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album: Our Love to Admire
artist: Interpol
label: Capitol / 2007
score: 76
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by Tim Mathiesen
For those who follow the latest successes of the independent music scene Our Love to Admire may be one of the most anticipated albums of the year, behind the new albums by Modest Mouse and the Arcade Fire. It's been three years since Interpol's sophomore album, Antics, and I couldn't be happier to hear new Interpol songs with Paul Bank's voice singing simple melodies over the slow, driving rhythm of their music.
Though, I enjoyed myself, unfortunately, not much has changed. Slightly more production and polish to their sound gives off an image of maturity. However, this doesn't always mean more creativity or originality. Front man, Paul Banks, was quoted in Under the Radar magazine as saying (Summer 2007, pg 49) as saying, "We approached this album like our other albums - as in, without a plan. We just work out songs together, and when we think we have a record, we go record one." He meant this as a positive thing, and when it comes to team work, it is. The unity of the band is obvious on this album, but when it comes to pushing the band out of the box, this method can often suffocate creative energy.
This may be the reason for the lack of variety in style and songwriting on this record. The songs are obviously the natural flow of their songwriting. It's the sound we have already heard on their first two albums. Of course, being talented musicians, the arrangements create a slightly fresh overall sound, but underneath, it's the same melody, and same chords laid over the same rhythm. It appears that there was not much of an attempt to grow or stretch themselves artistically. Maybe that wasn't the focus of this album, and that's okay, but they'll have to expect mediocre reviews from critics along with a smile and shrug of the shoulders from fans.
It's nice to hear Paul Banks' voice again, but I wish it was under more positive circumstances. Where Interpol succeeded in avoiding the sophomore slump with the brilliant album, Antics, it looks like it was merely a delay of the inevitable rather than a victory over fate.
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