Turn on the Bright Lights

On the turntable tonight is “Turn on the Bright Lights” by Interpol. They’re from New York (which seems to be an essential part of their identity) and this is their first album. First off, I’ll say simply that they scored points with me by releasing the album on vinyl. It’s impressive to see the number of artists out there still releasing new vinyl.

“Bright Lights” has been on the stereo regularly over the past few weeks, and I like it more and more with each listen. It has a feel of 80’s-era alternative and I think some of their influences include Joy Division and the Clash. Yeah, especially Joy Division. The music is plain and spare — not given to flourishes or ornamentation. But it’s also extremely effective that way — the entire album is a cohesive work that achieves what it sets out to accomplish. It’s great listening — either foreground or background. Despite the obvious stylistic comparisons to Joy Div., the music is relatively upbeat and never bogs down. If you’re looking for some good recent music, I heartily recommend this title. I forward to hearing more from Interpol.