Interpol - Interpol

Naturally, the first listening of a new album by one of your favourite bands will leave you with a feeling of doubt, making you long for earlier material to satisfy your original perspective. Fans of the New York based indie rock outfit Interpol will do just this, having the sweet taste of 2007's Our Love To Admire still fresh in their ears.
However, as is often the case with Interpol, this new offering continues to surprise, impress and mesmerise the more plays that ensue.
Ok, so in terms of sound, 'Interpol' isn't far removed from it's predecessors; with a heavy consistent rhythm section, coupled with shimmering guitars, covered with smirking vocals. But, despite giving the band an identity, this signature sound has been updated in places. For example, in 'Always Malaise (The Man I Am)', the conventional Interpol set up is challenged by the shifting mood and rhythm, carried over by the layering of harmonies. The band appear to have also branched out and dabbled with piano effects and electronics to achieve a fresh sound. These new affects give the track, and the album, a lighter tone, albeit with heavier lyrics.
As the listener crawls through this collection, it becomes clear early on that more is going on here then the regular playful, and slightly witty themes found on the likes of 2004's Antics and Our Love To Admire. It is almost as if vocalist Paul Banks has taken a more personal outlook to the band's song writing in order to lie in contrast to the lifted tone. Towards the beginning of the album in 'Memory Serves' Banks uses his thoughts and memory to discover that he has been wrong "Tonight a special memory serves me, and I'll play to find that I'm gray". Along with the dark sense of loss in the album's flagship single 'Lights', "All that I see, peaceful life's run away from me, run away from me", the suggestion can be made that Banks has chosen this album to bare his soul and plead for an absolution of some kind. This quality cements 'Interpol' as the band's most personal and honest album to date.
As the fan's impression of the new album changes and alternates between love and hate, one thing must be noted. 'Interpol' is a grand effort by the band, and truly displays their more personal and emotional side in an oddly enchanting manner. But, speaking as a fan, this writer has to argue that Interpol's previous works stand more of a chance at lingering in the mind and heart, with their cheeky wit and glorious instrumentation, holding a distinct charm within, which tends to be lost amongst this latest tender offering.