ON REPEAT: Antics

Cover: Interpol (2004) Antics

Following their debut album, Turn on the Bright Lights, the New York City based indie-rock band would have a lot to live up to. Turn on the Bright Lights would be rated the #1 album of 2002 with a startling score of 9.5 by Pitchfork magazine. It would also rank #10 on NME’s list of 2002’s top releases. Critics would call them Joy Division copycats and suit-wearing hipsters. Fans would call the band by their name, Interpol. 

Formed when guitarist Daniel Kessler recruited singer Paul Banks and bassiest Carlos Dengler in 1997 (later recruiting drummer Sam Fogarino in 2002), Interpol would be recognizable by their crooning vocals and rolling bass in their aforementioned first album, Turn on the Bright Lights. 

Interpol would soon release their second album, Antics, in 2004, dropping their most popular song, “Evil”, and attracting more fans to their band than ever. Antics would share the same mournful, often introspective lyrics, and infectiously catchy guitar riffs as Interpols’ first album. There is no album art, only the band and album name standing in front of a white background. I think this perfectly reflects this album to a T. Quiet and unassuming, but when you actually look deeper and give it a chance, it wows you.

It is hard to say what makes Antics one of Interpol’s best albums. When listening to the melody and the lyrics, Antics isn’t any different from any other Interpol album. The guitar and bass are still the focal point of the song, supported by drums and pretentiously hard to understand lyrics. I believe the thing that sets Antics apart from Interpol's other albums, for me at least, is the general vibe. Maybe it’s because instead of the dark and brooding vibes of Turn on the Bright Lights, Antics is bouncy and light. Maybe it’s because Antics revolves around love. Maybe it’s because it’s the first album I’ve ever listened to from Interpol. Either way, Antics will always be my favorite Interpol album. 

My favorite track off of the album is “C’mere”. The song opens with a catchy fast paced guitar riff, upbeat drums, and emotional vocals. Banks will croon out sonnets about love and loss, and maybe, a bit of hate. With lyrics like, ‘The trouble is that you’re in love with someone else/ It should be me/ It should be me’ and ‘I’m in love with something real’. The singer is an outsider looking in, perhaps reminiscing on an old relationship that has moved its separate ways. The starkness between mournful lyrics, and the happy melody provides a wonderful contrast that is apparent in Interpol's other works. “C’mere” is a lullaby, a hymn for the lovers, the process of moving on and learning to love again even within hate. 

It’s easy to say all the songs off of Antics can be broken down and analyzed like “C’mere” just was. That’s the beauty of Interpol’s songs. There’s no one meaning within their lyrics, and they don’t try to have one. It’s up to the listener to decide what they want to hear from the song. 

Interpol, as a band, will always be defined by their Joy Division copycat roots. Interpol, as lyricists, will always be a bit too pretentious to try and understand on the first listen. Interpol, as songwriters, will always create catchy and beautiful tunes. Interpol, as a fan, will always be one the defining bands of my teenage years, for better or for worse. 

Follow Interpol on instagram @interpol and @interpol on all streaming platforms or check out their website https://www.interpolnyc.com/.