Release Date: Sep 28, 2004
Genre(s): Indie, Rock
Record label: Matador
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On paper, Interpol's second album should offer more grist to the mill of those who think they're too indebted to Joy Division. The sound is taut, military drums patter and guitars and basslines match the dictionary definitions of "doom-laden". However, the New Yorkers' follow-up to 2002's slow-burn hit Turn on the Bright Lights manages to dabble with tension and still emerge with something life-affirming.
Had Interpol been honest with themselves before making their second album, they would've accepted the fact that improving on the debut would be out of the question. Their prime objective, then, would be to make a different record -- not a better one. Suck it up, prepare for the inevitable "sophomore slump" darts, and get on with it. Having fielded comparison after comparison since the release of Turn on the Bright Lights, you'd think the band would've also thought to be more cautious the second time around.
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