For their tenth anniversary, Interpol is re-releasing their debut – of course, with almost obligatory bonus-material like remastering, DVD, extra-CD with demos and b-sides, and in this case, even a photo-book. Right behind The Strokes, Interpol is one of the main bands responsible for the new indie-breeze at the beginning of the new millennium, sounding very British and very post-punky. Even back then, »Turn On The Bright Lights« was highly praised (proven by the »album of the year«-title by Pitchfork), but also declared as Joy-Division-plagiarism. Today, however, the band has become an idol for copyists themselves. It’s thanks to that standing and thanks to their musical development, that the record still sounds very fresh (only the drums are produced in a slightly dusty manner here and there): fragile, yet powerful songwriting with a constantly high emotional intensity, variable instrumentalization between elegiac-melancholy ballads like »NYC« or »Hands Away« and poppy, melodic rocker-tracks (»PDA« und »Obstacle 1 & 2«). Their confident performance and the band’s undercooled image almost come across as arrogance, but thankfully, on their debut, that’s not audible in a single note.
Black Country, New Road
Forever Howlong
Ninja Tune