BooRadley

Anyone else think Interpol is the best band since Radiohead? Or at least think they're good? Have a favorite song? Which do you like better, Antics or Turn on the Bright Lights? Seen them in concert (I will tonight!!!)? Please post your thoughts here.

Rainy_blue

I've heard some of their songs and they were good. I also saw their performance on Jay Leno (I think that it was a re-run).

Flying Nelly

I really like Antics. Not heard Turn On The Bright Lights yet, although have heard NYC and intend to get it soon.

Um... yeah.

a n d i

The only Interpol song I actually know is Obstacle 1 but it's one of my all-time favourite songs.
How many albums do they have?

BooRadley

They have 2, "Turn on the Bright Lights" and their recent release, "Antics." If you like "Obstacle 1" or "Antics" then I suggest you get "Bright Lights." It's my favorite album of all time! "Antics" is great, too, but I don't think I like it more than their first. It's kind of like choosing between The Godfather Parts I & II.

a n d i

Hehe, thanks. I'll have to write that down so I can add it to my shopping list.

Silversun

Can't let a thread for a genuinely good band get buried.

Interpol is one of those bands that I know I'll love once I get the time to sit down and listen to them properly, but I haven't had a chance to yet. My boyfriend said he'd buy me Antics if I do well in my exams, so here's hoping. If I don't, I'll convince someone to buy it for me for Christmas. I'm so obsessed with Slow Hands.

BooRadley

Now there's a reason to study! Hope you do well!

BTW, they're on Jimmy Kimmel tonight (10/26). My VCR is ready!

Silversun

I hope I do well too!

How famous are Interpol in the US?

villette

I'll bring the Interpol love as well.

I got TOTBL for $6.99 a few months after its release. It took some time (i.e. listening to it non-stop in my car) but when everything finally processed, it hit me like a ton of bricks, and it then became one of my favorite albums of all time. Leif Erikson is my favorite Interpol song.

I've had Antics only a short time, so I'm still in the early phase of recognition. It's magnificent, it's catchy, it's Interpol. I'm not sure if it'll top TOTBL for me, but at this point it hasn't; probably because I'm so emotionally attached to the former.

Silversun

You know, I read a review of Antics that said "You know you've really found a great record when you don't like it on the first listen." That rings so true, because in philosophy of art the other day we were talking about how the greatest art is something that you have to work at to appreciate, and if you like something straight off, chances are that it's not truly great. I mean, it sounds weird, but it definitely applies to Interpol. It's something that you have to sit down and work through, an experience like villette described. I had that when I first bought Radiohead's OK Computer, too. I hated it at first, but then when I finally 'got' it, it was brilliant.

anna10186

Caught the Interpol-bug too, Nicky?

Considering they're from New-York, I'd say they're quite known there, though I can't be sure of that, obviously. But they do have this Birtish sound to them, and they do often get compared to Joy Division, so perhaps this makes them less US-friendly, but then again, I'm probably just babbling without actually knowing what I'm talking about. Could someone from the US please clarify this for us?

villette

Same here actually. I listened to it a few times, put it away, then came back to it about a year later. I think what made it resonate so deeply with me was the timing on the second go around. I just needed to allow it to soak in, and as soon as it was familiar, I couldn't believe it didn't impact me sooner. It's a modern masterpiece and I think few would disagree.

I'd say Interpol are mildly famous. They're famous in that they've played on numerous late night talk shows, toured with The Cure, and have been in magazines. To the general public though, there are still many Interpol-uninformed because they aren't massive. I think with the good amount of exposure they've have over the past two years they've moved from complete obscurity to the-brink-of-mainstream. Not bad, eh? I don't know if they'll ever be that huge arena playing band, but that doesn't really matter since that doesn't necessarily have to signify success or longevity. I'd like to think they'll stay at this level for a very long time.

Silversun

Very nearly there.

I would actually prefer it if Interpol wasn't accepted into the mainstream. It's just an inner snob talking, but I get a slight sense of distaste when an obscure band you like suddenly becomes really famous and suddenly everyone loves them. It happened with Muse - we were such a small group of really intense fans, and after Time is Running Out was released, suddenly everyone was a Muse fan and their favourite song was always Time is Running Out. They didn't even know anything from the first two albums. That just annoys me. I mean, I would like Interpol to be famous, but in its own circle.

BooRadley

Thanks for not letting this thread die, guys! That's what happened to the first Interpol thread I started a while ago. I think I got 3 posts. So that tells you that they're getting a bit more famous. There still aren't any stations here in Chicago that play them regularly, though, so I don't think there's any danger of them becoming mainstream. Do the stations where you guys live play them?

Silversun, I feel the same way about them not getting too famous. Somehow the fact that they're relatively unknown makes me and them feel more special. Plus they can only play the small, intimate venues which I love.

My experience with Interpol was different - it was love at first listen. The first time I heard "PDA" I thought, "I have to find out who this band is!" So I bought TOTBL, listened to it nonstop for about 3 months, and have been obsessed with them since.

villette, if forced me to me make a Sophie-type choice, I'd have to say "Leif" is my favorite song, too. I was surprised that they played it when I saw them last week. They blew me away!