It's most stunning track may be "The New," a love song simultaneously brutal, beautiful, and honest. "I can't pretend/ I need to defend/ Some part of me from you," Banks sings, "I know I've spent some time lying." And then he flips it: "I can't pretend/ I don't need to defend..." Both sentiments seem absolutely true, contradictory though they are, and anyone who's ever felt new love knows that this is not denial, not doublethink — both statements are fully true. I can tell you anything, but not everything. The most revealing line in the song is the first: "I wish I could live free/ I hope it's not beyond me." Look carefully at the words there. "I wish I could" implies plainly that he knows he can't, and yet... "I hope." Hope against hope, perhaps, but there is no wrong kind of hope. This is the kind of emotion that this record leaks from every seam — confused but never jaded, earnest, and totally without irony.
To say that Turn on The Bright Lights grows on you is to sorely understate its creeping impact. It grows under your skin, drawing you back again and again with snatches of melody that won't get out of your head, and keeping you planted in your seat to ponder its introspective brilliance, until finally you understand that this is a jaw-droppingly great record. I've eaten my words before, so I'll prepare for that possibility as I say this:
This is the best album of 2002.
Please also see this review.
Article comments
1 - BF
Best. Album. 2002.
Done.
2 - Eduardo
Best debut album of 2002. I must say it must also rank in the top ten of all 2002 releases (with Sleater-Kinney's newest one as my top 2002 pick). One can't help but to notice the varied layers one is able to peel whilst listening to "Turn on the Bright Lights". Aces!
3 - Michael
This album is unbielvieable having stumbled upon it a couple of years ago and shoved it aside now its like im glad i waited the guitars bleneded with the voice beauty and bliss life changing definetly makes me happy to see a band on the fore front of todays music with so much potential the album completely amazes me i really cant put in words the beauty in the album im looking forward too the new one and hope the band neever dies
4 - anony
"Ok, I'll just come out and say it: Joy Division."
I stopped reading after that.
I love both bands and Turn On The Bright Lights is definitely
a great album.