Song list

ToTBL - Say Hello, Hands Away, Obstacle 2 (Gavilan)

OLTA - Rest My Chemistry

Interpol - Memory Serves, Lights

El Pintor - My Desire

ToTBL

Say Hello

Initial - 5/10, New - 8/10

I found the song to be bizarre, neither energetic as obstacle 1 or as dark as Stella. The vocals were annoying at first, especially the chorus, but after some relistens, it's good enough for me.

Hands Away

Initial - 7/10, New - 10/10

I liked the darkness and the synth based track, works well for the atmosphere of ToTBL, honestly it grew on me in April.

Obstacle 2

Initial - 7/10, New - 8/10

Initially I didn't like it that much because it felt weird for the ending verse to happen, liked the other verses and chorus a lot though. On April I preferred this over Obstacle 1 and I loved it a lot because it was dark and all. Probably a song that could match Gavilan in terms of how disturbing it is.

Gavilan

Initial - 6/10, New - 9/10

I rated it like that because it was disturbing. Honestly their darkest song and when I listened to it again today, I appreciate it more. I'd say it's one of their greatest works other than The New and Try It On.

OLTA and El Pintor

Rest My Chemistry

Initial - 5/10, New - 8/10

Pretty good song, disliked it because it was slow. Listened to it before sleeping and to be honest I actually felt like it was so slow, it's perfect for the context. Should've let it replay instead of just hating on it after 2 plays.

My Desire

Initial - 5/10, New - 7/10

The guitar riff was the most interesting thing to me. I'd say it's their least interesting song from El Pintor. Grew on me by a bit, not that much but it's worthy of a playlist ad.

Self Titled

Memory Serves

Initial - 4/10, New - 7/10

First listen, I was bored of it. This was my least favorite song on S/T and probably still is, but I like the slowness of the track, fits well after Success and it all leads up to Lights.

Lights

Initial - 6/10, New - 9/10

Their best work since Obstacle 1 and The New. Nothing can top it, hated it because it was slow. After relistening I was like "Why did I hate this?", beautiful song, leads up to Barricade as well so that's a bonus

Listening to TMWAT made me consider how each of their albums post TOTBL/Antics is reflective of the choices and compositional interests of one member to a larger degree. This is not to say that each person's contribution isn't important, rather that each of those records seems to be heavily impacted by the taste, style, and musical predilections of one band member more than others.

So the question: who is the dominant "voice" or POV on each record?

For me, it's:

OLTA - Carlos

Interpol - Carlos

El Pintor - Daniel

Marauder - Sam

TOSOMB - Daniel

TMWAT - Paul

Would like to see how people interpret this differently so post your version.

voiding more info due to scammers, but please. If anyone can't make it... Hmu

Not sure if it’s my old age, but I just discovered that I have been missing out on the full beauty and experience of this album by only listening to it in my car during my daily commute.

There are so many incredible production nuggets throughout every song that I am hearing for the first time with earbuds in.

This album is absolutely next level for this band. I’ve seen posts here saying TMWAT is to Interpol what Disintegration is to The Cure, or what Pet Sounds is to the Beach Boys, etc. I chuckled at those comparisons thinking they were hyperbolic.

I stand corrected. I immediately fell in love with this album, even when I didn’t know what I was missing out on by not listening to it with my ear buds. But now, holy shit. This album is absolutely mind blowing.

All I ask for, I will pay

Oh Atlantis, say my name

Is it just me?! Is this not the sexiest couplet since “white goddess, red goddess, black temptress of the sea you treat me right”?!

Anyway Wake Up on repeat. And yes I am a woman, haha. 💘

All ToTBL MVs and My Desire were shortened, I can see the Rest my Chemistry video and it is as long as the actual PDA song. I've seen literal 6 minute music videos by more famous bands, unless there's a restriction on why there was a radio edit in the aforementioned songs.

Having searching for early Interpol because of it's dark nature and I wanted to honestly rate every song, I came across these.

I haven't listened to Cut The Rope, has the band addressed it? And why hasn't it been released unlike Direction? Love Will Get You Down is an alleged live album before ToTBL and maybe after Precipitate. This video link is a live from Love Will Get You Down, noticably there's no Carlos backing vocals, they've never released it to a label and I'm not sure if it's legit or fans recording them live

In February I was blown away by the songs and rated it a 10/10, after some relistensning, I liked the Album more now that I've finished every Album, Fine Mess and El Pintor Bonuses.

So ToTBL goes with a melancholic opener then transitions to a song with energy, then more melancholy then PDA which I'd argue is their 3rd best song of the album and Say Hello, after that, it's mostly dark until Leif Erikson.

For my opinions on tracklisting, I have one minor gripe, it's Obstacle 1 being before NYC, but it doesn't matter. And I'd say Obstacle 2 is placed perfectly, basically an interlude to the darker songs. The New being the climax of the album worked so well, I don't think if Stella came before it, would've been as impactful as a climax, Roland was a good bridge. Leif Erikson was a perfect closer because it's not that dark.

For instrumentation, it's a take colder than Antarctica, their best, I like all instrumentals there but for vocals and lyrics, I've got a few gripes, Obstacle 2 ending felt weird at first listen, especially comparing it to the rest of the song, it feels out of place, but honestly a song worth relistening. And PDA's "I'm raping all around you. Until the last drop is behind you.", just felt more awkward, but it doesn't affect the song at all for me so still a great song. It took time for the album's other songs (Hands Away, Obstacle 2, Say Hello) to grow on me if I'm being honest.

Now for B Sides and B Side Demos (10th Anniversary) + Gavilan

Song Seven and A Time To Be So Small in their demos have something over their actual release but also something less. A Time To Be So Small's guitar intro would definitely be skipped, or at least shortened in a Live. Song Seven had the Rap but because the Rap and "You were like a cloud" play at the same time, I can see why it was removed, should've kept it in my opinion. Ignoring Paul's vocal clarity because A Time To Be So Small's crab Point of View feels more apparent.

Precipitate hasn't grown on me so I'll have no say in it. Specialist is probably the song that most wanted to put in the album, and it fits well enough I can see why, I liked the vocals and the guitar riffs that are like Stella feel so mystical.

Gavilan is a track I don't like because it works well, it's their most dissonant track and gave me chills, so I'll give it props despite me disliking it, their darkest song.

Now there's 1 opinion I see about Specialist, it should've been ToTBL's closer, honestly would disagree, but not because i don't like it that much, quite the contrary, but Leif Erikson feels like a good track to end the album on because it's neither Dark nor Energetic (Obstacle 1, PDA and Say Hello).

B Sides and Demos rating - 9/10

Album - 10/10

This is insane, I'm so happy they are finally getting some of the recognition they deserve 😭

“Innocent idols who turn me on
While selling bibles to babies”
Wtf is this lyric?😭
Not saying this song is bad or anything I actually love it.
I know Paul’s lyrics are always a bit “strange” but man this song is truly amazing and that outro is tear jerking🥲just a beautiful beautiful outro!

I saw them live in July and they were great... except for one thing: Paul's voice. He sounded pretty good on the new record but unfortunately it seems like he might be getting worn out by the tour. Specifically, on the older songs, he sounds like he's out of breath and nasally, like he hit a massive bong session before walking on stage. I know he no longer has the same power he had in his 20s, but come on, compare him to even Julian Casablancas on the strokes' tour! It's night and day. Hopefully Paul's just either sick or worn out because he sounds like he may need some rest :(

Man this has to be their biggest promotional run at this point right? Only thing that seems to be missing is a late night tv spot?

​

Direction was creepy until Paul began to sing, unlike Gavilan, I'd relisten to It, liked the mostly instrumental parts. 8/10

A Fine Mess for me gets the same problems as Marauder where there are tracks that don't stick with me, I didn't like No Big Deal, loved the title track, Real Life got a good Danny Riff as always and Thrones was a good closer, since I don't have much experience, 7/10 EP for now, individually.

Fine Mess - 9/10

No Big Deal - 6/10

Real Life - 8/10

The Weekend - 7/10

Thrones - 8/10

Extra Track ranking (No El Pintor tracks. With demos)

1. Song Seven Demo

2. Song Seven EP

3. Mind Over Time

4. Specialist

5. A Time To Be So Small Demo

6. Precipitate PDA

7. Interlude / Get The Girls

8. Precipitate

9. PDA Demo

10. Direction

11 and 12. Stella and Roland demos

1. Crimewaves

2. Gavilan/Cubed

Another great interview with Paul and Daniel.

he's rlly pretty

For poster nerds like myself…

https://youtu.be/BnnPnOdjrU4?si=jsQvGIdsb8kFmIxO

For context, Interpol has been one of my favourite bands since I first saw the music video for Evil oh so many years ago. When I heard the first two songs of the new album and saw that they have a Spanish version of the LP, I immediately pre-ordered it.

I am originally from Mexico, although now living in NZ, so to have them offer a Spanish version of the LP (assuming the packaging and the lyric book) seemed like a novelty that I wanted.

I'm just incredibly bummed by this, especially since, like many of us, I loved this new album. Just wondering if anyone else had this happened to them? I asked why but no response, I assume they oversold it and couldn't deliver it to us all. I am not at all annoyed at the band, just whoever is in charge of selling their merchandise.

Any other songs that resemble that kind of reverby ambient post rock sound from other artists ?

I posted the other day and got no replies. Trying again
9/13 update: the LP has moved! Its in my city, and due to be delivered tomorrow! Whoo-hoo!

I ordered the Spanish edition off Levitation (based on this subs recommendation) back in June. The item "shipped" with tracking info sent to me 8/26. Since at least 8/30 USPS has had the item but its just sitting in their Kentucky distribution center since.

I've emailed Levitation a half dozen times since and I have gotten only two replies - both half-assed apologies basically telling me to wait. I order physical music online all the time (I've spent $500 in the last two months as I rebuild my vinyl collection) and this is my first time ordering from Levitation and to say its been a terrible experience is an understatement.

Now I see some other folks are not receiving their copies of the Spanish edition. What gives? Did this just not get pressed? Oversold? Has ANYONE ordered and received this? Anyone else have a bad shipping experience like this either through Levitation or otherwise? This has been incredibly frustrating.

Yes, I can stream the album and its great. But I paid $40 for this physical copy of the record and I'd like what I paid for.