Paul Banks / Banks
Another ex-member of another very famous band returns with an also-great solo record
Paul Banks
Banks
(Matador)
****
Yay! Interpol are back! Although they're not, but if you've been missing new material from the guys, invest in this because it's very similar. Paul Banks obviously isn't going for the far-out solo project (as already made apparent on his last effort). But he's keeping the song writing tight and in the key of theatrical, gloomy indie.
One thing which keeps the album going is the strength of the lyrics, on 'Over My Shoulder' he moans “you only know me like the shoreline knows the sea”; his tones are as individual as ever. On 'Young Again' he declares “I'm young again, thanks a lot”, in a way which suggests he'd shrug off any criticism that he should have stopped when that band stopped. And he'd be right to do so, because Banks is still writing songs well worth investing in, Interpol or no Interpol.
Nicholas Burman
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