beat. Another standout track is "PDA"- with such winning lyrics as "this is the only version/of my desertion that I could ever subscribe to/and it is all that I can do." And the great chorus: "Sleep tight/Dream right/We have 200 couches were you can sleep tight/Dream right/We have 200 couches where you can sleep tonight." Interpol also keeps up the amusing new rock trend of song titles that have nothing whatsoever to do with the lyrics.
While, once again, the "New Rock" bands may not have so much in common with one another, but one thing they do share is that they're all better than Creed and Puddle of Mudd. And I think we can all be thankful that after all these years, good rock is finally moving into the American mainstream.
Interpol, with its superlative sound and wacky-but-clever lyrics, certainly belong near the top of any list of top new bands to emerge this year. So the moral is, pay attention to what they're playing next time you walk into a record store- you may just discover the next big thing.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
1 - Rex Lewis
Interpol's "Turn on the Bright Lights" is worth every penny you pay for it. Outstanding effort that is very "Echo and the Bunnyman," "Psychedelic Furs","Chamelons", and Joy Division (but not quite as much as you will initially feel). Further listening to this recording will convince you they are on their own path and are going to champion a new sound (based on the old manchester sound) that will pervade music through this decade. R.L.
2 - Dawn
Sexy vocals, haunting sound, catchy melody... Absolutely fabulous new music for ANY genre out there! Try it, you'll like it...
3 - malvirto
where can i find Interpol Lyrics, plz ??!!
4 - Bastardo
You can´t. I´ve been searching for the lyrics for almost three months already, and no sign of them. Screw the non-english speaking population in the world, I guess.
5 - ang
I'm addicted... Turn on the Bright Lights hasn't left the stereo since it's purchase. I wish I could find the lyrics too, I feel like a fool "singing" along. Is it just me or is this some of the best drumming I've heard in ages?
6 - bron
As well as those comparisons, there are also some guitar sonics not unlike the utterly brilliant Mogwai (especially on the opener), as well as a good dose of shoegazing a la Ride and a sense of importance that band like the Smiths and, more recently, Idlewild have oozed. It's fucking brilliant.
7 - bron
ang, the drumming is fantastic (though "NYC" does the ol' Travis skip-beat one), prob the best I've heard since... well... Mogwai. But I'm biased...
8 - Tim
i found some interpol lyrics...
just thought i'd share
http://theinterpol.free.fr/music/songs/index.html
9 - bron
Hey Tim, you've made my day! We've got phone interviews here with the boys on Tuesday, so if I couldn't find anything I was getting prepared to swallow my pride and ask them about the tricky ones... haha
10 - Daniele Pepe
I don't know why but this album reminds me of R.E.M. (the voice is Micheal Stipe's, isn't it?) and of Talking Heads (the guitar is practically the same).
11 - cansu
i havent heard something that good for a long while..
12 - alkan
im fuckin amazed.this is one of the best records ive ever heard.very weLL done.pay close attention to the vox,man im lying paralyzed on the floor just thinking how beautiful the voice of tim is.im not sick of spending this lonely night listening to you guys.
13 - paul
That song PDA is stuck in my head...reminds me of psych furs and sonic youth please tell me there is more of this talent out there. This is the best new music since the early to mid 90's!
14 - paul
That song PDA is stuck in my head...reminds me of psych furs and sonic youth please tell me there is more of this talent out there. This is the best new music since the early to mid 90's!
15 - alison
thanks to a genius named paul i was exposed to the music of interpol... thank god. this is some of the best stuff that i've heard in years.
surprise sometime
I'll come around
surprise sometime
I'll come around
I will surprise you sometime
I'll come around
I will surprise you sometime
I'll come around
when you're down
16 - emily
since the first time ove heard interpol ive been addicted toi it and i cant listen to anything else. All my other music seems so dull and unintelligent. Interpol is agenius and by far the most original best band ive ever heard
17 - emily
since the first time ive heard interpol ive been addicted to it and i cant listen to anything else. All my other music seems so dull and unintelligent. Interpol is agenius and by far the most original best band ive ever heard. obstacle one gives me chills when ever i hear and it never gets old to me.
18 - Kameron
Man, I'm a late bloomer...I stumbled upon a few Interpol MP3's a few months back and the quickly dominated my (PC) music play lists. I bought their CD last month and the thing has not seen the light of day since...I'm not even sure where the CD case is right now. But I don't really care, I have no intentions on taking it out of my player any time soon.
Melancholy, melodic, and furious music topped by the best lyrics to be conjured since The Cure's Disintegration album.
I can't get enough, and eagerly await Interpol's next endeavor!
19 - Bob
If you guys like Interpol, check out Placebo, since the band has said they were really influenced by them.
20 - salvador morales
Turn on the bright lights is a great disc itself. it´s quite true that obstacle 1, PDA, say hello to the angels and obstacle 2 will be the first songs that you´ll be singing for awhile; but such a thing proves that you´re only singing the "pretty songs" as Cobain wrote long time ago.Certainly this is not about favorites ones or singles of the band that will appear in a disc after 10 years whit songs of bretneyspears.systemofadown.robbiewilliams.pink.evanecens.blink182.eminem;it´s about music breaking our hearts again,it´s about music against them all.
21 - 2shay
Obstacle which was ritten by Interpol was da best song ever. I first loved dat song and heard of dat song wen i saw the Skate video Girl-Yeah Right on Brian Andersons part wen he hurt his nose
22 - syd
.........interpol?!?!?! whos that......thats what i said at the curiousa festival. if anyone knows about the curiousa fetival you know other bands like muse, mogwaii, the rapture, cursive, erasure, and most impotant THE CURE were headlining it. ok so i went to see them in sbc having no idea who they are...like the sound that they created. since then this was 1 year and a 1/2 ago i got other cds from muse, the rapture, and cursive but i heard interpol on the radio so i had to get it. i must say another band, mars volta, is just as creative as them.......
23 - Dave
Interpol is a big buzz band. Listen to Joy Div, Bauhaus, Sonic Youth, Pavement, and Unrest.
24 - mistermusic07
According to rankopedia.com, the best song ever is Stairway to Heaven. Hard to disagree.