Interpol — Our Love To Admire

I don't know what it is about Paul Banks' voice. When he sings "I haven't slept for two days/I've bathed in nothing but sweat" on "Rest My Chemistry," I believe him. And that's what makes Interpol such a consistently engaging group. They may not be lyrical wunderkinds and their three records might, on some level, sound kind of the same, but Banks is a powerful figure in contemporary rock because he's so sincere. He's also more confident and adventurous than ever on Our Love To Admire. Opener "Pioneer To The Falls" features a superb breakdown that has the frontman singing a cappella. On "Mammoth," he tackles falsetto for the first time, giving the track a deceptive fragility before his register drops and the band take off. Daniel Kessler, Carlos D and Sam Fogarino aren't just along for the ride — they're all sharing the wheel and driving at dangerous speeds. The move to feature keys only adds to the group's carefully crafted sonic wallop. Throw in classic single "The Heinrich Maneuver," and Interpol have proven once again that it's a great idea to disappear completely — at least for a little while.

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