I had trouble with the first couple of times i played this, i even didn't listen to it for over a week and then i told myself, 'hey, i used to really like Interpol, i can't dismiss them without giving them another chance...' - i've been rewarded, it might not work for everybody, but after 6/7 plays i honestly think that this album is great, from start to finish (it does tails off a bit towards the end) its an entirely satisfying grand listening, tons of melodies like cascades will leave you amazed if you can focus on the details. There's an oboe (!?) in the majestic opener "Pioneer To The Falls", there are the usual beautiful guitar fireworks of Mr Daniel Kessler, and there is Paul Banks voice, never as powerful and clear as now and even in the lyrics he's putting himself on the pedestal (especially in the wonderfully titled "No I In Threesome"). The sound is tighter probably thanks to hundreds of concerts all over the world and a producer (Rich Costey) that cleaned a bit their "foggy" sound to give the drums a neat metallic beat reminescent of Martin Hannet's production for Joy Division.
Even first single "The Heinrich Maneuver", which i considered 'weak' on first impression, its gonna get gelled to your brain like glue ("cause today my heart swings...") as much as the incredible sequence of "Mammoth", "Pace Is The Trick", "All Fired Up" and "Rest My Chemistry", upbeat adventures in sound, giant choruses and melancholy transformed in something extremely uplifting.
If there's a band you want to see live, don't look any further...
8/10
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