Albums to watch

Julian Plenti… Skyscraper

Julian Plenti

Julian Plenti… Skyscraper

Long awaited debut solo album from Interpol's front man Paul Banks

ADM rating[?]

6.4

Label
Matador
UK Release date
03/08/2009
  1. 8.0 |   Q

    Print edition only

  2. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    It nips along packed with languid inspiration, some quirky flourishes and a intimate feel that a full-band record might not be able to reproduce. Lovely stuff
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  3. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    A few patient listens reveals songs that intrigue rather than astonish, and those apathetic to Interpol probably won’t have their perspectives adjusted. Still, despite never consistently scaling the rooftops, this is a stylish effort
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  4. 8.0 |   Evening Standard

    While Interpol run the gamut of indie bands from Joy Division to New Order, Banks is a much more varied solo beast, incorporating the acoustic, echoey pop of Elvis Perkins or Bon Iver, some unashamed pop and a smidgen of avant-garde
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  5. 7.0 |   The Quietus

    Banks — even if unclear in direction — is still as urgent and disturbing as ever.
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  6. 7.0 |   Spin

    Though modest, Skyscraper may prove to be an integral step in Interpol’s progression
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  7. 7.0 |   Independent on Sunday

    The New Yorker displays a gentler, less strident side to his Interpol persona. He's always had a gift of making lyrics sound far more - or, indeed, far less - portentous than they really are
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  8. 6.2 |   Pitchfork

    The most borderline-embarrassing tracks on Skyscraper are, in fact, the strongest-- it's the safe, formulaic moments that fall flat and, unfortunately, make up a substantial portion of the record.
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  9. 6.0 |   The Sunday Times

    Instead of doomy postpunk we get an intriguing mixture that draws on the circular riffing of Guided by Voices, the angularity of Frank Black and the anthemic side of Bowie
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  10. 6.0 |   No Ripcord

    This album likely wouldn’t have been produced if this wasn’t Paul Banks from Interpol (as all the targeted Facebook ads have been telling me), and I probably wouldn’t like even this much if I didn’t have such an ingrained love of them
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  11. 6.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    The horns aside, there are several ideas worth taking back to Interpol, but the operative phrase here is ‘back to Interpol’.
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  12. 6.0 |   The Independent

    Compared to the slick, glacial sheen of Interpol's songs, however, these eleven offerings have the distinctly lo-fi, half-finished character of demos
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  13. 6.0 |   Clash

    Does partially suffer from being rather over ambitious – a little more simplicity and grace wouldn’t have gone amiss. That said, it's a collection of eleven songs that will haunt and inspire you at the same time with a bewitching mix of influences and styles
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  14. 4.0 |   Uncut

    Print edition only

  15. 4.0 |   PopMatters

    As a solo artist Julian Plenti sounds forced, calculated, and unoriginal.
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Julian Plenti: Julian Plenti… Skyscraper

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  • 1. Only If You Run £0.99
  • 2. Fun That We Have £0.99
  • 3. Skyscraper £0.99
  • 4. Games For Days £0.99
  • 5. Madrid Song £0.99
  • 6. No Chance Survival £0.99
  • 7. Unwind £0.99
  • 8. Girl On The Sporting News £0.99
  • 9. On The Esplanade £0.99
  • 10. Fly As You Might £0.99
  • 11. H £0.99
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