Interpol September 26, 2007

Interpol. A name generally associated with international espionage, covert operations, and distant ports of call. Yet since Interpol, the band, swept up listeners with their 2002 Matador debut 'Turn On The Bright Lights,' the moniker has gained new associations as well. It still carries global recognition. For some years now, one could hardly open a magazine, turn on a radio or television, or step into a nightclub, without hearing Interpol's dark, gripping songs or seeing their countenances. Despite this high level of media exposure, the quartet never lost the tension and complexity that won them acclaim worldwide. The noisy, angular post-punk outfit Liars came along at just the right moment: Their 2001 debut 'They Threw Us All In Trench And Stuck A Monument On Top' came out at a time when indie-rockers wanted to do nothing more than hang out in Brooklyn, rediscover dancing and listen to Gang of Four-inspired post-punk. What made this foursome more than just trend-surfers was the fierce, genuinely psychotic brio they brought to this magic formula.