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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Antics
by Interpol
The New York-based foursome of Paul Banks, Carlos D., Sam Fogarino and Daniel Kessler took indie rockers worldwide by storm (and made Matador a lot of money) with 2002's 'Turn On The Bright Lights,' which introduced their neck-stabbing guitar-rock mix of Joy Division, The Cure, The Smiths, and all of your other favorite 80s bands. That captivating sound returns on this sophomore release, which features many of the new tracks ("Narc," "Length Of Love," etc.) which first debuted live during their relentless touring over the past two years.
| LABEL: |
Matador |
| RELEASE DATE: |
28 September 2004 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Indie, Rock |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
100
E! Online
There's something totally irresistible about Antics: The air of mystery, the bleak but hopeful arrangements and the melodies so sharp and moving that they might inspire a night of heroic partying.
95
cokemachineglow
A nearly perfect follow-up... [it] keeps intact Interpol’s singular melodic prowess, while both tightening its songwriting and making unpredictable shifts in instrumental emphasis.
91
Spin
Antics is so much more fun than Turn On The Bright Lights. [Oct 2004, p.107]
90
Drowned In Sound
Interpol have produced a soaring, inventive album that, while incorporating the deliciously dark atmosphere of ‘Turn On The Bright Lights’, merely uses it as a base to create more ambitious, warmer soundscapes.
90
The Guardian
Manages to dabble with tension and still emerge with something life-affirming.
90
Village Voice
What makes Antics such an improvement over Bright Lights is how capable Interpol have become at complementing Banks's lovely ambiguity with an increasingly precise post-punk throb.
90
Q Magazine
Antics is ridiculously good. [Oct 2004, p.112]
90
Delusions of Adequacy
Antics is a very strong record that is home to a number of truly incredible songs.
90
The Onion (A.V. Club)
It may be predictable, but if predictable means rock-solid and mostly magnificent, why bother asking for more?
85
Pitchfork
Though Interpol couldn't be expected to surpass their previous heights, it's difficult to imagine a savvier or more satisfying second step.
83
Entertainment Weekly
[Banks] brings a surprisingly uplifting tunefulness to the band's spiky rhythms and swelling drones. [1 Oct 2004, p.73]
80
Rolling Stone
A far more refined and finessed record than its predecessor. [14 Oct 2004, p.96]
80
Dot Music
Overall, it’s a suppler record than its older brother, largely avoiding the skittish tempos of "Turn On..." tracks like "Roland" in favour of elegant curves and harmonies... though the road-honed likes of "Slow Hands" and "Not Even Jail" still hit bruisingly hard.
80
Junkmedia
On first listen [it's] profoundly unimpressive.... What each successive listen reveals, however, is a deftly understated and maturing pop craftsmanship.
80
Billboard
"Antics" is even better [than Bright Lights], possibly because the band isn't trying so hard to be weird.
80
New Musical Express
An album scored through with a vehement beauty that, with each listen, becomes all the more acute for its unwillingness to shy away from life's bleaker, more painful moments. [25 Sep 2004, p.62]
80
PopMatters
Altogether the album's feel is much more lively, bouncy, and accessible, and in combination with the band's ubiquitous ambient underpinnings, the upbeat tone often makes this collection inspiring.
80
Flak Magazine
On Antics, Interpol is less indebted to its influences, creating a distinct sound from the distinguishing characteristics that drew those comparisons in the first place.
80
Drawer B
Antics is a grower. It’s not as grandiose as its predecessor, but it still packs a lasting punch.
80
Playlouder
They no longer rely on dense production and atmospherics, because they don’t need to: ‘Antics’ is bare-boned and beautiful.
80
Under The Radar
While this is ultimately a more sophisticated record, it's probably a less obvious one, too. [#7]
70
All Music Guide
To the band's credit, the weaker songs aren't necessarily eating space for no reason -- their B-material here is more affecting than the average indie band's A-material. The problem is that, during those lesser moments, the band shows signs of attempting to cannibalize Turn on the Bright Lights' magnetic sulking, and their hearts don't seem to be as in it.
70
New York Magazine
It’s a lot less monotone than its predecessor.
70
Splendid
You will love some or all of these ten tracks, but for reasons you don't quite understand, you may never love the album as a whole.
66
ShakingThrough.net
Is Antics superior to Interpol's highly regarded debut, Turn On The Bright Lights? Well, yes, providing your criteria involve a tighter, less fussy sound and gimmick-free production.
63
Los Angeles Times
The band works too hard to seem mysterious. [10 Oct 2004]
60
Paste Magazine
These songs feel heavy and significant enough--due to dynamic production and hooky choruses--even if we don’t know exactly what they mean.
60
Stylus Magazine
Feels like Interpol-by-numbers.
60
Mojo
Annoyingly, [the] high marks are all too infrequent. [Oct 2004, p.116]
60
Blender
Less lugubrious and more melodic than [Bright Lights], but the improvement is marginal. [Oct 2004, p.119]
60
Tiny Mix Tapes
Very straightforward Interpol-lite.
60
The New York Times
In the end, unfortunately, "Antics" is fairly uneven. [19 Sep 2004]
50
Austin Chronicle
If it doesn't exactly blaze off in bold new directions, it does offer an opportunity for Interpol to do some fine-tuning (not that they need much) and settle comfortably into their black, velvet-lined pocket.
The average user rating for this album is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 123 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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