Turn On The Bright Lights
by Interpol
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Aug 20, 2002
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 409 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 377 out of 409
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 409
  3. Negative: 30 out of 409

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  1. blumpy18
    Feb 19, 2023
    10
    This album's songs are absolutely astonishing. The first half of the album is thrilling and exciting, and the second half is depressing and bittersweet. This album and their second album, "Antics" may have been the peak of their career, it's good enough to keep you listening. Unforgettable record
  2. deax
    Jul 23, 2022
    9
    I was kinda skeptical of this album in the beggining, but it grew on me eventually. And I have to say, It's really good.
  3. All_ButTrU4
    May 20, 2022
    5
    For some reason I liked this record a lot. I couldn't help but play obstacle 1 & 2 or belt the ridiculous line about couches but it's glaring flaws grow with each listen, in short this record doesn't hold up. Interpol lead singer is a one dimensional one trick pony who's range is bested by his already questionable lyrics. It comes off as a less interesting but more pretentious Joy Division.
  4. pivallejo11
    Jun 20, 2021
    10
    Perfect album. Honestly the only 10 I have ever given. This album has marked me in a way no other album has. I am so obsessed with it I wrote an entire essay of 4,000 words analyzing this masterpiece in depth.
  5. KurtCobainsDick
    May 20, 2021
    10
    Honestly one of the best albums I’ve ever heard. The album is perfect if you’re seeking for a melancholic sound.
  6. Chris182
    Apr 25, 2021
    8
    (7.5/10). This is my favourite Interpol album (basic i know) for many reasons. It captures the New York City post-punk attitude perfectly. I do not love this thing like many people do but i have alot of respect for it.
    Best Songs: Obstacle 1, Obstacle 2, PDA, The New, Say Hello to Angels
    Worst Songs: Stella Was a Diver, NYC, Leif Erikson
  7. thegetaway
    Apr 15, 2021
    10
    Such a flawless, mesmerising masterpiece, that for me, really encapsulates what living in the early 2000s felt like.
  8. DCMusicFan
    Oct 3, 2018
    10
    Oh, how I miss the indie rock of the 2000s! No really I do.

    (I don't care about the emo stuff or ringtone rap in that decade though.)
  9. didi_robles23
    Jul 30, 2018
    10
    An album that you can listen to from beginning to end. You really enjoy all the songs. My favorite and I consider that it is the best within the genre of alternative rock.
  10. KlDS
    Jun 14, 2018
    10
    I don't over exaggerate when i say this album is one of the best albums of the last 20 years, and for people who say it rips off Radiohead and Joy Division...have you even **** listened too EITHER of those bands?
  11. Ricko
    May 27, 2017
    10
    Wow - not just one of the great debut records but one of the great albums full stop. "Turn On The Bright Lights" is a must for lovers of indie rock. The Joy Division influences are there but despite their innovation and groundbreaking, I think Interpol have produced something that is better than anything the Manchester band ever did. Interpol took the dark, brooding indie guitar genre to aWow - not just one of the great debut records but one of the great albums full stop. "Turn On The Bright Lights" is a must for lovers of indie rock. The Joy Division influences are there but despite their innovation and groundbreaking, I think Interpol have produced something that is better than anything the Manchester band ever did. Interpol took the dark, brooding indie guitar genre to a whole new level on this record. Every track is brilliant from start to finish. Really captures the atmosphere of night time in a big city especially somewhere like NYC. 15 years on and the band are still trying to hit the peak of their debut.There hasn't been many records released since that better this.… Expand
  12. coreymagz
    Aug 20, 2016
    10
    Interpol's 2002 critical hit is one to remember. It is a perfect album. Between mesmerizing production and Bank's stylish and slick wordplay, the debut album rocketed the New York alt rock band into stardom.
  13. bobbybean
    May 28, 2016
    10
    As a big fan of Joy Division; I cannot seem to find the similarities between them and Interpol. This album is a masterpiece from beginning to end. I don't think they'll ever be able to top this album in the near future. It's simply the best piece of any alternative music you will ever hear. Interpol is a great band and I hope to see them make new and exciting albums in the future.
  14. Radiohead2000
    Jul 23, 2015
    10
    Perfect. Absolutely perfect, the eeriness, the beautiful dark sound, it's one of the best albums of the 21st century. The blends of so many great bands like The Smiths, Joy Division and other great bands makes this album so unique.
  15. Glowguy
    Dec 12, 2014
    10
    Sometimes as an adult you go back and revisit things 10 years later that you almost completely forgot about. Fortunately I did that today. This album still holds up amazingly well in 2014. It's one of my favorite albums ever released and it really broadened my horizons when I was just stating to branch out and listen to some new things. They kind of doomed themselves in a way bySometimes as an adult you go back and revisit things 10 years later that you almost completely forgot about. Fortunately I did that today. This album still holds up amazingly well in 2014. It's one of my favorite albums ever released and it really broadened my horizons when I was just stating to branch out and listen to some new things. They kind of doomed themselves in a way by releasing something so great as a debut - they could never hope to live up to it and their following releases always left me feeling disappointed. Interpol is not one of my favorite bands but this album ranks at the top as far as debuts go. In my opinion it has the best one two opening punch of any record and the final four songs are equally as impressive. Truly superb guitar layering, tone changes, and propulsive rhythms have a really hypnotic effect.… Expand
  16. normankant
    Aug 4, 2014
    10
    This album is a masterpiece of 2000's. It is the best album of that decade and one of the greatest of all time.
    There are guitars, playing elegant and sad melodies, being soft, hard, gentle, raw.
    There's an incredible drumming through it, Sam Fogarino plays the drums with an unmistakable emotive style, his style. There are unforgettable bass lines, played by one of the best bassist of    This album is a masterpiece of 2000's. It is the best album of that decade and one of the greatest of all time.
    There are guitars, playing elegant and sad melodies, being soft, hard, gentle, raw.
    There's an incredible drumming through it, Sam Fogarino plays the drums with an unmistakable emotive style, his style.
    There are unforgettable bass lines, played by one of the best bassist of our times, Carlos Dengler, and there's the melancholic moving voice of Paul Banks.
    This is an expressionist record, emotions flows through it from start to finish. When you put it on and the first track, Untitled, begins to play, you already feel the talent, the beauty and the uniqueness contained in what you're hearing. These things won't disappear during the listen and when you'll have finished to hear the last track, the love for Interpol will be filling your heart.    … Expand
  17. ReubenIsAGod
    Dec 29, 2013
    10
    The Album to me is basically black comedy, Its dark, downright depressing yet despite the overwhelming flow of bitter sweet agony you cant help but grin, this showing your morbid sense of entertainment and joy, making u laugh in a fit of sweet delight knowing that someone out their is WAY worse then you. Ohh and tracks are rather Catchy 2
    -Interpol Turn On The Bright Lights: 10/10
  18. SteveBackMeta
    Nov 14, 2013
    8
    An excellent debut record from the NYC indie post-punk revivalists. Most of the lyrics are poor, worth disregarding entirely in fact. The gloomy, unsettling music more than compensates, and there are also enough unexpected left-turns in the songwriting structures to reward repeated listens, such as the double-chorus in "Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down", and the excellent bridgeAn excellent debut record from the NYC indie post-punk revivalists. Most of the lyrics are poor, worth disregarding entirely in fact. The gloomy, unsettling music more than compensates, and there are also enough unexpected left-turns in the songwriting structures to reward repeated listens, such as the double-chorus in "Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down", and the excellent bridge in "PDA". "Obstacle 1" boasts one of the most unnerving moments in modern music, with the scary line "stabbing yourself in the neck" surrounded by deep-throat guitars. It's very effective. Much better than Editors for obvious reasons, partly because here, they sound like Interpol, not trying to force a Joy Division clone out of limited talent.… Expand
  19. quidster4040
    Apr 3, 2013
    10
    One of the finest recordings of the 2000s, and easily the greatest rock/alternative album recorded in the 2000s decade. The album is hauntingly simplistic that creates a mesmerizing aura about living in high-octane New York City.
  20. sudheervemuru
    Jul 19, 2012
    10
    Anyone with a decent sized attention span and an appreciation for how an album sounds as a whole has to consider Interpol's debut one of the decade's best.
  21. SilverMan
    Jun 10, 2012
    9
    Why are you users talking just about Joy Division and Radiohead? In fact I really found offensive when someone was talking about OK Computer. Turn On... and OK Computer have nothing in common!! TELEVISION!! Does someone remember this band? Maybe the first band to create melodies based on two guitars? This is the main influence for every indie rock band in the world, specially for Interpol.Why are you users talking just about Joy Division and Radiohead? In fact I really found offensive when someone was talking about OK Computer. Turn On... and OK Computer have nothing in common!! TELEVISION!! Does someone remember this band? Maybe the first band to create melodies based on two guitars? This is the main influence for every indie rock band in the world, specially for Interpol. And the "depressive" sensation? It came from Joy Division, obviously. Forget Radiohead! This is a totally different topic...… Expand
  22. Palp
    May 26, 2012
    10
    Turn On The Bright Lights is a brilliant and complex album, both lyrically and instrumentally. I can't believe that it has taken me this long to start listening to Interpol, but I'm very glad that I gave this band a chance. This is about as good a debut album as I have ever heard.
  23. njestyle
    Dec 20, 2011
    10
    all i have to say is Interpol's Turn On The Bright Lights, is Number 2 on my personal top 100 albums of all time... now that has to say something right??
  24. RoverJones
    May 28, 2011
    10
    The lyrics can be very very awkward, but I get the feeling that it's intentional. It is tough, however, to find an album with soooooo many brilliant hooks. "Obstacle 1," "PDA," "Say Hello to the Angels," "Stella...," "Hands Away," and "Obstacle 2" have got to be some of the most amazing rock hooks ever put on record, while the rest of the album is enticing in an ethereal, hypnotic (and IThe lyrics can be very very awkward, but I get the feeling that it's intentional. It is tough, however, to find an album with soooooo many brilliant hooks. "Obstacle 1," "PDA," "Say Hello to the Angels," "Stella...," "Hands Away," and "Obstacle 2" have got to be some of the most amazing rock hooks ever put on record, while the rest of the album is enticing in an ethereal, hypnotic (and I mean extremely hypnotic) way. Simply put, what. a. **** record.… Expand
  25. d_nasty
    May 10, 2011
    8
    A bit overrated but still somewhat of a modern post punk classic. The lyrics are a bit silly or nonsensical and that's usually a problem with me but for some reason it works with this album. Tracks like "Obstacle 1" "NYC" and "Leif Ericson" are just beautiful and make you wonder why this band couldn't go on forever.
  26. Chegg180
    Mar 19, 2011
    9
    Such a great album, draws you in at certain times and then has you take a step back .Timeless classic which, though does have elements of Joy Division within, is a nice deviation from the norm of post-punk revivalists.
  27. michael417
    Mar 3, 2011
    10
    possibly one of the greatest albums ever recorded. everyone stop comparing them to joy division. just because paul banks sings in a baritone voice, it does not mean he is ripping off ian curtis. it just means he sings in a baritone voice. last time i checked joy division didnt use a ton of reverb, interpol does. interpol is way more melodic than joy division. and i do not see thepossibly one of the greatest albums ever recorded. everyone stop comparing them to joy division. just because paul banks sings in a baritone voice, it does not mean he is ripping off ian curtis. it just means he sings in a baritone voice. last time i checked joy division didnt use a ton of reverb, interpol does. interpol is way more melodic than joy division. and i do not see the similarities with ok computer. yeah its a sad dark album, but i wouldnt say that sad dark albums are exclusive to radiohead. lucky, paranoid android, karma police, climbing up the walls, exit music (for a film), and no surprises sound nothing like this album. stop comparing them. even if they are "ripping them off", they ripped them off in a brilliant way. kurt cobain admitted to ripping off the pixies on nevermind, no one will argue that that album is bad. turn on the bright lights is an amazing album. end of argument… Expand
  28. HugoM
    Jul 29, 2009
    10
    This album does deserve a 10 . .completely underrated these reviews.
  29. d.w.m
    Apr 20, 2009
    10
    Takes time to grow on you, but once it sinks in it never lets go. One of the best albums I've had the pleasure of experiencing, and its gloom and melancholy aches with a romanticism to equal the greats such as 'The Smiths', although Interpol have their roots firmly sunk into New York in this debut.
  30. nash
    Feb 4, 2009
    10
    One of the few albums that does DERSERVE a 10. A great album and the darkest of the collection. Not one weak track in the whole album.
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Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Best Album of 2002
4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 2002
18
#18 Most Shared Album of 2002

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Delusions of Adequacy
    80
    It sounds like the Ramones covering OK Computer. It's also one of the best debuts of the year.
    Read full review
  2. Blender
    60
    Bright Lights isn't a trudging soundtrack to depression; it's laced with upbeat, albeit bittersweet, songwriting. [#9, p.148]
  3. Q Magazine
    60
    Predictably claustrophobic listening.... When they come up for air, Interpol have the tunes to match all the mannered gloom. [Sep 2002, p.107]
See all critic reviews »