and now, ladies and gentlemen

song seven

Interpol - Our Love To Admire - Album Review

 

 

Interpol

Our Love To Admire

(Capitol)

Album Review

 

Few bands have sustained their influence or impact on the rest of the international music scene in quite the same way as Interpol. When the New Yorkers debut 'Turn On The Bright Lights' arrived some five years ago amidst a slurry of Coldplay, Limp Bizkit and garage rock, it was a breath of fresh air amongst a pile of decrepit turds floating for supremacy in a sea of musical distaste.

 

Sure, their own influences may have been instantly recognisable but if you're going to follow an already trodden path, then none come more consecrated than that created by the likes of Joy Division, REM and The Smiths.

 

Since then of course, Interpol's position as figureheads of a new movement of despairing romanticism has become signed and sealed, none more so than by the slightly more upbeat follow-up to TOTBL 'Antics'. Hell, they even managed to unleash a couple of hit singles from within its confines, whilst moving up from basement cult hero to genuine icon status.

 

'Our Love To Admire' then is their long-awaited third album, and from the cover's depiction of a deer about to be ripped to shreds by a pack of tigers to the dark lyrical and atmospheric musical content, it seems misery and trouble aren't far away.

 

Not that anyone would suggest Interpol are a bunch of whingers, of course. On the contrary - in fact, they're at their most resoundingly poignant when they're stressed. If anything this record is a testimony to such times, whether that be an increasingly tiresome relationship ('No I In Threesome') or too much substance abuse ('Rest My Chemistry').

 

Producer Rich Costey seems to have placed more emphasis on the music here, as Paul Banks vocals appear to be lower in the mix than on their previous two records. Although this could have potentially created a problem, it has the opposite effect, instead creating an array of eeriness around the theme of the record. This works particularly well on 'Mammoth', one of 'Our Love To Admire''s many exquisite moments. "Spare me the suspense." intones Banks as Daniel Kessler's guitar rides along incessantly, spectres of The Edge in tow, for a song that could, given time, rival 'Evil' as the album's signature tune and live centrepiece.

 

However, 'Mammoth' is by no means the only highlight here. Opener 'Pioneer To The Falls' rings in like a maudlin New Year clarion cry, chiming guitars interacting with a haunting piano melody as Paul Banks repeats its hookline "Show me the dirt pile/and I will pray/that the soul can take/three stowaways" with clockwork efficiency. It could be a nursery rhyme if it wasn't so disparagingly breathtaking. Likewise, 'Rest My Chemistry' is a brooding number that suggests its writer (Banks) has had enough of the white stuff ("My friends they come/the lines they go by") and all the hangers-on that go with it. Musically, it isn't a million miles away from 'Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down', and more significantly, it once again captures Interpol at their insatiably poignant best. Closing track 'The Light House' meanwhile is a major departure from anything they've done in the past. Mixing reverb led guitars with an almost flamenco flavour, once again Banks' vocal is at times incoherent in the mix, but as a combination it sounds almost like the perfect follow-up to My Bloody Valentine's 'Glider', something even they haven't managed to achieve after all these years.

 

By and large, 'Our Love To Admire' doesn't contain any real duff tracks of note, and while there may be some who'll criticise it for being so obviously an Interpol record - well what did you expect, a German techno record mixed by Paul Epworth? - make no mistake about it, this will be high up in many people's Top Ten lists come the end of the year.

 

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/interpolx19x07x07

Oh! This reminds me, I need to go get a copy still:stunned:

last week i've bought some music magazines and in every mag are interviews with interpol.

 

here is the first pic from an interview.

 

 

the rest will follow. :nice:

Oh! This reminds me, I need to go get a copy still:stunned:

 

What's a copy still?:confused:

wow! its been a minute since I was on here....

 

 

 

well thoughts on the album.. I LOVE IT! Favorite tracks include Pace, Lighthouse, Threesome, Chemistry... and of course Scale!!! I really like it.. it showcases their maturity and evolvement as a band. I dig it. Haven't stopped listening to it since I got it!

 

 

Concert was mega! I can't believe its over now until September!!! :( but its right around the corner.... :) I'll be blogging about it soon.... ;)

I just got the cd as a present from an online friend I met finally in Oslo... the gift means a lot because of the person who gave it to me, not for the cd itself which I have to say, I havent listened yet... though... as I downloaded the record the same day It came out, I can say my favorites so far are rest my chemistry, pace is the trick, no I in threesome and of course pioneer to the falls... but after the exciment went by, I have to say, I dont like it as much as antics anymore :\ also dissapointed about what I have heard about paul and his behaviour last days... :-(

 

 

we become sillhouetes;Zu

wow! its been a minute since I was on here....

 

 

 

well thoughts on the album.. I LOVE IT! Favorite tracks include Pace, Lighthouse, Threesome, Chemistry... and of course Scale!!! I really like it.. it showcases their maturity and evolvement as a band. I dig it. Haven't stopped listening to it since I got it!

 

 

Concert was mega! I can't believe its over now until September!!! :( but its right around the corner.... :) I'll be blogging about it soon.... ;)

 

Glad you had a great time!

 

Welcome back too :kiss:

Loving the new album and seeing them next month. :dance:

just got "our love to admire"

loooooooving it

Just bought the new album on saturday. Pioneer To The Falls, Rest My Chemistry, and Pace Is The Trick are my favorites so far. :nice:

Not long now until I see the guys live again...

 

Tuesday can't come quick enough.

 

I'm going to be on a mission....get to the front, take some good photos and have a great time.

 

;)

My free copy of the CD came today :D

Not long now until I see the guys live again...

 

Tuesday can't come quick enough.

 

I'm going to be on a mission....get to the front, take some good photos and have a great time.

 

;)

Good luck with your mission! :)

 

My free copy of the CD came today :D

And what do you think of the new album? In my opinion overall OLTA is better than Antics, but I have to say that it's not as good as TOTBL. I have to listen to it several times before I finally could really get into it.

My task went swimmingly until the point when the gig was cancelled due to Carlos becoming "ill" and having to go to hospital.

 

It's going to be rescheduled again.

 

Also, taking photo's was strictly forbidden. Which was odd because I saw the staff removing the "no cameras" sign from outside before I went in.

 

Until next time I guess.

How are things on the west coast? :P

 

 

Haha I love saying that. I randomly just say it at home and my sister's like 'wahh?' :freak:

Also, taking photo's was strictly forbidden. Which was odd because I saw the staff removing the "no cameras" sign from outside before I went in.

 

Until next time I guess.

 

Nearly all bands say that, but unless they are physically going to search everybody and remove all phones with cameras they can't stop people getting in with a camera.

 

I find as long as your camera isn't professional, the security people don't mind.

I miss the band so much!!!

 

I can't believe I'm seeing them next week!!!!! GA baby at MSG!!!!

 

I really dig the new album and the video for Mammoth is cool too.... I think its their first 'performance' video... from like an actual gig..... I think its tastefully done... and thje guys really don't like filming videos, so this was perfect....... an actual performance piece, overlayed by the studio cut of the track...... personally I would've loved to hear the actual gig... but, this will do. I have a lot of catching up to do on my archives.... :embarassed:

Nearly all bands say that, but unless they are physically going to search everybody and remove all phones with cameras they can't stop people getting in with a camera.

 

I find as long as your camera isn't professional, the security people don't mind.

 

Most bands I've seen have allowed photos and never have I had someone (head security guy) announce multiple times that anyone taking photos will have their camera taken (which is probably illegal anyway). Once I saw Johnny Greenwood at the festival hall, london, cameras were banned - but it's always like that in that venue.

Radiohead, Cornelius, Mew, Tortoise, Coldplay, Deerhoof - to name a few from the past couple years where crowd photos have been 100% allowed.

I've even been to see Interpol before where takes photos was fine.....so I was a bit annoyed at the "AT THE REQUEST OF THE BAND ABSOLUTELY NO PHOTOS!" rule. Nobody was even being told that or being checked for cameras on the way in.

 

Maybe the band just felt like having no flashes that day - or they had some pro photographers sign a exclusive photo rights deal or something.

Most bands I've seen have allowed photos and never have I had someone (head security guy) announce multiple times that anyone taking photos will have their camera taken (which is probably illegal anyway). Once I saw Johnny Greenwood at the festival hall, london, cameras were banned - but it's always like that in that venue.

Radiohead, Cornelius, Mew, Tortoise, Coldplay, Deerhoof - to name a few from the past couple years where crowd photos have been 100% allowed.

I've even been to see Interpol before where takes photos was fine.....so I was a bit annoyed at the "AT THE REQUEST OF THE BAND ABSOLUTELY NO PHOTOS!" rule. Nobody was even being told that or being checked for cameras on the way in.

 

Maybe the band just felt like having no flashes that day - or they had some pro photographers sign a exclusive photo rights deal or something.

 

wow! this is the first I hear of this.., considering they have that contest or promotion going on thru their myspace regarding fan pictorals... but who knows!! When they guy from FUSE asked Daniel about it, at a recent interview...... Dan knew nothing of it... so, I doubt it was 'at the request of the band'... or at least I'd like to think so. :( I know they usually say no flash photos..... but when I saw them at the Borgata in Atlantic City last month.... they didn't search us for cameras.... but they were enforcing the no photo rule. So much that this lady got all in my shots, and tried knocking my camera out of my hands!!!!! :angry:

 

 

I managed to get some good video... but I haven't had much opportunity to post since I am still without internet at home. :( but when I do...... I'll share! :nice:

damn...I'll be in NY next sat...cant make it for friday...I wish...but dunno if I can...I wanna see Interpol in NY...:bigcry:

 

hi everybody btw...long time no c ya!

I miss the band so much!!!

 

I can't believe I'm seeing them next week!!!!! GA baby at MSG!!!!

 

I really dig the new album and the video for Mammoth is cool too.... I think its their first 'performance' video... from like an actual gig..... I think its tastefully done... and thje guys really don't like filming videos, so this was perfect....... an actual performance piece, overlayed by the studio cut of the track...... personally I would've loved to hear the actual gig... but, this will do. I have a lot of catching up to do on my archives.... :embarassed:

 

My friend Dan was in the crowd for that video, at the front! It was filmed at KOKO in London. I love that song too.

*dances around the room* 2 more days til Interpol, 2 more days til Interpol :dance:

tonight! :dance:

^SO jealous! :stunned:

I saw Interpol exactly a week ago. I hadnt come here to ramble! TWAS FANTASTIC! :stunned::o:o :o They play unlike any other band, they are so professional about it. They didnt play "Stella", despite the whole crowd chanting for it, but oh well the gig was phenomenal.

 

I took some video:

C'mere:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NFsNgXtZwc

Public Pervert:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cschcWXmeU

No I in Threesome:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgUnkbCZQ4o

PDA:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h0hVDIBFog

 

Took some crappy pics too, which Im still editing.