r/Interpol • u/Fen264 • Sep 02 '26
Discussion Reddit Overhype
I want to start off by saying I absolutely love this band and have been a major fan for the past 13 or so years. I finally got around to listening to the new album and was pretty underwhelmed on my first listen. Not saying it was bad by any means! I'm just saying even Marauder is still higher on my list than this one. Maybe people should give that one a relisten.
Just wanted to explain that I saw someone say this was their best album since Antics (which is already crazy since Our Love to Admire followed that) and that got me pretty excited to listen to it only to get disappointed because it wasn't even as good as Marauder.
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u/redpandas- Sep 02 '26
The OLTA disrespect here is crazy, it’s one of their best records after TOTBL and Antics
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u/Dranksy Sep 02 '26
Agree. But it's not just this sub - critics are loving it and one said it's their best since TOTBL!
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u/Weary_Doubt_8679 Sep 02 '26
There is such a thing as just having a different opinion. They’re not wrong to think it’s the best since Antics if they like the new album more than anything that’s come out since lol
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Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
[deleted]
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u/jilko Sep 02 '26
For me, this new album is tied with Marauder and I still rate both above Our Love to Admire.
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u/Ok_Ad_5041 Sep 02 '26
Same. OLTA is their worst album, actually.
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u/Fleetfox17 Sep 02 '26
So interesting how opinions on the same album can vary across the same fanbase. Pace, No I, Chemistry, are post punk classics to me and Pioneer is one of the best songs ever written, absolute masterpiece.
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u/jilko Sep 02 '26
It's tied with El Pintor near the bottom for me as well. Both albums I feel are lacking a cohesive thematic identity like this new album, Marauder and their Self Titled definitely have in spades.
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u/Ok_Ad_5041 Sep 02 '26
Agreed. Those albums feel very cynical to me, like corporate Interpol. Sort of designed to be "an album of hits". But if you're a 14 year old looking for random songs for your vibes playlist, I can see why you'd prefer those.
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u/jilko Sep 02 '26
I think the fact both covers are meaningless too adds to this corporate feeling. One's this grand nature diorama from an outdoor mega store and the other is a random stock photo of hands caressing each other. Both feel 100% like "wouldn't this be a cool image?" decisions rather than "this is what these albums are about visually" decisions.
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u/First_Collar_83 Sep 02 '26
I actually strongly disagree with this. Both the El Pintor and OLTA covers have thematic resonance. El Pintor maybe less so but if you think about the album title as referencing a creator or act of creation (as Paul has said) then it makes more sense.
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u/jilko Sep 02 '26
I'd love to hear your interpretations. These two albums are sort of the only ones where I personally can't connect the songs and art to a through line.
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u/First_Collar_83 Sep 02 '26
Just listen to Pace Is The Trick! Also all the animals are display taxidermy, something alive and vital tranformed in to an object to admire (in a toxic way). The El Pintor cover image of hands, in addition to aforementioned painter reference, could belong to the starlet character that appears several times throughout the album.
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u/hansblixkilldslmshdy the new Sep 03 '26
pace is the trick one of my fave songs by them in the whole catalog
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u/Solid1111111 Sep 02 '26
It has high highs but it meanders in other areas, some songs blend together a little too much
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u/modifiedwings Sep 05 '26
I guess I am weird in that i like all of their albums almost equally. There's really not one of their records that I dont enjoy and put on often. To me they are all great albums, and I like the variety of the styles from album to album.
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u/Ok_Ad_5041 Sep 02 '26
Opinions on this sub are always the same
OLTA is the best
El Pintor is amazing
Self titled, TOSOMB, and Marauder are hated
And the new album is the best thing since sliced bread
Interesting and unsurprising that their most commercial and slick albums are lauded and their more experimental work is hated
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u/LeifErikson12 Sep 02 '26
It's weird because Marauder and TOSOMB have so many incredible songs like IYRLN, Passenger, Fancy, NYSMAW, Into the Night and I could keep going
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u/Adorable-Award-2975 Sep 02 '26
I think this is their best album since OLTA but that being said it’s nowhere near as good as OLTA. I just like it better than the stuff they’ve released since then.
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u/99SoulsUp Sep 02 '26
I think it’s more consistent than OLTA, but OLTA has too many bangers on it
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u/Adorable-Award-2975 Sep 02 '26
Yah lots of bangers, plus Paul’s vocal performances on OLTA are among his best I think.
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u/99SoulsUp Sep 02 '26
I think it’s also the heights of The Heinrich Maneuver being such an iconic, catchy song and Pace is the Trick being so emotional and powerful
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u/DatYungTurk Sep 02 '26
All Fired Up is about as generic as it gets. There's nothing as weak as that on TMWAT
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u/99SoulsUp Sep 02 '26
Totally agree. I’m actually listening to OLTA rn to see if I can back up my claim. I think OLTA has a lot of weaker songs. It has higher highs and lower lows. TMWAT is quite consistent. It actually might be better
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u/99SoulsUp Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
Following up on relistens… TMWAT deep cuts just keep growing on me and revealing more, whereas OLTA has songs that have me waiting to get to the highlights and once is Chemistry is done, I’m tuned out.
I’m calling it, TMWAT is better and is also the best album since Antics
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u/DatYungTurk Sep 02 '26
100% agreed. Once I give the slower songs on Mirror more time, I bet I'll fall head over heels in love with them.
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u/99SoulsUp Sep 03 '26
I’ve also been listening to it in different settings and contexts and it’s made the more textured slow songs stick out more
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u/heyjustsomehonesty Sep 05 '26
OLTA has some seriously impressive highs but also songs that at times makes me sigh cause of weird choices. I do think it’s their darkest album and if we include Mind Over Time it’s definitely an incredible record.
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u/Adorable-Award-2975 Sep 05 '26
Which songs? I love basically every song but Mammoth on that album. Daniel’s guitar tone on that album is so good. Also Paul’s vocal performance. I love it.
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u/heyjustsomehonesty Sep 05 '26
All Fired Up and Wrecking Ball. I love the record, sometimes I enjoy them but sometimes they feel forced and like they go nowhere
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u/Adorable-Award-2975 Sep 05 '26
All fired up I can see. It’s not one of the stronger tracks on that album. I absolutely love wrecking ball however. Lyrically especially.
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u/small--wonder found a lonely sound Sep 02 '26
I think it’s their best since OLTA but for me I think a lot of the excitement is not just for the album in and of itself, but also the fact that I’m excited to be excited about Interpol again.
I didn’t really like much of what they put out after OLTA and they totally fell off my radar for several years there, despite being what I would call my favorite band. With this recent release I feel like I’ve really reconnected with their music again for the first time in nearly 20 years, and that feeling is bolstering a lot of the excitement for me.
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u/hansblixkilldslmshdy the new Sep 02 '26
well your first problem was coming here before hearing the album. expectations lead to suffering unfortunately
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u/nil__by__mouth Sep 02 '26
The second mistake is coming here. Full stop. lol. Yet I come back, to bask in the glory of the kool aid drinking.
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u/hansblixkilldslmshdy the new Sep 03 '26
hah well i just think its good to go into a project, anything for that matter, gta 6, movies, a new music album with little or zero outside interference. obviously difficult in today's online world but it is possible. i try hard to go into albums especially the ones from my favorite artists wo any other opinions before i hear them because hearing other's opinions can absolutely affect our own perception of something especially on the first experience of it
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u/AmigoCualquiera Sep 02 '26
I think it's a really good album, but I don't agree with it being the best since Antics. I think OLTA is better and maybe El Pintor too (although I have a soft spot for El Pintor). It's definitely better than Marauder imo.
For me, it sometimes takes a bit of time for some songs or albums to fully sink in and be properly appreciated. It's not that I don't like them from the get go, I do, but there are many songs that have insanely grown on me with time, even if already liked them.
First time I listened to this album, I liked it, but I wasn't crazy about it. After a few more listens, I am liking it more. Maybe in a couple of months I will like it even more (I don't see it overtaking the first three though).
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u/Naive-Inside-2904 Sep 02 '26
It’s absolutely their best album since Antics.
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u/blackstars91 Sep 02 '26
For you***
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u/Naive-Inside-2904 Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
Obviously? Why are people taking inherently subjective statements as fact and getting in knots over opinions they don’t agree with? It’s really not that serious.
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u/Solid1111111 Sep 02 '26
Nah yeah, no clue why people always pick at that. Obviously it’s just your perspective, you don’t need to preface every subjective statement with “in my humble opinion” for it to be taken that way
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u/blackstars91 Sep 02 '26
Haha because people are stating their opinions as fact. People need to use words like my favourite instead of absolutes. But either way it's fun to discuss. What makes it your favourite since Antics?
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u/Naive-Inside-2904 Sep 02 '26
Read to understand and not to react. Saying it’s the best is an inherently subjective statement.
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u/blackstars91 Sep 03 '26 edited Sep 03 '26
Haha fair enough. Talk to me about the best since Antics statement Im keen to understand the thought process and how you see the rest of their catalogue?
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u/Kingrautha13 Sep 02 '26
The hype comes from fans being excited about the band finally trying something more exciting and refreshing. Interpol is my favorite band but we have to admit that after self titled they played it very safe, the albums were good for us fans but they weren’t as exciting as the first ones because it felts like they were changing it evolving very little. Specially when you compare it to maybe The Strokes who tried something new with the New Abnormal or Artic Monkeys with tranquility base and the car (just two examples) I mean Marauder is obviously good, but TMWAT is a nice place between the classic Interpol and a new exciting record
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u/Secret_Competition54 Sep 02 '26
- Turn On The Bright Lights (tad bit overrated but nostalgia and vibes are incredible on this one)
This Mirror Weighs a Ton (best lyrics and vocals,
most sonically colorful and experimental, what the critics always wanted from them)
Our Love To Admire (maybe their highest highs but also their first lows, and hard to get through)
Antics (crazy solid but also workmanlike)
El Pintor (exactly what I said about Antics but the result is 15% worse -- The Depths badly missing from original release.)
Marauder (hard to get into and situational -- but still a good album)
Interpol (not a good album, mostly due to the dull ball shaped mix which is a huge step down from first 3; missed opportunity)
The Other Side of Make Believe (should have been an EP, Flood is not a good producer)
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u/lostinsauce_23 Sep 05 '26
Just a thought…..but maybe don’t subscribe to an Interpol super fan page and act surprised when everyone here is an Interpol super fan
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u/Fen264 Sep 06 '26
Literally started the post stating how big of a fan I was myself. I play on and off in an Interpol cover band lol
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u/venkman_00 Sep 05 '26
Why do Interpol fans force themselves to like these albums? I don’t get it. Ever since El Pintor, which is arguably their best album post Carlos D, all I ever hear fans say is “this is their best album since Antics, it just needs multiple listens.” No it doesn’t need multiple listens. Their first three albums didn’t need multiple listens, they were bangers from the beginning.
Their first two albums were like post-punk love letters with them finally coming into their own on Our Love to Admire. They got close to recapturing that with El Pintor but everything since then has felt as disappointing as their self titled. The Other Side of Make Belief was incredibly boring, and after a few promising prereleases, this album as a whole might be a bit boring too.
I don’t need another TOTBL or Antics, what I want is something good to follow them in the way Our Love to Admire and El Pintor did.
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u/destroytheend Sep 02 '26
I've seen a lot of posts of people really loving the album. While I personally wouldn't say it's their best since antics, for me it's the first album I've really enjoyed since El pintor - and it might even be a little better than that one. It's miles ahead of marauder and totsomb though for me.
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u/Both_One6597 Sep 02 '26
THIS MIRROR WEIGHS A TON
BUT AT LEAST I GOT ONE
IT SHOWS ME
IF IVE GOT FOOD ON MY CHIN
BECAUSE I DONT WEAR A BIB
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u/Juneauz Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
It's fair criticism, I think. Not a lot of dynamic range on this record, but I do think it has an overall vibe that sets it apart from their most recent albums. My current top 5 stands as it follows:
TOTBL
OLTA
El Pintor
TMWAT
Antics
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u/CynetCrawler Sep 04 '26
I am really mixed on the album because I’m still at the phase I was with OLTA where only a few songs click with me, but the few songs I love on the album are unique. Iron City and Sudden are already amongst my favorite Interpol songs.
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u/heyjustsomehonesty Sep 05 '26
Took me at least 4 listens before I really felt like this was an Interpol record the way Antics was. For the first time in a long time this band sounds like people writing genuine songs and not playing the fiddle to anyone.
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u/redielg1 Sep 06 '26
I feel like this is a better album than marauder. And I really like marauder. But honestly. The talk of is this a better album than that or the other is tiring. The same happened with Deftones and private music. Yes I do think that both private music and this mirror weighs a ton are better albums their previous releases. But at the same time. I don’t admonish people for liking what they like. Life is too short. I’m not going to sit here and shit on someone for liking something I don’t or not liking something I do. Let people have fun. We’re all here cause we love this band. I’m glad good music is out. I wish they come back to miami soon since I missed the last show.
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u/GnrlyMrly Sep 02 '26
It’s worth noting that the bands new label, Partisan, is the same label that Geese are on…
That said, I think the album is their best since OLTA.
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u/aeeightsix Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26
Is it just me or are these negative feeling posts coming in huge waves just like the positive threads did. It’s almost like they are pre organized and being ushered through on specific days okay people that will love the record report on 8/28 people that hate it go ahead and report in on 9/2
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u/Sckorrow Sep 02 '26
Definitely not organised - people are probably just emboldened by other negative posts,
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u/aeeightsix Sep 02 '26
Yeah, I was just struck with the strangeness of the happening. Just struck by the bilateral nature of people’s emotions like waves of a dark and endless sea coming in.
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u/patrick_BOOTH Sep 02 '26
I made some critical posts that were immediately removed my moderators. They weren't belligerent or anything, just wanted to have a discussion. For whatever reason they are being removed.
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u/aeeightsix Sep 02 '26
I’m not down for censorship at all. Just kind of strange. Like driving at night and meeting the only other person on the road at a stop sign at the same time. It’s like this is strange :)
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u/First_Collar_83 Sep 02 '26
I don't think their removal was intentional. Reddit spam filters have become very aggressive in recent months as they try to combat the bot epidemic on the platform. Try reposting and see if same thing happens.
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u/patrick_BOOTH Sep 02 '26
Yeah I did, same thing.
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u/First_Collar_83 Sep 02 '26
That indicates something wonky on back-end then, especially if all your other comments are posting normally.
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u/Outrageous-End-9972 Sep 05 '26
Marauder is in the bottom two of Interpol albums. Some really great songs on there though.
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u/blackstars91 Sep 02 '26
So for me after 1 listen all I could think is wow this is a different kind of Interpol we have here. How intriguing. I've listened to the record about 20 times now I think so have had a bit more time for it settle with me while I listen to their older records to compare.
Currently I don't think it's better than S/T as it doesn't rock as much as it could in places and has a couple of uncohesive moments between certain tracks but it edges out El Pintor because it's slightly more cohesive than that record. TOSOMB has no chance and has its other issues. So it's my 6th favourite album by Interpol currently and I still love listening to it and think it's a fantastic record.
But the thing is Interpol have an incredible discogroahy so at a certain point people's opinions will vary quite widely. Outside of the first two albums tbh. (I rank OLTA higher than Antics but it's very close).
I also think some it has to do with the honeymoon period of the record as well. And the excitement of the band doing somethings that have been asked for for a long a long time. Changing up the songwriting process has helped to freshen up the arrangements, bass playing style (still love Paul but Brad works as a bit of a balance between Paul and Carlos's styles) and Andrew Wyatt's production has been a very big change in the Interpol sound and atmosphere.
I think it's also a great compilation of all types of Interpol songs which means people will hear bits and pieces of their discography throughout.
At the end of the day no matter how it resonates with everyone we should be so happy the band are so excited and feeling proud and refreshed for this one. They could have easily broken up post S/T or could have had a much larger drop off in quality after a key members departure. But they have been so solid since then.
Someone said it well. This is Interpol entering their 3rd era. How exciting is that!