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Album Details

• Artist: Julian Plenti
• Album: Julian Plenti Is Skyscraper
• Label: Matador
• Year of Release: 2009
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: tosnob on 2009-08-24

I'm sure you've heard the story by now, but in case you haven't here's the quick recap. Interpol singer Paul Banks was performing solo shows around the NYC area under the moniker Julian Plenti. When Interpol's success began, Burns focused his attention on the band. In 2006 he revived Julian Plenti and the result is the new album ...Skyscraper.

The album features two very distinct styles of songs.

On the one hand you have uptempo indie rockers. The dark angular sound of tracks like "Fun That We Have" and the belting vocals of the anthemic "Games For Days" are would not sound out of place on the next Interpol album. These songs are enhanced by a few sonic tricks. Plenti utilizes computer generated sounds on many of the tracks as well as an uplifting horn section flourish on the triumphant "Unwind".

The second type of song on ...Skyscraper are the more moody, reflective tracks. String arrangements permeate these songs. The lovely "Skyscraper" is made soaring by them while "No Chance Survival" becomes introspective. The opener "Only If You Run" is methodical and deliberate. "Girl On the Sporting News" emits a Greg Dulli-aura as it smolders. The stripped-down "On the Esplanade" gives off a ghostly feel.

Even on those down tempo tracks it's difficult to separate Plenti from Interpol. Banks' voice is so distinctive that he could break into a calypso beat and still the song would sound like Interpol. This coupled with a handful of go nowhere tracks ("Fly As You Might", "Madrid Song") make it difficult to be too effusive in one's praise for the album.

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