Interpol ?????

[karkus30]

Bought the debut album, I just cant get into it. Tried and tried to listen to the whole album, it just reminds me of a poor quality Smiths album.

A sort of miserable, miserablists album.

Im beginning to understand how some of my M8s feel about Radiohead.

Anyone else got an opinion??

[Whiting]

An opinion? Yup.

I love it - it mines a Joy Division/Bunnymen seam, which is fine by me.

Not sure I hear the Smiths in there, but there's definitely an early 80s/post-punk thing going on.

[karkus30]

Yep, that explains it. I cant quite get away with Joy Division either, I have two albums because of recommends ( unknown pleasures and closer), never play them. The Smiths I find ok as long as I dont subject myself to prolonged listening.

I really want to like it, after all , I now like Beefheart and thats definitely an aquired taste, but I find Im forcing myself to listen in an attempt to appreciate it. I have had at least six attempts at Interpol, but its just not happening.

Of the 80s stuff, I prefer bands like Killing Joke. The heavier more rythmic side.

[karkus30]

Had to re activate this thread, decided to have another few listens and...............blimey .......its growing on me, infact I will go as far as to say I like it. MaybeIm going through mood swings or something. Still hate Audioslug though

[Whiting]

Bumping this thread as I've been listening to this album solid for the last week or so and it just gets better and better. I can't get enough of it.

Recommended if you're a fan of groups such as The Chameleons, Echo & The Bunnymen, Joy Division (from the 80s) or Muse/JJ72 from the present day.

[seany]

Well you lads have given me a excuse to go to town

[karkus30]

Originally posted by keanyboy
Well you lads have given me a excuse to go to town

Go and buy the new album by Sikth while your at it. Mad as a bucket of mad things. What do they sound like.........I dont know, the bastard son of Dillinger escape plan and Captain Beefheart crossed with Incubus, Metallica, tool and Cult of Luna(maybe) who knows, but definitely different and very entertaining. Heavy in parts, poetic in others.

[Hawklord]

Originally posted by Whiting
Bumping this thread as I've been listening to this album solid for the last week or so and it just gets better and better. I can't get enough of it.

Recommended if you're a fan of groups such as The Chameleons, Echo & The Bunnymen, Joy Division (from the 80s) or Muse/JJ72 from the present day.

same here can't sop listening to this (bought after reading this thread).

anymore gems like this around?

[Kali]

Been listening to Turn On The Bright Lights at least twice a week for the past year now.. absolutely brilliant album.

For other slightly similar reccomendations try:

TV On The Radio - Young Liars EP (2003) .. the title track is an excellent Beta Band/Interpol sounding affair... other tracks aren't really in a similar vein, but top quality and something different that definitely grabs you.

Franz Ferdinand - Darts Of Pleasure (2003) .. albums only out a matter of days, sound like Cure meet the Velvet Underground, seen them supporting Interpol, very polished band.

Afghan Wigs - Gentlemen (1993) .. very similar riffs in places to Interpol, and quite dramatic and passionate too.. more rocking tho

How anyone can mention JJ72 alongside Interpol is beyond me though.. they're absolutely dire.

Ken

[Whiting]

Kali:
Franz Ferdinand - Darts Of Pleasure (2003) ...
Afghan Wigs - Gentlemen (1993) ...

Franz Ferdinand were mentioned in that Guardian list of the most important bands in Britain...I'll keep an eye/ear out for them.

"Gentlemen" A forgotten classic.

The British Sea Power album is also worth checking out..it follows the same sensibilities.

How anyone can mention JJ72 alongside Interpol is beyond me though.. they're absolutely dire.

If you listen to something like "Brother Sleep" of the "I To Sky" album, you'll see why I made the comparison. It could be Interpol...if they were ever to employ a singing chipmunk.
I like them a lot though.

[Kali]

Originally posted by Whiting
Franz Ferdinand were mentioned in that Guardian list of the most important bands in Britain...I'll keep an eye/ear out for them.

The British Sea Power album is also worth checking out..it follows the same sensibilities.

I'll be picking up the Franz Ferdinand album tomorrow.. I'll post opinions on it then (I've only heard a few tracks and seen them live the once, but they have definitely impressed).

I'll probably pick up that BSP album as well, cheers for the reccomendation.. better be good now

[Hawklord]

Originally posted by Kali

Franz Ferdinand - Darts Of Pleasure (2003) .. albums only out a matter of days, sound like Cure meet the Velvet Underground, seen them supporting Interpol, very polished band.

Afghan Wigs - Gentlemen (1993) .. very similar riffs in places to Interpol, and quite dramatic and passionate too.. more rocking tho
Ken

I've ordered the Afghan wigs you've mentioned but cannot find the Franz Ferdinand CD anywhere apart from a cd single.
Any links to where I might purchase this?

I just got this yesterday, and I can tell I'm going to love it too. Obviously the tracks that jump out at you are Obstacle 1 and PDA, and are going round and round my head ("you're so cute when you're frustrated, you're so cute when you're sedated"), but the whole album is excellent.

There's one song that sounds a bit like the Smiths' "this charming man", so I can see where people get that idea from, but the drummer also reminds me of Stephen Morris, so I can fully back up the Joy Division claims. I could go on and on about who they remind me of, because they're clearly influenced by the same New Wave bands that I love, but I think they definitely have something original - dark without being angsty, and angular and rhythmically interesting without forgetting about melody.

-aside-
I also got the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds at the same time, because I was curious about all the fuss made over this album. I know it's a bit unfair to criticise the sound quality of something made 38 years ago, but come on! This sounds like fairground music played through a fuzz pedal. Highly disappointing and totally overrated (adopts the brace position) in my opinion, but I will admit that I was expecting a different sound - what happened to the guitars!?

[karkus30]

Originally posted by Cheese Police

-aside-
I also got the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds at the same time, because I was curious about all the fuss made over this album. I know it's a bit unfair to criticise the sound quality of something made 38 years ago, but come on! This sounds like fairground music played through a fuzz pedal. Highly disappointing and totally overrated (adopts the brace position) in my opinion, but I will admit that I was expecting a different sound - what happened to the guitars!?

I have never listened to the original vinyl edition in mono, it probably sounds better than the cd, although the cd sounds OK to me.

Overated? difficult one, because people either like it or hate it. I rest in the first camp, it was a groundbreaking album, but it wasnt pop. Think of it more like a symphony than a rock album and consider that none of the parts were played by synthersisers or modern electronics. The harmonies are top notch and probably never bettered. God only knows and wouldnt it be nice are two songs that would make the album worthwhile on there own, but all the songs and melodies are great.

Give it time, its not a modern record, so isnt instantaneous, more like a piece of art which you come back to time and time again and see something new each time. Its at that point that it stays in your collection and gets dug out when the right mood hits you.

If this doesnt make any kind of sense to you, then you will probably never like it. However, is it this best album ever? jurys out on that one, but its up there.

Maybe it was a cruel back-to-back, playing the Beach Boys after Interpol (sound-quality wise), and maybe my own ignorance has given me unfair expectations. I mean I'd heard the Pixies' version of Hang on to your ego, so I had that in my head already, and the Jesus and Mary Chain's cover of Surfin' USA... (not that these are Pet Sounds songs, but you get the idea). Maybe it's a bit like listening to Robert Johnson after Jimi Hendrix - definitely both geniuses, but the first guy has to suffer the indignity of poor equipment and the fact that he is a pioneer (no man is a prophet in his own land etc).

Anyway, will give it a proper listen, but I don't think my views are going to be radically different. I'm not a big Beatles fan for instance, and I don't go all weak at the knees knowing that they recorded Sgt Pepper on hyper-primitive equipment. Every now and again someone points me towards a great old album/band and I'm very grateful (CSN, Nick Drake and Big Star within the last couple of years), so I'm prepared to take the rough with the smooth.