#41

Yeah… It’s not enough, as you say. Based on what I’ve heard already and a few reviews, it all suggests another mixed bag.

#42

Feels like they’re going through the motions now unfortunately

#43

Can’t say I’ve given anything since OLTA much of a listen… but is it fair to say they’ve been getting gradually worse ever since the debut? Certainly feels that way.

#44

I’ll say this - I think whatever we feel about their current work - they’re genuinely into it. The amount of press and sheer number of smiling, good humoured (even funny!) interviews they’ve done has really surprised me. They seem the happiest they’ve ever been. Ha - Maybe that’s the problem?

1 Like
#45

Yes (El Pintor is a slight improvement on S/T so technically doesn’t fit the downward trend, but honestly it’s not good enough to really care about)

Glad they’re still together though. They were amazing live on the last tour and I’d never had the chance to see them before

#46

I’m having quite a fun time with this. Nothing ground-breaking but a solid guitar rock record.

Had become a very casual fan soon after the release of OLTA, until last year’s buzz around the TOTBL tour reminded me how much I loved those first two albums.

Coming back to them from that perspective, they’ve definitely lost something but this album is probably the best version of the band that they are now. Reckon I’ll try and catch them on tour as I’ve still never seen them live.

#48

How do they always have such good shows on? One day I’ll actually drag myself to Kingston for one of these.

#49

Yes that’s a weird one isn’t it- when it was announced it sounded like it was in the shop (never been so assumed it had a Rough Trade style small stage etc) but not travelling over a 100 miles to a chain nightclub as I have seen them live loads. Sticking to Albert Hall.

#50

The Savages album launch there back in 2016 was :fire: Coukdnt hear out of my left ear for days

#51

Turn on the Bright Lights - 10/10
A total classic. Evocative, moody, and best all timeless.

Antics - 8/10
A brilliant follow up. Hooks added, but no bite taken away and the new production sounds incredible.

Our Love to Admire - 7/10
A slight decline, but mostly a lack of direction. Some belter. Has aged a lot better than I’d have expected.

Interpol - 6/10
Aimless, and a bit bland, but with a few corkers. It is above the dirge, but not by much. Let down by truly shite artwork.

El Pintor - 8/10
Well then, a real return. Sounds like an extension of Antics-era stuff. Got their groove back.

9 Likes
#52

Yeah I’m down with this.

#53

Real shame they didn’t nail OLTA. Then they’d have the moody, atmospheric classic, the pop smash and the expansive, romantic epic. As-is it just feels incomplete.

1 Like
#54

TOBL - 10/10 ATD classic
Antics - 9/10
OLTA - 7.5/10
S/T - 5/10
EP - 6/10
M - 4.5/10

1 Like
#55

TOTBL - 9/10
A - 8/10
OLTA - 6.5/10
I - 3/10
EP - 6/10
M - 7/10

In response to @nestor’s point about their gradual decline…I think they definitely hit a nadir with S/T…but have improved steadily since then. Don’t expect them to hut the heights of the first 2…but on current form I’d happily check out future output and see them live.

1 Like
#56

I think part of my enduring faith in Interpol is through not finding many bands doing similar things (to a greater standard). Don’t get me wrong, there’s a host of good post-punk bands around atm…but the likes of Protomartyr, Ought, Idles, Algiers are more political, arty and have a speak/sing vocal delivery. Not much cold, moody detachment.

Can anybody recommend some decent bands that sound like Interpol? I think the most obvious one is Preoccupations, and I did love S/T (plus the Viet Cong album)…but the record this year was a big disappointment.

1 Like
#57

Turn On the Bright Lights > Antics > El Pintor > Our Love to Admire >> Marauder >> Interpol

#58

Yeah agree w/ this. So many similar sounding bands who come nowhere nowhere near.

Protomartyr, while definitely different, are the ones taking over for me atm. That last album is off the wall and they’re just getting better and better.

I listen to loads of this stuff and nothing else seems to stick.

#59

Marauder continues the trend of being decent but unmemorable i guess really. The Rover is a great tune, i’ll have to listen again to see if anything else jumps out. found none of it bad but just a bit of a background listen i suppose. does start to feel like it’s going on a bit by the end cos all the songs are fine but largely the same.

El Pintor wasn’t much different on the surface but i think it did manage a handful of memorable tunes and feels a bit punchier overall. probably the most consistent since Antics?

haven’t listened to S/T in ages, i always thought it was ok, just a bit of a heavy slog, but definitely liked a few songs on there, i’m not sure it’s really such a drastic low point like its made out to be. i must go back to it and see how it holds up. i did spot that Success has made its way back into some of their setlists which i’m pleased about.

OLTA always had a handful of top-notch Interpol material on it, including a couple that sound more like TOTBL than anything on Antics did, but then filled out with underwhelming stuff. definitely listened to it loads at the time but would skip a few tracks on it now.

Antics is very good obviously, although i still can’t fathom at all anyone who prefers it to TOTBL. they feel like a slightly different band on Antics and they’ve continued being that band since but without reaching the same heights. very very solid indie rock album, doesn’t have that same special edge though.

TOTBL - just magic innit?

5 Likes
#60

That was excellent. Terrible queues followed by an unnecessary cavity search on entry, but a great set with good sound.

FWIW I rate Julian Plenti is… Skyscraper above everything bar the first two albums.

#61

to you and @wonton… maybe try Self Defense Family’s new one?

1 Like