Interpol - Our Love to Admire
Rating
RIYL
The NationalJoy Division
The Walkmen
Editors
Tracklist
1. Pioneer to the Falls2. No I in Threesome
3. The Scale
4. The Heinrich Maneuver
5. Mammoth
6. Pace is the Trick
7. All Fired Up
8. Rest My Chemistry
9. Who Do You Think
10. Wrecking Ball
11. Lighthouses
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Interpol is an extremely over-rated band. Ever since a certain website launched them into stardom, it was pretty evident that they weren’t as good as the hype. It was only a matter of time before this caught up with them and they would be revealed as the frauds that they really were: indie rockstar wannabes. For proof of this claim, you can simply read the praise their last two full-length albums received and subsequently listen to them. I know that this is quite a strange way to open a review that is going to be otherwise very flattering, but I think it is a very important point to note before examining their latest album, Our Love to Admire. You can find traces of their past on this record but you can also hear the ambition of a band that wants to refine their sound into something that is less derivative.
The multi-textured opener “Pioneer to the Falls” begins the album in epic fashion. Anyone who thought that the band could no longer write emotionally engaging and enthralling songs was immediately proved wrong. This track melds horns, guitars, strings, and piano together into a haunting and memorable composition. The reason why it is so effective has to do with the layering of the instruments. The song starts very quietly with vocals and ringing guitars then everything else begins to jump in as it progresses creating excellent tension. The focal point is Paul Bank’s solo chorus where he sings “You fly straight into my heart” with as much emotional intensity as you have ever heard from him. It is their most creative effort since their debut, Turn on the Bright Lights.
Unfortunately, the first song is the best song. There is a reason why people say to ‘save the best for last.’ The rest of the album is by no means a total disappointment but it never reaches the creative peak of the opening track. “No I in Threesome” is a decent enough song to follow such an ambitious opener. It serves as the calm after the storm and has a more streamlined sound similar to something that would be found on Antics. It is very evident that the production on this album takes the emphasis away from Carlos D’s bass and is lacking in as much low end as previous releases.
“The Heinrich Maneuver” is a clever and catchy as any other single the band has released. One thing I must give the band credit for is that they didn’t try to compile a bunch of short, punchy singles together on this record. In fact, for a major label debut, it is much less accessible and more forward-thinking than Antics. “Mammoth” is a perfect example of some of the more creative songwriting found on this album. It combines a danceable rhythm but also comfortably transitions into soothing and somber moments. The song also finds Banks singing more energetically then previous songs.
After a few tracks that aren’t particularly thrilling, you hit “Rest My Chemistry”, an absolute gem. The lyrics set the stage for a story about cocaine use and loss. The atmosphere created by the melancholy instrumentation and leisurely pace fits the mood perfect. Critics who claim that Interpol continue to write the same song over and again will be surprised by “Lighthouse” which has the band moving into an almost entirely post-rock direction. But fear not, it doesn’t sound like a stretch; it actually sounds very natural and is executed quite favorably.
Interpol was set up for failure from the beginning. Any band who receives that much hype for their debut is bound to disappoint fans on each succeeding release. Many may be dissatisfied by their new record, but I believe that is because they built the band up to be something they are not. This band is not going to reinvent indie rock or become the saviors of rock music in the mainstream. They never even had the potential to do so. Interpol can, and will, simply release solid albums that are, for the most part, enjoyable. If you approach the album for what it is, you will find it to be a pretty solid effort and there will definitely be several songs that you will come back to in the future. And look, I managed to go through the entire review without mentioning Joy Division.
--Dave Spak
Comments
Leeds, England
Our Love to Admire has flashes of greatness, but for the most part, falls completly flat.
Hoboken, New Jersey
Fishers, Indiana
And I acutally haven't heard Our Love to Admire just yet, so I can't really comment further. haha.
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Austin
The Daily Galaxy
An elephant that never forgets...to kill!
Fishers, Indiana
I'm at "All Fired Up," and I must say, this album is spectacular. I have never ever said that upon listening to this band. I own both CD's, but it was always a meh reaction.
I'm actually blown away. This is good shit.
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