This is their second full-length album after the much acclaimed Turn on the Bright Lights and it packs a punch. Interpol is a relatively new Indie/Alternative band emerging out of New York and known for sounding similar to Joy Division. I bought this album after becoming addicted to Slow Hands, C'mere, Narc and Evil for their eerie yet calming sound and wanting the proper quality of an album, this is my first review so it's probably going to sound crappy and amateur but it's a great album but not one of my 'special' favourites like Tool's Lateralus. Turn on the Bright Lights is a reasonably better album as the songs have a better flow, are more consistent, are more relaxed and have a more hearty & ambient sound which is Interpol's forte, but Antics still has fine and unique songs except for one or two which drag it down and it's "fun". I can't believe that no one had reviewed this album.
The members of Interpol are:
Paul Banks - lead vocals, guitar
Daniel Kessler - guitar, vocals
Carlos D. - bass
Sam Fogarino - drums
01 - Next Exit
The intro song has an ambient and haunting sound which is somewhat slower than many on the songs on the album. The lyrics "We're going to the city/Gonna track this shit around/And make this place a heart" and "No end/With no end/With no end" have a negative destrado quality which doesn't connect with any of the other songs on Antics. It's easy to listen to and does a great job as an intro song though it could be a little shorter and probably the worst song compared to the other tracks on the album. Untitled was a much better opener but this is so-so, Take You on a Cruise would've been a better choice for the opening track. 2/5
02 - Evil
A simply awesome bassline starts off this track. It a very good song but can get a bit repetitive, but that doesn't bother me as the bass keeps it strong. The lyrics are definitely odd "Rosemary/Heaven restores you in life/Coming with me/Through the aging, the fear and the strife" and the catchy chorus "Hey wait/Great smile/Sensitive to faith not/Denial/But hey whose on trial?", the abstract poetic structure they follow are viciously catchy and great fun to sing aloud. This has the annoying video with the weird little injured puppet singing. It's one of the stand-out tracks on the album. 5/5 :)
03 - Narc
Narc begins with cool guitar work from Daniel and progresses into a very good song with a very ambient feel. The lyrics fit in perfectly "Feast your eyes, I'm the only one/Control me, console me/Cause that's just how it should be done/Oh, your history's like fire from a busted gun" strong love themes hidden in Paul's excellent ambiguous lyrics. Does anyone know what a narc is? 4/5
04 - Take You on a Cruise
It's a beautiful song with a dreary yet blissful. The lyrics are deep and melancholy "We sail today/Tears drown in in the wake of delight/There's nothing like this built today/You'll never see a finer ship in your life" very reminiscent of "Untitled". Sounds somewhat misplaced between the effervescence of Narc and Slow Hands. 4/5
05 - Slow Hands
A very upbeat and energetic song with the most "rock"-ish sound on the album. The verses features some crazy and infectious lyrics from Paul "I submit my incentive is romance/I watched the pole dance of the stars/We rejoice because the hurting is so painless/From the distance of passing cars”. The layers of guitar melodies in the chorus are excellent and show the powerful rapport between Paul and Daniel's guitars. The chorus "We spies/We slow hands/Put the weights around yourself" has to be one of the catchiest things I’ve heard (before I heard it, I didn't like Interpol because the Evil video annoyed me) and it is probably my favourite song on the album. 5/5 :D
06 - Not Even Jail
This one starts off with an awesome sounding intro but this only hides a mediocre solid song which gets pretty repetitive. The lyrics are alright, "Give some meanings to the means/To your end/Not even jail". 3/5
07 - Public Pervert
A good solid song with the best lyrics on Antics "If time is my vessel, then learning to love might be my way back to sea", the loveliest song on Antics and has a similar sailing/love thing happening which is evident in Take You on a Cruise. 4.5/5
08 - C'mere
My second favourite song on the album and is the most upbeat and bouncy song. C'mere shows that Interpol can be adventurous especially with the strong themes of love bubbling in this track. This has to be the song with the most variety between verse and chorus on Antics. Awesome lyrics "Now season with health/Two lovers walk on lakeside mile/Try pleasing with stealth, rodeo/See the stands long ending path". 5/5 :)
09 - Length of Love
An average song which sounds a lot like Joy Division. The funky bass line keeps it alive, it slow & grimy chorus "Complex salacious removal/Complex salacious removal", I mean there's a line between funny, catchy, sing-a-long lyrics and stupid lyrics. Nothing more than expected. 3/5
10 - A Time to Be So Small
An excellent closing track but weak as a stand-alone track. Slow vocals with the renowned dreary ambience and eerie guitar harmonies. Dan's weeping guitar sounds very similar to the music of the "A Black and White Cartoon About Roof Tiling" animation on www.fat-pie.com. "A time to be so small/Bottom of the ocean/Saw him under the boat" shows another connection with the themes of boats and sailing. 3.5/5
Stand out tracks:
Evil
Slow Hands
Public Pervert
C'mere
A fine solid album that isn't a ground-breaking work of art, but it still holds a fist. It's not for everyone as their sound is so different. This is one of those grow-on-you albums as Paul's vocals can seem flat and monotonous and his lyrics may seem stupid and random but I got hooked straight away. The synergy which the band makes with the layers of guitar melody and catchy bass lines is unique. I recommend it for anyone who liked Turn on the Bright Lights but you may be a little disappointed with Interpol's slight change in sound. Anyone who has heard this album and liked it should immediately grab a copy of Turn on the Bright Lights.
