Note: Julian Plenti is the alter ego of Interpol frontman Paul Banks, and this is his debut release under this moniker.
Sound: The dissonant riffs, driving rhythms and somber atmosphere on Skyscraper differ very little from Banks’ work with Interpol. But the music on this side project is a little more stripped down and mellow, and Banks’ vocals are more intimate and clear.
Heavy Rotation track: “Games for Days”
Medium Rotation tracks: “No Chance Survival”; “Only If You Run”; “Fun That We Have”; “Unwind”
Recommended: If you like Interpol, you’ll like Julian Plenti - they’re simply not that different. Though Skyscraper lacks any great tracks, it’s consistently satisfying. It’s a stronger album than Interpol’s last release 2007’s Our Love To Admire, but it’s a couple of notches below their first two albums – Turn on the Bright Lights (my #5 album of 2002) and Antics (my #11 album of 2004).
Grade: B+

Listen to Tracks/Buy Music:
On iTunes
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