New Music from 9/7/2010 - Underworld, Interpol & Jukebox the Ghost

Interpol Interpol - The New York band returns with its fourth studio album since their 2002 debut, their last album being 2007's Our Love to Admire.  According to recent band interviews I've read, this self-titled disc was created with a greater album concept than their previous releases with songs that connect on a thematic basis.

Interpol's layered sound and moody vocals from their previous albums continue on this album as the band's distinctive brand of music is instantly recognizable, although it has a moodier and darker side to it than previously shown.  "Summer Well" was the song I found to be the most accessible, with its catchy guitar and piano hooks, partially because it was also one of the more uptempo songs.  Tracks like "Try It On" remind me a lot of the stuff from Interpol's previous albums, although there is a somberness that you wouldn't find on those older albums.  One really unique song was "Always Malaise (The Man I Am)," which was especially doleful with subdued instruments, a passive beat, and a choir-like singing.  It showed a level of depth we haven't gotten from an Interpol album before, both in terms of subject matter and song complexity.

Interpol gives us a solid album that doesn't taint their name any but probably won't be a huge commercial success for them either due to the album's heavy feel.  They give a us a much darker and more dour sound than they exhibited before while still managing to sound like the Interpol we've come to expect with it's complex layering of sounds and the distinctive voice of Paul Banks.  The latter half of the album seemed especially melancholy, with drum beats severely toned down and instrumentation kept to a minimum.  It's a darker feel for the band but their distinctive sound is still easily discerned when listening to the album.  It's better than their last album but still not in the same category as their first two releases. 

Score:  7/10
Song(s) to Sample:  "Summer Well" and "Always Malaise (The Man I Am)"

Jukebox the Ghost Everything Under the Sun - Jukebox is one of those bands with a pretty rabid following due to its extensive touring and energetic live shows although that has not translated to commercial success as of yet.  While their first album, Let Live and Let Ghosts, wasn't a huge seller, I thought it was one of the better unknown albums from 2008.  If you are unfamiliar with Jukebox the Ghost, I would compare their sound to something in between New Pornographers and Panic! At the Disco, with the energy you might get from a Phoenix album. 

Everything Under the Sun opens with the frenetic and memorable "Schizophrenia" that grabs you by the ear and practically invites you to get caught up in the song's energy.  The hooks are catchy as hell and the frantic singing style matches well with the uptempo feel of the opener.  "Mistletoe" shows a great example of the complex lyrics they can write while still making it sound fetching ("She said, 'I wanted you to know/ I believe in the end out of love/ True love grows and if I’m to be alone/ Then I’ll be alone/ But don’t look at me like another lost soul.'")  They also show off their more melancholy side as well, making keyboards more prominent and reducing the role of the other instruments on songs like "So Let Us Create" and "Carrying."

Overall, this is a fantastic album and the one of the summer's best Pop/Rock releases along with Elsinore's Yes Yes Yes album from August.  Normally when I listen to an album, I feel lucky if I can find two or three good songs on the album that I find enjoyable.  It's rare when you find a whole album that makes you pay attention but that is what this album did.  The songs are very complex and very catchy.  There is also a good range of songs ranging from the heavily pop influenced "Schizophrenia" to the introspective "So Let Us Create" with its softer piano melody and tempered vocals.  Although the album is uneven at times, it never loses your attention and offers up quality tunes from beginning to end.


Score:  9/10
Song(s) to Sample:  "Schizophrenia" and "The Stars" but, if you are a fan of pop and rock, just do yourself a favor and download or buy the entire album. 

Underworld Barking - (note: this album gets released next week) The Karl Hyde and Rick Smith duo re-team for their electronic band's eighth release.  On this album, they work with well-known producers/DJs Paul VanDyke and High Contrast, among others.  I should point out that I have been a huge Underworld fan since they first made it big somewhere between the release of their album Second Toughest In The Infants and the release of the Trainspotting soundtrack, which their song "Born Slippy" had a prominent role.  If you ever get the opportunity to see them live, don't hesitate.  They put on one of the best live shows of any electronica bands I've seen and any money you pay for tickets will be well worth it.  With that being said, let's checkout how their new album sounds.

Barking continues the Acid House sound that they helped make popular over 15 years ago.  Singing is kept to a minimum like usual, instead favoring sampled sound bites in lieu of traditional lyrics for about half of the songs ("Scribble" and "Grace" being two noticeable exceptions).  "Between Stars" is reminiscent of the edgier music they gave us on the Dubnobasswithmyheadman album but with a more modern trance beat.  "Diamond Jigsaw" is a real standout with its extremely catchy backing beats and infectious hooks pairing well with the downplayed vocal tracks.  

Overall, this album is very good and is the best thing Underworld has released since Darren Emmerson left the band in the early 2000's.  The beats have a more modern spin than their early releases but the sound is still uniquely Underworld, with its sophisticated layering of vocal and audio tracks to create a complex sound that touches you on multiple levels.  The entire album is good from beginning to end with a well balanced mix and track order, although I did prefer listening to the second half of the album more than the first as I reassessed  songs for this review.  Long time fans of Underworld will be glad to know this album gives a glimpse of some the magic they were able to achieve over a decade ago and new fans to electronic music can use this as an introduction to what good, well-produced Acid House/Psytrance music sounds like. 

Score: 8.5/10
Song(s) to Sample:  "Diamond Jigsaw" and "Between Stars"