Disco de Interpol: “Antics”

maybe it's because I'm british, but i don't quite understand why the reviewers on here seem intent on a) Citing Interpol as derivative and b) Giving them 1 star. Pompous, self absorbed dross like (insert throaty American grunge-lite here)deserves 1 star. Many reviews compare this band to joy Division, a similarity that I really don't see - Joy Division specialise in taut post-punk whereas Interpol weave a disparate, widescreen gloom - and the difference between the lyrical content is huge.

yes, 'antics' represents a slight dip in the songwriting quality of this band, but only in comparison to their near-perfect debut, 'turn on the bright lights'. that album's murky sense of despair is never quite recreated here- much to my bemusement- but is replaced by oppressive, elliptical song structures and crisp production that places vocals prominently in the mix and tones down the reverb on the guitars a little. The drumming has definitely improved- see 'Slow Hands' ; 'Public Pervert'- and Paul Banks' voice sounds at home in it's new environment, soaring majestically on 'Evil' and 'Take you on a cruise'.

True, this album sounds more like a collection of singles rather than a cohesive body of work... but that is impressive in itself, as you would be hard pushed to name single material on their previous effort. this shows that interpol have moved forward as a band, daring their fans to move with them. it's likely they would have been mauled further had they kept the formula (see 'Room on Fire' by The Strokes), but I get the feeling that interpol aren't really interested in criticism anyway: they're interested in finding new and inventive things to do with a singer, guitarist, bassist and drummer. and you will find, eventually, that their dense, unpredictable songs come pretty close to achieving this - and do so by borrowing less from the past than any other band right now.

Yes... I bought this album, and when I read some of these posts, I went to the record store and bought the Joy Division "Substance" compilation. The song "Slow Hand" is very much like "Love Will Tear Us Apart". The way they edit the sample on Amazon, you won't notice it, because its the 3 seconds of the song that is original.

Lots of bands are not originiasl, but Interpop make me feel good. Who cane debut that?

More people should listen to Fugazi.

Oh wait! This a review for Interpols new album. Yeah. Its kinda boring. Lacks a good track mix and definitely is not as good as their first and amazing album, Turn On The Bright Lights. The Joy Division thing is getting old. On the first album the singers voice did sound alot like Ian Curtis. Albeit without the pain and suffering behind Curtis's voice. The music on the other hand, did not and does not sound all that much like Joy Division. Anyways, this CD is boring. Its got some good tracks, like "Slow Hands" that would've felt very at home on the first CD. But i have tried many times to get into this and I just can't. The music sounds much more like Gang Of Four (which is a good thing, but nothing new at this point 30 years later) than other comparisons. Choppy chunky disco basslines and post rock guitars. Songs about love and alienation. Oh yeah, Listen to Fugazi! jeez, dont you ever want to hear something new? So, to all the HIGH SCHOOL KIDS: this is post punk. Not new to many of us, but maybe new to you. Its good, enjoy it, But search further and seek out Fugazi and their label mates (any of them, Q and Not U, Smart Went Crazy, Nation Of Ulysses) and you will be doing yourself a great justice by expanding your musical horizons. And if you need to find all the good stuff that preceded this, find New Order, A Certain Ratio, ESG, and Gang of Four. They still sound new by todays standards.

EDIT TWO YEARS LATER!

I LOVE THIS ALBUM! IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GROW ON ME. AS IS THE CASE WITH SOME OTHER ALBUMS THAT TOOK TIME TO GROW ON ME, IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ALBUMS IN A HUGE COLLECTION OF RECORDS THAT I OWN! IT HAS MADE ME LIKE INTERPOL EVEN MORE, IT IS AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER AT TIMES THEN THE DEBUT ALBUM. I TRULY LOVE EVERY SONG AND I EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THEIR NEXT RECORDING. SORRY FOR THE SCATHING PREVIOUS REVIEW!

As some reviewers correctly point out, this album will inevitably draw comparisons with Interpol's "Turn On The Bright Lights" debut. That debut was a strong multi-influenced album with great strokes of creativity, a refreshing surprise in the stagnating rock world.

I consider the whole line of arguments about Interpol "copying" former 80s legend-bands utter rubbish. It would have whatever merit if it were possible to still sound original nowadays whilst making rock music. I'm not saying it's impossible but it surely is extremely difficult.

Starting from there, it was a sure bet that Interpol's influences would surface again in their second album. As with their debut, the only question that remained was "will the result match their first effort". In other words, it was, and will still be by the time Interpol release their next album, whether Interpol can blend their heavily respected influences into a mix that captivates as they did in the past.

My verdict is that this time around the formula hasn't worked. While "Antics" is by no means a bad album, it certainly is no "Turn on the bright lights". In fact it's quite a fall on the inspiration barometer. It's tricky to try and pinpoint what's missing here, or to be more precise, to try and put it into words, but my feeling is that the missing element is the dark intensity that was masterfully distributed in their debut.

The songs found here tend more to slow tempo (or ballads if the temrs suits you better) and less to faster clear cut rock songs. All of them can be easily and pleasantly "consumed" but without the after effect Interpol's previous songs had. You listen to them, and with the exception of 2 maybe 3 songs, you dont have the feeling you've heard something markedly great. But you know all too well that the quality is still there.

Interpol gained a horde of fans 2 years ago with their debut and i assume a lot of the overhyped positive reviews about this album have to do more with defending the group's reputation from a fan point of view rather than the quality of "Antics".

As it is, Interpol remain a very interesting group to keep an ear out for. This was after all the "difficult second album". I expect them to jump back to their original levels of creativity when the third time comes around.

3.5

totbl (gets 4.75)

ok guys and gals, had to listen to it 11 times all the way through, i'm finally ready to write this. multiple listens will allow this set of songs to grow on you, but not nearly as much as totbl will attach itself to your brain and refuse to let go...

here are my thoughts:

-good, not great...

-music more simplistic than totbl (just not as intense)

-chorus music on public pervert is very good, but it should be the verse music and they should have come up with something even better for the chorus music.

-lyrics not as deep as totbl, maybe they are, but they don't "feel" as deep

-music interplay between instruments not as good as on totbl (the multiple guitars, bass, drums/symbols and very minor keyboard on totbl were so good it was hard to believe)

-first 7 songs are all high-quality and last 3 songs = complete garbage.

-vocalist has been lifted of the fear/uncertainty/gloom in his voice that was so prominent on totbl. i consider this a bad thing personally (in most cases). like some professional reviews says, its the blues without playing them...silly.

-drums have been SEVERELY castrated and put on the backburner, especially in comparison to totbal (they were right at the heart of totbl.)

-bass castrated also, though not as much as the drums (except on "Evil" when the bass is key)

-songs more repetive (not as linear) as totbl. the linear yet somehow catchy songs on totbl blow my mind...

-narc and not even jail sound too much alike...also when he sings the actual words "not even jail" it is like a letdown to the big build-up, not a big let down, but it coulda been so much better.

-the rawness of totbl just isn't there.

-it appears studio had much much more to do with this album. but who knows.

-i suppose a little success would eliminate some of their dark side or gloom and it shows in this album

-the chimey simplistic, yet complex guitar chord repetition is not as prevalent as it was on totbl.

-by itself antics is a good album overall and something that a rock fan will enjoy, if you're too pretentious and are stuck in the 80's or if it makes you too mad that it isn't AS good as totbl (not much is) then you won't enjoy it.