Interpol
Antics
Matador (2004)
Turn on the Bright Lights is a great debut album. The guitars are compelling when paired with Paul Banks's jarring vocals, letting bizarre lyrics like "subway is a porno" slide. The bass lines are far from boring and the drumming is precise and deliberate. All this talent was fused into a euphoric experience that was warmly received by the press. It is enticing to make the same exact album to avoid the sophomore slump, but these well-suited musicians did not succumb to the temptation. Antics develops a more upbeat sound, but bassist Carlos Dengler insists, "[Paul Banks] was pretty unhappy" in a recent interview. The tracks are more danceable; instead of grooving to morbid lyrics like "and you go stabbing yourself in the neck," the lyrics like "hey wait/great smile" are more appropriate to dance to. The tracks "Take You on a Cruise" and "Not Even Jail" echo closely the grandeur of their debut, but other tracks explore a lighter sound. "Next Exit" is initiated by a resonating organ followed by Banks's vocals cueing in the soughing guitars and the gentle drums. The church-like organ sounds as if Banks has just received a spiritual revelation, yet all he can sing … Read more
Architecture in Helsinki
Fingers Crossed
Bar/None (2004)
Architecture in Helsinki are not your everyday indie-pop group. Sure, they are compared to Belle and Sebastian a lot, but … Read more
The Thrills
Let's Bottle Bohemia
Virgin (2004)
Foreign territories naturally exude mystery and romance. Dubliners the Thrills found California so intriguing that they wrote their whole debut, … Read more
These Days
Death Sentence
Run for Cover (2004)
Before we begin I'd like to officially admit that I have a problem. I have an obsession with the Nor … Read more
