Turn On The Bright Lights (album) by Interpol

From Timestarter 05/30/2020 01:08

Fav. Tracks: Untitled, Obstacle 1.

From NoAlarms 03/30/2020 22:10

In the earliest days of the 21st century, New York City was not only a dominant fulcrum for the arts, it also stood as a mecca for some of the best up-and-coming indie rock artists of the era. Bands such as The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If these wonderful acts were assembled at a legendary NYC party, deep in the corner, pensively camouflaging would be Interpol. Always tastefully suited and donning black, Interpol were surely the most brooding and moody of these groups and their music brilliantly reflected the sentiment of a city that they loved but was holding them prisoner. Their crowning achievement was 2002's Turn on the Bright Lights, an introspective compendium of social alienation and the poetic juxtaposition of perception and reality in the city they called home.

Lead singer Paul Banks pulls no punches on third track NYC, claiming, "The subway is a porno, The pavements they are a mess, I know you've supported me for a long time, Somehow I'm not impressed". Lead guitarist Daniel Kessler vigorously drives fifth track Say Hello to the Angels. The breakneck pace is notably apt when uncovering the song's inspiration, unfailing sexual yearning during a rocky relationship. Fan favorite Obstacle 1 is often noted as an anthem for the turn-of-the-century indie revival. It was seemingly influenced by the death of a model that willingly pierced her own throat. The relevance to the narrator is still up for interpretation but lines such as, "But it's different now that I'm poor and aging, I'll never see this face again, And you go stabbing yourself in the neck," imply a distant, one-sided affinity. The darkness only purveys further from there. Playfully titled track Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down describes another flesh-centric liaison gone awry due to the title bearer's personal instability. Sam Fogarino's burst-guided drumming creates the sensation that the song itself is slowly descending deeper and deeper into the Hudson. Banks croons, "Bottom of the ocean she dwells, bottom of the ocean she dwells", as he too drifts into the abyss.

The lion's share of the band's attention appeared to revolve around their status as dead ringers for legendary post-punk foursome Joy Division. Interpol, while respecting Joy Division's legacy, dismissed the strategic intention of such comparisons, not content to live in another's shadow or (Shadowplay). While The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem concocted hits that were not out of place at Columbia University parties and the sprawling New York City club scene, Turn on the Bright Lights' target was an entirely different audience. A sector of listeners that felt petrified at the notion of being present at a social soiree or those who desired whole-hearted love in favor of booze-soaked escapades. It's a shame that these days that Interpol are perceived to have lost their labels as critical darlings, lost to a new generation sporting deaf ears on which the band's music falls on. Shamefully, they often get lost in the shuffle when commenting about the impact of early 2000's indie rock, swiftly swept to the side by more thematically positive acts that potentially have less provocative things to say. How appropriate of the band to be caught up in such a woebegone story. Hindsight suggests that Interpol just may have been the finest act to grace that era. They certainly released its most polished, brilliantly arranged artifact. You can find it gracing the shelves of a Greenwich Village antique shop.

"I had seven faces
Thought I knew which one to wear
But I'm sick of spending these lonely nights
Training myself not to care"

-NYC

Standout Tracks:

1. Obstacle 1
2. Leif Erikson
3. Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down

97.8

From Montpejo 03/01/2020 22:38

Highlights:

Obstacle 1
Untitled
PDA
Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down
The New
Leif Erikson

I've come back and listened to this album probably 15 times and appreciate something new in almost every song. The complex lines in each instrument weave a mind-blowing rock song while also being exceptional when you listen to one isolated instrument.

Paul Banks' lyrics are also very intriguing in that they straddle a line between explicit and implicit- as if he's found a classy way to talk about lust and longing. Much classier than, say, blink-182 or most rap from the 2000s. This is an album that consistently delivers and brings a different edge to the punk rock revival scene of the 00s. Very happy the band is still going and had established itself so well with this album. It also feels very post-9/11 with "Roland" and "NYC". The last two songs don't match the heights of the rest of the album, but I'm sure they'll work for me over time.

90/100

Check out: Obstacle 1, NYC, PDA, Stella Was a Diver, Say Hello to The Angels, Roland

It´s been more than a decade since I discover this album, and still feels fresh and unique, such a shame Interpol haven´t been able to come close to repeating the quality of this album (yeah I know Antics is good, but... just good). Since the first seconds of Untitled, TOTBL transports you to a dark melancholic place, you feel wrapped in feelings of anger, nostalgia a little depression and some anarchy. There is not one single song that seems out of place, they all fit perfectly, even a indie anthem as Obstacle 1, sounds much better inside the album.

Favoritte tracks: NYC, Stella Was a Diver, Roland, Obstacle 1, PDA

Truly a mind blowing piece of work. Started to listening to this album and didn't know what to expect. Finishing it with my mouth wide open and uncontrollably staring at my speaker. Tremendous, hightend, amazing sound. Right on!

Love their New York Joy Division sound and I can hear how they might have influenced bands like Franz Ferdinand. Another album picked up through the website reviews - love Untitled amongst others. Might even climb after a few more listens.

From TheDude85 04/14/2019 13:35

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From Jhlffc 04/01/2019 22:11

The original and best pot-punk revival album. A true classic with a fantastic mix of fast angular rock and drawn out atmospheric post-punk.

Stunning debut album, almost a mix of Joy Division and Television but Paul Banks' vocals truly help this album stand on its own merits