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INTERPOL Turn On The Bright Lights (2002) Rating (Out of 10): 8 Tracklisting: Untitled/Obstacle/NYC/PDA/Say Hello To The Angels/Hands Away/Obstacle/Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down/Roland/The Nerve/Leif Erikson The first thing that will strike you about Interpol is their remarkable resemblance to Joy Division. They have an incredibly similar sound and feel to them and the photograph on the inside of the CD cover even looks a bit like them. But even though such influences are apparent, comparisons like this usually do more harm than good and Interpol’s similarity to Joy Division has been greatly exaggerated in the music press in my opinion. The similarities are there but there is also a Smiths influence and a general 80’s feel to the album. But Interpol should not be seen as some sort of copy cats or tribute act as they possess enough originality and creativity to stand out as a good band in their own right, and there is something incredibly refreshing about a 21st century American band being influenced by the 1980’s British music scene. ‘Turn On The Bright Lights’ is a highly impressive debut album that contains a good solid guitar-based sound with haunting vocals and obscure lyrics. Front man Paul Banks sings in a hazy, half mumbling sort of way that makes you strain to hear what’s being sung, and this combined with obscure, introspective lyrics creates a haunting, atmospheric effect. ‘Untitled’ is a good introductory track, mainly instrumental with minimalist vocals, it introduces you to the lazy, atmospheric feel of the album. ‘Obstacle 1’ was released as a single and is one of the best tracks on the album. ‘Say Hello To The Angels’ is very Smith’s influenced with a bass line that sounds as if it has practically been lifted straight out of ‘This Charming Man’. ‘Hands Away’ is another great track with a slow, beautiful melody, and is probably the most Joy Division-esque track on the album. There is a good mix of different paces and styles throughout and they all blend really well together. From the slow, melancholic rhythm of ‘NYC’ to the loud rockier ‘Roland’, ‘Turn On The Bright Lights’ provides a good introduction to a band that displays a lot of talent and promise. It’s hard to tell what the future will hold for Interpol. I really hope that the Joy Division comparison won’t restrict them too much, and that people will see the creativity and originality that lies beneath. Send A Comment BACK TO INDEX BACK TO MUSIC REVIEWS INDEX |
