The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

Just a week before the new Interpol record is unleashed to the American public at large and the band continue their quest for global domination. In the meantime, allow me to do my part in helping the band reach their goal by featuring the video for the new single Barricade. As much as I loved Lights for its nod to the Turn On The Bright Lights sound, one would not be incorrect to deem this as perhaps the most accessible Interpol track to date. At the very least, it’s the most pop-friendly track since Slow Hands. The promotional film for Barricade is just as friendly to the senses. It’s quite a stark difference from the somewhat morbid and intense imagery we saw in the Lights video. Methinks it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that Interpol may have a big hit on their hands here.

The 7th of September is drawing nearer and quite quickly in fact. The boys in Interpol are applying the pressure with a new song available to hear taken from the forthcoming self-titled record. This one is called Barricade. If you thought Lights sounded like it fit on the debut like the warm comforter you couldn’t wait to snuggle into as winter came closing in, consider Barricade the companion piece to Slow Hands. A groovy bass line that propels with Paul’s vocals leading the way.  A definite crowd-please at shows to be sure. Not quite sure how this one would do on the charts though. If you’re not at all interested in that sort of thing, this track should definitely keeps your hands tied until Interpol comes out. Enjoy.

“Barricade” by Interpol, taken from the forthcoming Matador release, “Interpol”

One of the better videos I’ve seen in a while has made its way to the general public as Interpol has revealed the promotional film for Lights, the first single from the forthcoming self-titled record. The release date has been bumped up to the 7th of September, kids. I would hate for you to be the last one in your crew to buy what is sure to be one of the pivotal releases of the year.  I don’t know about you but I find myself becoming more and more pumped as the bumped up release date draws nearer. Enjoy.

PS! Hear two new Interpol songs played at last night’s show opener in Rochester NY here. Thank me later (no Drake reference intended)

“All that I fear
don´t turn away
and leave me to plead in this whole other place…what if I never break
estuary won´t you take me
far away
far away”

Let me get this out of the way right now. I heart Interpol. I love them with all my heart. We New Yorkers owe this band owe this band a bushelful of thanks and then some. They, along with fellow favourite sons The Strokes, helped to reinvigorate the local music scene. They helped us to reclaim our identity as the greatest city on Earth in terms of musical relevance. I know I tend to wax poetic often about Manchester but at the end of the day, New York City is the place musicians come to when they want to take on the big boys.

Since their 2002 debut Turn On The Bright Lights, the band has turned the indie scene on its head with dark and moody post-punk. Thanks to Interpol, bands like Editors, White Lies and the like would be able to follow in their footsteps and score major label deals. While I must admit I didn’t go gaga over Interpol’s major label debut, 2007’s Our Love To Admire, nothing changes the fact that the band has accrued enough capital to allow them a mulligan. It also doesn’t change the fact that since then, the band has been sorely missed. New drones and moans were needed in the worst way in the hearts and minds of each and every Interpol fan worldwide.

Time to turn those bright lights on once more, children. The band has come out of hiding and present us with a gift in the form of a new single called…Lights. This is the Interpol I know and love. There’s no thinly-veiled attempt at a pop hit to be found here (Cough…The Heinrich Maneuver…). If anything else, it’s much closer to the debut album’s sound in terms of scope. Much darker and a return to basics of sorts.  I could say more but why ruin it? Listen to Lights yourself and rediscover the magic that is Interpol.

“Lights” by Interpol