It is scientifically proven that there’s a 70% chance that you have witnessed a traumatic event. Most commonly, these traumatic events consist of abuse and death.
One fateful Tuesday morning in September of 2001, hundreds of millions witnessed the attacks and collapse of the World Trade Center.
Interpol’s Turn On The Bright Lights matched the despair and uncertainty that New York’s citizens were experiencing. It was recorded in November of 2001, a mere two months after the attacks. From the opening track, “Untitled,” the listener is trapped behind a wall of tension. The soft-spoken yet eerie “Surprise sometime will come around” serves as a time capsule for the distressing period.
“Obstacle 1” preserves the tension to a greater extent. What’s seen as the best song on the album, the intricate guitars and echoey vocals make for a cold and cinematic track, a sound that the band would become synonymous with as each album concluded.
Whenever I have an album that I frequently come back to, I associate a certain feeling or vibe to the album and every time I listen to it, it is almost as if I am transported to a place by it.
It is definitely not revolutionary to do this, but similar to J Dilla’s Donuts which makes me feel like I am floating in the air, Turn On The Bright Lights makes me feel like I am walking in the congested streets of New York City, surrounded by mountain-like skyscrapers.
Of course, combined with the melancholic nature of songs like “Obstacle 1” and “NYC,” this album has its fair share of upbeat tracks with a greater focus on excellent instrumentals such as “PDA,” “Say Hello to the Angels,” and “Leif Erikson.”
Even though the lyrics are great across the entire album, it shines the absolute most in the sound department. The production is fantastic at every turn and there isn’t a sound that feels drowned out or overproduced.
One incredible pattern in the production is the slight fuzziness in each song, giving them a sense of claustrophobia and, once again, an immense feeling of tension.
Overall, Interpol’s Turn On The Bright Lights is an indie rock classic that features both incredible instrumentation and a thought-provoking tone that’ll leave you sitting in disbelief long after it ends.
My rating for Interpol’s Turn On The Bright Lights: 9.5/10
