The hype machines have been spewing so much praise about Interpol that you might be tempted to avoid this band.  Don't, because this time around, the hypsters have it right - this album is among the best releases of the year and will certainly make many top ten lists by year-end.

This NYC band takes equal parts from Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen, and The Chameleons UK, and creates a wonderfully melodic brand of dark, reverb-drenched modern music.  The many one-word song titles ("Untitled 1," "NYC," "PDA," "Roland") may seem lazy, but the titles faithfully represent the album's economical song style.  Simple down-stroke guitars are augmented with staccato six-string picking, sometimes dreamy ("NYC"), sometimes packed with nervous energy ("PDA"). "Say Hello to the Angels" sounds like the Strokes for a few moments, then jumps into a stuttery guitar pattern reminiscent of Johnny Marr.   For Chameleons UK fans, there's "Hand's Away," which begins with a whispery voice and isolated guitar.  The song builds up a head of steam as more guitars are added. Vocalist Paul Bank holds it all together with an elegant melody.  "Stella Was A Driver and She Was Always Down" owes a lot to Joy Division, as Bank channels the detached emotion found nearly 20 years ago in the music by the late/great Ian Curtis.

Interpol doesn't aim for immediate hook-laden pop hits.  The 11 songs on Turn On the Bright Lights gently wash over your senses, and days later you realize that this is the most amazing music you've heard in a long, long time.

Download Turn On the Bright Lights NOW! (MP3 format)

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