MOG

I was pretty disappointed with Jackinabox, too. I wanted these guys to be better than they are.

Forced lyrics and vocals ill suited to this Americana dirge. "Something In My Eye" almost makes it, except for those pinking shear guitars at the beginning and break. I can listen to "Real Life", but only because it reminds me I'll listen to Southside Johnny at some point. "Timewaster" is catchy but depressingly autobiographical (for me). Yeah, Poe, you picked the least thorny rose.

And regarding our flowery friends, Marigold, for some reason I find Interpol's latest depressingly captivating. How they pull off such upbeat numbers that leave my spirit feeling so devoid of life is beyond me. I'd go out on the limb and say that "Our Love To Admire" is perhaps the most artistically effective recording I heard last year, but if I listen to it a few times non-stop I gotta keep clear of any razor blades for awhile. I'll bet Lou Reed is quite proud.

Based on this song, I would get this album...but based on your opinion, I wouldn't bother (If this is as good as it gets). Thanks for the heads up.

Mike, my feeling about this album is closest to the Voxtrot 2007 album that i posted about some months ago. i really wanted to like it.

Interpol is a subject i try to avoid. (:

Lady Miss Ian, that's exactly it - "I wanted these guys to be better than they are." i hoped i only missed its goodness the first few times. ultimately though it just could not hit me.

Scott, thanks for doing the review i didn't want to. :D i mean, the album isn't awful, but the dislikes far outnumber the likes (yeah, Timewaster is one), and there aren't any love-to-deaths.

Annie, oh no the Turin Brakes guys are going to hate me. it really is a good song, and i'm glad you like it, and i hope all of you like it, but yes, that is what i meant to say - i think the song is as good as it gets.

That is so interesting what you said about Voxtrot. I had heard so many good things, even bought the album...but meh, couldn't be bothered with it. I am now slow to try the rest of their stuff. Funny how that can color things.

in fairness to Voxtrot, (i said this in the post i wrote on their 2007 album) their song from 2005 - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives - is very powerful, and the EP of the same name also is.

with these artists with so much unmined potential, the optimist in me just moves on and thinks, let's see, maybe they'll do better next time. that being said, life is short and my time is better spent with many other good albums out there. (:

With due respect to Mr Knights and Mr Paridjanian, this doesn't do justice to their sense of lyricism and "poppiness" to which we treated on "Ether Song" for example...

Clearly an instance of fatigue. Let us hope it's a temporary condition.

my dear Bartleby, you could not have been more spot-on with "poppiness" - to which, i agree, we were treated in the first two albums. when pop is good, it is irresistibly so, and i feel Mr Knights and Mr Paridjanian achieved that with Ether Song and The Optimist.

"Clearly an instance of fatigue" - your optimism is most admirable. let us hope so. (8