Premature Evaluation: Interpol - Our Love To Admire
Our Love To Admire isn't out for a couple of weeks, but the chatter about the Cure, extra creepiness, and added accents/atmospherics -- while basically true -- is already tired. At least it's more interesting than discussing Interpol's suits and drink hangouts, or rehashing New York's post-punk renaissance. Three years have passed since Antics and a lot's changed -- the same can't be said for the NY quartet's third album. These older, hairier, dog-owning dudes basically sound the same except when they opt to take their sweet, melancholic time, allowing things to unfurl unhurriedly.
Major label deals can result in chancier recordings: Something to prove? Bigger budget? More time? Our Love's occasional new-romantic expansiveness and molasses pacing is likely the result of group maturity/chemistry mixed with all of the above (one also wonders the effects of Carlo D's stache). Whatever the case, Our Love's longest, languorous songs -- those given space to build (i.e. the ones folks may consider boring) -- are the record's truly captivating hooks. On the other hand, the quick, jagged numbers/mid-tempo tracks can be ear candy (a restless Joy Division haunts old timey, strong first single "The Heinrich Maneuver") or occasionally compelling (would someone with better math skills please chart the woozy energy of "Mammoth" or, bad title and all, the lovely non-arc of "No I in Threesome"?), but quite a few of the pithier tracks pass without much impact (see "Who Do You Think?," "Scale").
Caveats, Ian Curtis allusions, greyhound jokes, and mustache cracks aside, the record begins and ends wonderfully. Opener "Pioneer To The Falls" sets the mood with its chiming guitars and pseudo-devotional lyrics ("Show me the dirt pile, and I will pray that the soul can take / three stowaways"); over six minutes it assembles an elegant edifice with strings, horns, and major sonic 'n' emotional dynamics. A repeated "you fly straight into my heart" -- each time more plaintive-triumphant -- is followed up by cascading guitars, a dramatically intoned "here comes the fall," and a pitch-perfect, soulful tempo shift. At album's end "Wrecking Ball" steers razor-sharp guitar notes, cavernous vocal melodies ("Nobody warned you / Nobody told you / To make up your mind / Nobody told you / That I could just walk through / And shake up your style"), swooning backup harmonies, and a strangely placed orchestral echo (and exit) into a gentle collision with the distant, fluttering fits of "The Lighthouse" (Anyone else hear a little "Creep" fighting against those introductory stabbing, star-shower guitars?). Each of these tunes gain momentum and strength with repetition -- a rhythmic oomph remains despite the snail's pace, making the tinier numbers feel minor in comparison. Although the cover art's allegedly borrowed, it's important to note that these sprawling mini-epics feel like the quartet's own, albeit, yeah, with Mary Chain, Psych Furs and Bunnymen shading. And Pixies -- "Rest My Chemistry" sports a "Where Is My Mind?" guitar dart that flits behind Paul's appealingly bad poetry ("You look so young / like a daisy in my lazy eye," etc).
So, no, don't turn on the bright lights, Interpol: Follow a less-hackneyed path into the future. Our Love To Admire can be a drag, but it works when it sounds like the band's stuck in a room, absorbed in the sound, playing entirely for themselves, experimenting. That's a start. Now let things drift some more. Repeat.
Our Love To Admire is out 7/10 on Capitol.
Posted at 4:03 PM in Premature Evaluation
Tags: Interpol
"Our Love To Admire can be a drag, but it works when it sounds like the band's stuck in a room, absorbed in the sound, playing entirely for themselves, experimenting. That's a start. Now let things drift some more. Repeat."
This was the perfect time to quip (like any good Smiths/Morrissey post) with a song title to sum it all up, so please, gum, allow me...
Pace is the trick
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One of the best records of the year. Especially last two songs are great.
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After only one listen, I can say this:
1. It's better than Antics, but that's not saying much. And if it's better than Antics, it's only because...
2. ..."Mammoth" might already be my 2nd favorite Interpol song, right behind "PDA" (if only for the outro of PDA, which is one of my favorite musical sections ever.)
It's become very clear that Interpol is a one-trick pony, however well-dressed it may be, and that's kinda sad.
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It's not awful, but it is disappointing. More time spent on creating quality songs and less time putting on bolo ties!
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Mammoth is the shit.
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One trick pony?! They do what they do incredibly well and don't need any cliched labels. This album is amazing and not disappointing in the least. Every song (well, save Scale which is a little boring) is excellent with stand outs for me being Pioneer and Who Do You Think? Love it.
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nothing new here, but still good.......I'm guessing anyone that's going to gush about how "amazing" this album is must be a new fan.........
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nothing new here, but still good.......I'm guessing anyone that's going to gush about how "amazing" this album is must be a new fan.........
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If The Killers had released this rather than "Sam's Town" they would rule the world now. Give it another listen.
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Actually I've been a fan since TOTBL came out. And wtf is with the Killers comparisons, they sound nothing like them.
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Man, the new Interpol blows. These songs sound like outtakes from the first two albums....boring
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Paul Banks is God and God does no wrong.
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Everyone is so ready to jump on the backlash bandwagon. Tsk.
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Is there anyone else that thinks the only interesting songs this band has ever done were the first five tracks on TOTBL?
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No.
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Really boring shit. Nothing new here at all.
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Both Wrecking Ball and The Lighthouse are pretty different from their usual style.
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What is with your boner for the mustache? Biting comedy, fellas. Does Jimmy Fallon write for this blog now? Not that this site is the only culprit, but come on guys. It's just a damn mustache. It's not like he got his face tattooed...unless it is a tattoo of a mustache.
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I'm almost determined to like this album based on the fact that people are being such jump-the-gun, doom-and-gloom assholes about it. Thank god it's good.
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Like Antics, this record is really a grow-er. I wasn't too excited about it initially and now I'm really loving it; the builds, interludes, even the ballads (gasp!). So give it another listen, if you care.
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It def. gets better with additional listens. Best track: Pace is the Trick
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Maybe everyone will magically love the album after a quality version is around. Or did I miss that? Maybe I missed it...either way I think its groovy.
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OLTA will be a triumph. So far, best album of the year. Pace Is the Trick, Mammoth, Wrecking Ball, Pioneer, and All Fired Up are grandiose. Lowest point: THM video.
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the scale is effing gorgeous.
the first time i heard it, i wasn't in love. take your time with it. it's a grower.
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This is a fine debut album from this NYC goth-rock trio.
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^wtf?
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Their old formula is sounding really tired by now, with the 6 or 7 Antics-y sounding tracks (except Mammoth, which is killer) falling flat on their face by feeling like so much Interpol-flavoured reconstituted chewing gum.. I mean, why bother with 'No I in Threesome' when it's basically a retread of Not Even Jail with cornier lyrics and worse melodies?.. Similarly for 'Pace Is The Trick' (Take You On A Cruise), 'The Scale' (Public Pervert) and so on.. The good stuff is mostly in the last 2 songs where they try to divert into something different and are somewhat succesful, plus Pioneer which is the only one where they really nail that simultaneously brooding + soaring thing that worked so well on the first album. Basically, pretty disappointing, with a couple of redeeming moments that make me think they may not be totally washed up yet.
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I'd much rather the band kept the same sound and continued writing killer songs then trying to do something different for the sake of it.
This is the first album in a long time that I've loved straight away. Interpol may not be everybody's cup of tea but they're the real deal and OLTA proves they're going to go the distance.
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People dont like the Scale? I think thats one the sexiest riffs ive ever heard, but I listen to it and the rest on big speakers or headphones, turned up to 11. To hear that groove.
Come to think of it, the whole album does sound dull if played on computer speakers turned halfway up. Are you guys afraid of waking up your parents? Turn this shit up LOUD and get the full effect.
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Yes, it's true, Our Love is very mediocre.
...my opinion may not mean too much however, seeing as how I think Antics is as good as Bright Lights
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You people kill me. Allow me to sum up...........Interpol is a one trick pony. Here's the rub, it's a REALLY good trick. Don't look for some newfound maturity. Don't look for insightful lyrics. Don't hope they will mature into some really poigant band. They are Interpol and they are great at what they do. If you like it.....great. If you don't (which is perfectly understandable) move along. This ain't heavy math, folks.
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i agree that the band's strengths are in atmospherics, which is why I loves TOTBL and hated Antics, which seemed to be a collection of songs desperate to be radio singles. Heinrich Maneuver seems to do a better job than Slow Hands, so congrats on that. But if this allbum is on the same slow-build track of something like Hands Away, I'll be happy.
I hope.
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Why don't you people just give it a little more time to sink in? Just listen to it more before rushing to judgement. I bet a least half of you bashing the album now will come back in a month or two and say 'well, it really grew on me. I like it a lot now.' How many times has that happened in your life?
Give them a break for god's sake.
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i think it may just be the hip thing to claim you hate it, and that their act is getting tired.
but, as scott stated, "Interpol is a one trick pony. Here's the rub, it's a REALLY good trick."
if you liked it before, you'll invariably end up liking it again, no? me? i love the album.
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Who cares about this. Where is the goddamn premature evaluation of The Stage Names? Why do great bands never get the publicity they deserve?
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Interpol is a great band you jerk.
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I may have to side with Evan here. The Stage Names are a fantastic jazz-funk septet from Toronto who undoubtedly deserve more publicity for their infectious low-down grooves.
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despite the scale having the same 2.5 second intro as public pervert, it is by far one of my faves on this album.
i am really happy with this album. i remember hating antics when it came out cuz i was still riding the coattails of TOTBL but it grew on me. It's very hard for a lot of artists to still capture the magic of a highly acclaimed freshman album. give em a break, paul still sounds so heavenly.
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Why is it that all of the albums Stereogum has reviewed in the past couple weeks seem to have an 86% rating across the board? Or is that just a generic graphic? It just seems odd...
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Hey Erin --
It's a valid question. Short answer: just a generic graphic, but I see how it can be confusing.
Part of the rationale is we don't wanna give something a numerical rating after only a few days of listening -- perhaps that's not a 'premature' issue as much as "do people REALLY need another rating scale from a music website" But that's the premise.
Take what you will from our reviews; they're not intended as hard and fast thumbs up/thumbs down. Just initial impressions.
But we love feedback ... so if some of you think that's dumb, I'm sure you will speak up. :)
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wow.
when did it become cooler to hate on bands' new albums than to enjoy them?!
pretty soon we will be talking about pitchfork's 6.7 rating and you will all feel justified.
go ahead and crucify me, but this album proves that interpol gets better every album.
antics far surpasses TOTBL. it is way more focused, it is tighter, it is more restrained.
the new album is even better. they simultaneously expand and tighten up what they do and the results are amazing! this album is yet again the most focused thing they have done. the sound is much more expansive this time around, which works well with the grooves they do so well. i hope they finaly get the attention they deserve.
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Oh jervo I second your mentioning of the outro of pda, total bliss, takes me to another world & it for some reason sums up me...I want to wait until release before hearing this album...
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Pitchfork isn't going to give OLTA 6.7, more along the lines of 8.1.
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I think the record is a real grower..I agree that the faster upbeat songs are kind of fillers. Even the first single is kind of dissapointing. The rest of the record just grows and grows, a ton of depth, the piano and sting parts add a lot!
I definetly think it's more interesting then Antics and it reminds me more of TOTBL.
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Totally agree with Christian! And it's true, this album is defnitely a grower. I love it even more than I did when I first heard it and I can't listen to anything else.
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where can I listen to this?
isn't it out on July?
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can't believe how there's people that love TOTBL and hate Antics...both are plagued with killer tunes
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just like any other interpol album, this one takes a bunch of listens b4 you really get into a bunch of it.
After reading this I listened to mammoth and it blew my mind.
If u don't like the 1st listen put it on random because the 2nd half of the album is incredible.
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Why do people still believe paul Banks is like the cretive guy in Interpol Daniel writes the songs! I mean all 4 guys do, but he's the real brain in the band. Anyway, OLTA is just like Antics in the way it feels like b-sides the first time you listen to it but it gets better the more you listen to it. It is better than antics, and the ebst track is lighthouse, other than that there's no track that compares to any TOTBL track.
Paul Banks is no God, he's just good.
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YES HE IS.
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Finally, an Interpol review without a Joy Division comparison!
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pure irony
no i in threesome
"hey babe why don't we try something new"
Interpol blows as much as they did two albums ago
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You're so wrong, Gabe. So, so wrong.
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I became obsessed with Interpol on TOTBL, initially pained thinking Antics was gonna suck, within weeks had my obsession taken to new heights, and after 3 years of waiting I am right back on the back of this Pony!
This album is way too cool for all you pretentious-album-haters-for-the-sake-of-nonconformity-wannabes... Interpol prove once again who they are and where they stand in the Indie crowd, you don't like it, cause you can't get it, then you can just giiit ooouuut!
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I have to agree with the comment that they're a one trick pony, but its a really good trick. I suppose it might eventually grow tired, but holy shit this album sounds amazing turned up really loud.
Its gonna sound crushing live.
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I'm having a hard time seeing what is so wrong with this album. I've been a long time Interpol fan and feel it is a good mix of old and new. I listen to Interpol to hear Interpol, not to listen to them do something drastically different that just sounds like someone else. This album is a great launching board for them to go in new directions and at the same time there are poignant moments that stand up to anything on TOTBL. I recommend you throw on some headphones, put the album on repeat, and give it a serious listen instead of a knee jerk reaction.
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Someone here made a great point. I'm lucky to have the full CD, listening LOUD on a good pair of headphones.
Sounds great in the car...it's cohesive, it's delicious, IT IS the new Interpol and it's BRILLIANT!
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I'll take you on. I'll take you all on. 9.0 out of 10.0
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What interpol has done with their third album is exactly what the strokes should have done with their third release: not try to evolve.
I like interpol the same way I like the strokes. I don't need to them to change, I don't need new directions, the tried-and-true formula is just fine with me.
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Radiohead would be nothing if they made Pablo Honey 3 times in a row. The same can be said for Pink Floyd. Bands need to grow and develop their sound. Interpol and the Strokes simply aren't talented enough to do this. They have a gimmick and milk the shit out of it.
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I'd never dare to put interpol or the strokes in the same sentence. And when (if?) the new Radiohead new album finally comes out, my expectations will be unreasonably high. Because they have continually demonstrated their ability to change their sound with brilliant success. Interpol doesn't have that ability, which is why I'm glad they stuck to their guns here.
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If you are bought by a big company, they are probably wanting to sell something you have done in the past. Interpol are in the game now. As a side note, I just listened to "Specialist" again, and it is easily one of Interpol's best songs.
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I've read so many early reviews that say this sounds just like The Cure's "Pornography," and it seems like it is impossible for anyone to describe an facet of Interpol's sound without comparing it to another group. This record should sound like Interpol's "Our Love To Admire" but I guess no one really thinks it does. Personally, I think the first two albums are fine, "Turn on the Bright Lights" for it's atmospherics and "Antics" for its unabashed pop-hooks. But this one just sounds tired. The more atmospheric tracks feel stifled by the brighter production and the pop tracks feel like they're trying too hard. I mean, the album is alright if you're just listening to it but shit, if you think about it, does the world really need this album? And will anyone remember Interpol (much less this album) in ten years? Or is this just a nice album that reminds us of a couple dozen different bands and albums?
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Well....I have heard thousands of albums but there is only one band who I never tire of hearing: Interpol. Turn On The Bright Lights was, for me, a musical triumph..in fact, the more listens you give it, the better it gets, which after 6 years still confuses the hell out of me. Tracks such as PDA, NYC, Roland and Leif Erikson seem to defy time and have such relevance to our life in major Western cities that they always make sense. As for sophomore album Antics, it was very much a case of 'Turned The Bright Lights On', and although at first it was amazing, it quickly sounded too produced, not to mention that some of the songs were recorded as part of previous E.P's (with a more raw, punkier sound) and sounded much better! So, as a lover of Interpol, but potentially a brutally honest reviewer too, I looked forward to seeing what Interpol would come up with next.
On hearing their first single initially, The Heinrich Maneuver, I was actually quite underwhelmed. It sounded ok, nothing wrong but nothing exceptional either. Frankly I was worried about what they had come up with for Our Love To Admire. And again, at first listen to that, I felt as if there was something missing, something not quite right. But over repeated listens the songs and sounds came together, as they had in their debut album, and everything seemed to make sense again. Pioneer To The Falls is a beautiful opener that is way over produced, but is a good start nonetheless. The rest of the album seems to follow typical Interpol territory (apart from the afore-mentioned last two tracks as discussed by the reviewer) The real beauty of Interpol, though, is that over repeated listens the album just gets better and better. One other thing that I will say is that the overall tone of the album is truly menacing! And I love it! Paul Banks and Daniel Kessler are ruthless songwriters when it comes to love, and it fits the Interpol sound perfectly. Anyone who is willing to listen to this several times over and imagine the album not as a album of great songs, but as great album of songs will be much better for listening to it. It's really worth the effort, you iTunes generation!
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Does anyone think Paul Bank's lyrics are what's lacking on this album? They seem way more simple, more straight forward. I really like his past obtuse lyrics. Regardless of how people may cringe at the bad poetry, they sounded as if they were being spoken secondary to how they were initially felt. They fit NYC (probably other cities too) perfectly in that they were self-conciously dehumanized to preserve a feeling greater than himself; because in a city of self-orbitals, you stay warm at night by taking from others what you can get (love, sex, style, drugs, recognition, inspiration) and turning it into a context to live within, however momentarily. I find some of these lyrics made-up..not that they're fictitious, but like how over-produced music is too forethought and hence "made-up" for the audience. Paul Banks said the subway is a porno...but now I bet he goes by taxi.
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Really liking OLtA, moreso than Antics but obviously less than TOTBL. Although they're clearly treading old territory, the added atmosphere makes a difference. Nice to hear those ridiculous lyrics from Banks again.
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What they do they do well. If it doesn't work for you then continue on your merry little way. Cheers.
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I think this album is wonderful. It's always a plus for bands to change up their material and sound. Unlike the main review, written by a sarcastic and spent writer whose creative energy is wasted on cleverness and drawing parallels and similarities between Interpol and other bands, along with degrading the band in hopes of relegating them to the likes of the emo and other pop belogne out there, I must say that this album shows that this band can progress its sound to encompass not only new soundscape qualities but new emotional intrigue. I won't be surprised if this album is not used as a soundtrack to a sophisticated art movie.
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emotional, definitly.thats OLTA for me, they just give you these awesome bits of music and as soon as you get to comfortable they rip it from you. in the whole, it works out pretty damn good.
classic interpol...
ps. still searching for something better than Roland...
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