Interpol
by Interpol
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Sep 7, 2010
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 118 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 90 out of 118
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 118
  3. Negative: 9 out of 118
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  1. BasaureH
    Nov 24, 2012
    5
    If an eponymous album describes the true sound of a music band, then Interpol has been on the wrong track their three previous albums. On my consideration, this is a forgettable record, one that won't go beyond the surface of amazing.
  2. eastside
    Sep 7, 2010
    5
    It is going to be extremely difficult for Interpol to escape the long shadow cast by their stunningly awesome debut album. Antics was a fine second album, but it was not nearly in a class with Turn On the Bright Lights. A completely forgettable third album sees the downward trend continue with this maddeningly inconsistent fourth and self-titled album. After a promising start withIt is going to be extremely difficult for Interpol to escape the long shadow cast by their stunningly awesome debut album. Antics was a fine second album, but it was not nearly in a class with Turn On the Bright Lights. A completely forgettable third album sees the downward trend continue with this maddeningly inconsistent fourth and self-titled album. After a promising start with "Success," the record has a strong first half with two good tunes in "Lights" and "Barricade," but loses momentum quickly on the second half with pointless, boring songs. There are four really poor songs on this record that drag down the overall quality. There is a special place in the pantheon of great music for Interpol's debut, and I suspect the band will never come close to replicating its magic again. This record is merely the proof.… Expand
  3. ricktizzle
    Sep 14, 2010
    6
    Interpol have given us one timeless album, one pretty good album, one decent enough album, and one that finally fails to entertain, in that order. The opening half of "Interpol" shows potential, but never fully fires on all cylinders. The second half tapers off into droning obscurity. Further elaborating on the soundscapes created on Our Love to Admire (namely, "The Lighthouse"), theInterpol have given us one timeless album, one pretty good album, one decent enough album, and one that finally fails to entertain, in that order. The opening half of "Interpol" shows potential, but never fully fires on all cylinders. The second half tapers off into droning obscurity. Further elaborating on the soundscapes created on Our Love to Admire (namely, "The Lighthouse"), the band seem to lose focus on the driving nature that makes their sound work. Julian Plenti is...Skyscraper proved that Paul Banks still has the edge and wit to write a great music. This album merely proves that the Interpol format is enduring a slow death.… Expand
  4. txrangersfan72
    Sep 19, 2010
    5
    Unlike most Interpol fans, who are actually more "Turn on the Bright Lights" fans than true Interpol fans, I welcome the changes I've heard as they matured as a band. In fact, Interpol has been my favorite modern band in the past 4 years. I've seen them live 3 times (an upcoming 4th in October). I DVR their performances on television. I buy their extra release/B side stuff. I'm a tadUnlike most Interpol fans, who are actually more "Turn on the Bright Lights" fans than true Interpol fans, I welcome the changes I've heard as they matured as a band. In fact, Interpol has been my favorite modern band in the past 4 years. I've seen them live 3 times (an upcoming 4th in October). I DVR their performances on television. I buy their extra release/B side stuff. I'm a tad obsessed. Yet, I'm old enough to realize that bands change/grow. And I go into each new release with optimism and repeatedly listen to the songs to ensure I understand where they are going with each new song. Unfortunately, I can't find a focus on "Interpol." And that is a difficult, yet well-educated, statement to make. I've listened to the album 10 or 11 times. I went back and played their entire library a few times to listen to the changes they've made as a band. Then I played their entire library for a couple of days on shuffle to see how the songs intermingle with their older material. And while average Interpol is better than excellent releases by other bands, I can't defend this album. Unlike most other fans, I strongly embraced "Our Love to Admire." I heard such immense maturity in those songs. The chorus in "No I in Threesome." The blunt, dark honesty of "Rest My Chemistry." The hard-driving melody of "The Heinrich Maneuver." Even the ethereal beauty of the bonus track sold by iTunes, "Mind Over Time." No, they weren't all-out rock anthems like were so prominent in "Turn on the Bright Lights," but I saw that going away in half of the follow-up, "Antics," one of my favorite albums of all time.

    No, unfortunately "Interpol" only half-bakes the ethereal, never really all-out rocks and touches not much of me inside like nearly everything else they've ever released. And it breaks my heart to write that. I cannot tell if they were trying so hard to distance themselves even further from "Turn on the Bright Lights," which is not what some of their fans want them to do, or trying hard not to duplicate "Our Love to Admire," which I would have loved to see grow. The flow of the album is clumsy and misguided. The songs are some of the worst they've written, even compared to B-sides and unreleased tracks from the past. For instance, "Song Seven," a rarely heard extra track recorded two different ways by them, as well as the aforementioned "Mind Over Time," which was only temporarily available as an iTunes "extra" track, are better than every single song on "Interpol." Every. Single. Song. I enjoy listening to the first half of the album, but drift far from interested when the last 5 songs begin. "Memory Serves" is my favorite and the only one that resembles true growth. "Success," "Lights," "Barricade" and "Summer Well" resemble standard Interpol structure, but are average at best and don't come close to the talent and quality of anything on their previous three efforts. The last 5 begin with the immensely dull, "Always Malaise" and drift ever-further downward, with a brief last gasp of air during "Try It On." And this time, the worst track on the "Bonus" version I purchased from iTunes is, unfortunately, the bonus track, "Crimewaves."

    "Interpol" is a step in the wrong direction. I'm glad it isn't "Turn on the Bright Lights." Only I wish it hadn't been so immensely weak since I have to now wait probably another 3 years to hear their first attempt without the recently-departed linchpin, Carlos D. Knowing that the talent is there, I'm optimistic that the whole Carlos D situation might be why "Interpol" is not up to par and that their next effort will show definite growth. I point to the underrated Paul Banks solo effort, "Julian Plenti," that Interpol has a few surprises left up its sleeve. I'm counting on it.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Most Discussed Album of 2010
5
#5 Most Shared Album of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Slant Magazine
    50
    Interpol may not be quite self-parody, but it's also not the sort of thing that's going to make them hip again anytime soon. Not that they would even care.
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  2. Tiny Mix Tapes
    40
    I sense a more natural sense of songcraft here. Banks is still trying too hard, seemingly attempting to write songs he thinks people will like rather than songs that, whether simple or arpeggio-filled, he and his mates like.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    50
    If Interpol-an album that plainly documents a band stretching itself as far as it can unimpressively go-is what a large number of indie fans are going to settle for in this day and age, I can't help but shake my head and sigh in response.
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