Music you should be listening to

Julian Plenti

Since their 2002 debut Turn on the Bright Lights Interpol has been a staple of New York City rock. Since then they have branched out moving from indie label Matador to Capitol shortly before the release of their mediocre 2007 record Our Love to Admire. What makes the band so dynamic is the contrast between Carlos D.'s arrogant swagger and Paul Bank's smokey poetry. Together Interpol is untouchable, encompassing New York cool.
Earlier this month vocalist Banks branched out on his own while the band took a break releasing his first solo record under the alias Julian Plenti. Though not being a far departure from the sound of Interpol Bank's style as a songwriter and vocalist stands alone quite well.
On Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper Banks explores his voice in a way that he cannot on an Interpol record. Playing in Interpol forces Banks to push his voice to compete with the powerful rhythm section making him seem like he is on the brink of yelling (see all of Antics). As Julian Plenti Banks is much more pitch friendly, able to put the sweetness and emotion in his voice he famously lacks in Interpol (though he still manages a few sleazy lyrics).
Stand out tracks include "Skyscraper" which seems to be the farthest departure from the Interpol sound. The song is nearly all atmosphere with only Banks' gloomy crooning "shake me, shake me, skyscraper."
Banks also touched on a bit of a folk influence in tracks like "On the Esplanade" which sounds more like Iron and Wine and less like Interpol.
Though there are some rough spots ("Games for Days", "Fun That we Have") Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper is still an interesting record, making one wonder in what direction the next Interpol record will head.

watch the video for "Games For Days" here.