Interpol: Turn On The Bright Lights

For The Fan Presents:

Interpol “Turn On The Bright Lights” (2002) Review

Artist: Interpol

Album: Turn On The Bright Lights

Release Date: 2002

Label: Matador

Genre: Alternative/Post Punk

In 2002, there seemed to be a revival of post punk music. I didn’t really think that there was, but a lot of record journals were talking about it. Being a loner, a rebel and having few friends, gave me the distinct advantage of finding out about bands before they got big. That’s exactly what happened with Interpol. I had been watching the Matador Records line up for a while, and picked up an EP from the band, which blew me away.

Interpol has a unique sound, and while many compare them to a lot of other bands, it’s hard to really denote which one act resembles them most. Most will think of them in terms of Joy Division, She Wants Revenge, or even The Cure at times. However, they seem to share more with The Strokes than anything else. Their unique sound, was definitely fitting for me at the time, and still holds true today. They have a unique singer, deeper than most, never yelling, and most often cooler than most.

Through tracks like “PDA”, “NYC” and “Obstacle 1”, you go through a great deal of soundscapes, most of which resonate with the New York city way of things. Not that it’s fast, or dirty, it’s just muffled, for lack of a better word. The release is an incredible example of how simple things can become so much more. The album resonated well with the general public and was certified gold, albeit after a lot of touring, and a few more releases. I don’t know a lot of records that takes 9 years to reach Gold Status, but they sure seemed to get it done.

Even though a lot of top album lists will name this as their top for the year, it’s not for me. However, it’s a strong record, and one that just responds so well to the ear. Claustrophobic, noisy, and moody, this is what the Beat Generation would admire about today’s music. It may not have a huge message, but it still feels cold, and that’s something that is definitely good for parody. I’m sure Ned Flanders’ parents would have loved some of the sounds found on “Turn On the Bright Lights”. It just seems like the band tried to put out something that is cooler than everyone else, and somehow managed to pull it off, where other bands can’t.

Pros: Immediately makes you cool, moody, dark, and introspective

Cons: You’re not cool enough, everyone else probably says it’s their favorite from 2002

Rating: 9/10 

Links: 

CD: http://amzn.to/19qAEAU

Mp3 Download: http://amzn.to/1g8zI61

Vinyl: http://amzn.to/1jRIvhV