Interpol

Rolling into 2005, 80’s mope rock heirs have suddenly become common fare. The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and the prolific Interpol have moved in the direction where dance music meets glassy guitars, while beating around fashionably ominous lyrics. By now, the pictures of the swanky New York City trollers Interpol are rampant, as the cigarette lurching and dark suited savants serve up their sophomore effort - Antics.

Taking a more melodic and refined approach from their grimey 2002 debut Turn On The Bright Lights, leader Paul Banks strived to make a stellar follow up, while pushing the band in a step me up direction. As a result, Interpol is turning the corner in a shinier pop echo, surfacing them apart from continual Joy Division comparisons.

From the organ crawling opener "Next Exit," with Banks' sinister wail about making the city a "heart to be a part of," the band wears an immediate optimist spin, apart from their dark Gotham City mask. "Narc," perhaps the band’s most melodic effort, envelops a lazy lounge feel, abreast a snappy beat and catchy time changes. Other instrumental shifts in tempo and energy surface throughout Antics, giving relief to Banks’ morose vocals. The instrument men disguise the voice limitations that surround, by continually changing effects and beats, providing a sense of scenery and mood change. Guitarist Daniel Kessler proves his versatile throughout Antics, moving from grinding to atmospheric chords in a way that would make Johnny Marr proud.

Although our state of the world affairs is more like the 60’s and less the easy 80’s, its been simple for a throwback 80’s band like Duran Duran to make a suave comeback. Is Interpol changing the world with Antics? No. In fact people will most likely forget about in a few years, but it goes a long way to prove mixing a little dark with pop, will not make a band a poser.