Interpol - LP6 "Marauder" August 24, 2018

That’s funny!

The band is live on Facebook album launch right now - fyi

 

Just about to check it out…

 

Listening on Spotify, love the drums, sounds like a live recording.

 

Rough Trade Bristol - yeah! Good to see some promo for the 'pol.

 

Quoting myself...

Turns out my ears are quite messed up. Some sort of congestion/pressure (hoping allergies and not a cold). Every once in a while they pop and I can hear better. Not the best way to judge an album's sound.

 

Berlin has some really huge posters for it. Getting it tomorrow!

 

So. Pitchfork gives the usual mediocre review (... and puts you in the underground for a while) but at Metacritic it holds 72 ("El Pintor": 75).

A friend who usually like Interpol found the album "underwhelming and average", the guy at the record store - I just picked it up - said it was their best since "Antics" and he was surprised how the limited edition sold out over the weekend. Something that didn't happen with "El Pintor". And I? I guess I will play my copy tonight!!!!

 

Whereas, having only recently listened to El Pintor for the first time, it definitely sounded like an Interpol album on first listen, Marauder on first listen, to my ears, is the least-Interpol sounding album of their career.

Looking forward to further listens and seeing the band live on Wednesday night.

 

Has anyone picked up the Japanese edition of Marauder? I'm curious if the instrumental bonus track Number 11 is just an instrumental version of Number 10 or an entirely new track.

 

One spin of the EU cream vinyl, the pressing is great, no unwanted noises.

As for the music, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I think it does sound like Interpol, the production is a bit "rougher" and atmosphere-wise "Marauder" reminded me of "Antics". As usual these sounds need time to grow but for a first aural encounter this was actually nice. Yeah, it's not the album of the year, that would be the new Paul McCartney but it seems like a worthwhile addition to the discography. And probably as far as Interpol are likely to get out of their comfort zone.

All in all, it's the same procedure like with every new Interpol record. If you like the band, I'm afraid you'll have to check "Marauder" out for yourself. Opinions are likely to be divided on this.

 

I've heard a few samples on Amazon and qobuz and confused as they sounded nothing like each other. The qobuz samples were very bright and very distorted, and the Amazon ones were like A M radio. Can anyone tell me which is more accurate. It's the distortion on the drums i just cant bear.

 

I walked by the Orpheum today in downtown Boston and it showed Interpol gig on the marquee.

 

Got my tickets for September 12th. They are great live.

 

Yes. They are.

 

Interpol are on the front of Q Magazine
There are also special cover and 7” single with the non album track All at Once
Interpol Collector's Edition Available Now!

 

Can anyone who has the US cream vinyl comment on the sound/pressing quality? I'm skeptical of GZ, and may ditch my still sealed copy of this pressing and seek the UK one instead.

 

£17 including postage. I guess I'll skip this.

 

My pressing is pretty good, but I would love to hear the difference between the DMM and lacquer cuts.

 

I have it. It sounds like an entirely new track. A bit of an instrumental rave up.

 

+1. great album, very good pressing.

 

I received my red vinyl copy from Matador but haven't had a chance to spin it yet. My runout matches what's listed on Discogs and it suggests that this is a lacquer cut by Joe Nino-Hernes: Interpol - Marauder

I don't know if the record encountered particularly aggressive postal workers along the way or if the jacket material is thinner than usual but the inner sleeve was torn through on two sides and the spine of the outer cover has been breached by the record as well so you might want to avoid this release if that sort of thing bugs you. The mailer used by Matador was excellent as always so that didn't seem to be a contributing factor. It does include a download card for 320k mp3s.

 

"Marauder" gave me time to think about important facts like what an Interpol members needs to take with him on tour. Does four jackets, four trousers and seven white shirts sound about right? (Sam probably needs seven full sets.) "Now that you've seen me at work, are you excited dear?"

Three spins and I'm really enjoying "Marauder", it totally sounds like vintage Interpol. "El Pintor" was really good too.

 

@Neonbeam your enthusiasm for Marauder is keeping me going as the album still hasn't clicked with me yet.

Having said that, the band did a cracking show last night at a small night club venue in South London. Really good mix of songs from all albums (mainly Marauder and Antics) and the band were in fine form.

 

I really started enjoying it around my third play through, so worth keeping at it. Not sure how I would rank it yet other than better than the self titled.

 

Yeah, this is not clicking for me beyond the first few songs...probably because my ears are badly fatigued by maybe the 4th track. And I am not typically one to complain about excessive mastering levels.