But if possessing a vocalist with a deep vocal range who sings somewhat seriously over brooding tunes is all that's needed for yells of "Judas!", then perhaps the cynical types could, politely, fuck off. For those left reading, feel free to breathe a collective sigh of relief because the band have gone a long way to justifying the hype they created, (rather unusually), through the quality of their first singles.
The stuff we already know is just as we left it with 'Bullets' still reliably shooting its rather fine load in an explosive fashion. Meanwhile 'Munich' and latest single 'Blood' both display as much melodrama and twitching pop sensibilities as can be fitted in less than four minutes on a piece of circular, shiny plastic. So what of the rest?
Only 'Someone Says' and the stomping 'Fingers In The Factory' reach these sonically charged levels of face-slapping anguish, which initially lends the record an underwhelming feeling at the slower pace. Some might also feel unsatisfied which the squeaky clean production too, when perhaps what we all wanted from the ex-Snowfielders was a bit of a rough, dirty one given to us in 'The Back Room'.
However on repeated listens, the natural beauty of this record undresses itself slowly with an unashamed earnestness. The real flash of inspiration comes with centre-piece 'Camera', which becomes almost biblical with its enriching spirit, replete with echoing church vocals and funeral organ sounds. It's a teasing polaroid of a song which shakes itself into a beautiful landscape pining "You fall from grace/You fall with such grace".
It’s how Interpol would sound like if they dealt with universal themes and reflection rather than singing about fellatio fantasies with Stella, or their length of loves. Bloody Americans, always obsessed with sex! The closest Editors come to dealing with night-time antics with this, er, release is on 'Lights' which is a fantastically uplifting re-write of 'Sleeping With The Lights On'. Ah, Busted, so ahead of your time... "I’ve got a million things to say" pleads vocalist Tom Smith on this opening track, although this very occasionally descends into GBH of the ears with formulaic offerings such as 'Fall' and 'All Sparks'. It shouldn't really matter as all albums invariably have their weaker tracks, but when a song of the quality of 'Release' languishes as a b-side, it's hard not to feel just a little miffed.
However any doubts and cynicism of the band will be allayed by the end with the sighing lullaby of closer 'Distance'. It soothes and comforts the listener with lines like "I’m sure you’re passing the test/I wish you all the best", evoking 'Atmosphere' on a intensive course of Prozac. Shit, there goes the Curtis and co. referencing again, but this is a record many people will be able to live inside for a very long time, and in all honesty, which bands don't have influences? Oscar Wilde was right: "Talent borrows, genius steals."
Editors - The Back Room
Brilliant Album.
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
And the vocals are stunning.
Re: Editors - The Back Room
I like this album - someone borrowed it- will I see it again?
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
I'm a Joy Division & Interpol fan and i still think this is great. We seem to have a few people on DiS who are just fucking blinkered. They need to let go!!!
Re: Editors - The Back Room
i've listened to the album plenty. i really liked 'bullets' when it came out, but the album as a whole is dreadful.
that's my O-P-I-N-I-O-N. i am not blinkered, this is the way i think and believe.
you can make your point without insulting people, you know. it doesn't make you look big or clever. even with three exclamation marks.
Re: Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
Happy to read so many good comments on this album .. it's definitely one of the most beautiful ones been released this year, so far ;)
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
I bought it yesterday on the strength of the DiS review and it is fantastic, great stuff even if it has been done before.
go buy it
Re: Editors - The Back Room
Re: Editors - The Back Room
I have now gone out and got the Blood single and bugger me the b-sides are fecking great as well, unbelievable in this day and age :-)
this is really really growing on me I havnt had so much pleasure from a new band since the first singles from Cooper Temple Clause
:-)
Editors - The Back Room
Re: Editors - The Back Room
i just really, really hate this.
it's joy division, but via interpol.
it's not just a fresh steaming turd, it's a blended rotting turd.
a turd smoothie, if you will.
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
And I hate the fact that I can't get that out of my head, cos the album really is pretty good
Editors - The Back Room
Maybe try Elbow, too. Make it an 'E' ticket ride!
oR explains the pop culture reference: In the days of black and white, Disneyland used to have A-E ticket books. The best rides were 'E' tickets.
Editors - The Back Room
But you just know Bullets will be the next single.
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
anywho, i prefer these guys much to joy division (and i really dont like new order)... i agree with squirrel to the max. no offence to interpol, but antics was prime shite after the immortal beauty of TOTBL and this kind of fills the debt void a little. But a beautiful debut in its own right. I love the tracks Fall and All Sparks and hate Bullets (bit ironic i guess) and as Bullets was their first single, i didnt pay much attention afterwards, but am now in love with this album... get the cuttings disc if you can, its well worth it.
One of my favourite features of the band is the way, one of his lyrics is repeated and it just hangs in your head. The band make great melodies that arent naturally catchy but very hummable when your listening to them an dsound quite intense.
Just to point out finally, everyone i know who's seen them says they are incredible live, and as much as i love Interpol, a fair few of their songs do deal with (subtly) sex and masturbation, in fact quite a lot given the wide range of potential song topics and the fact that most of their lyrics are meant to be free of association.
buy this album!
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
Re: Editors - The Back Room
I ain't impressed with the Editors at all, after a few listens the songs become dull and boring, and you can't help but compare them to Interpol, and Interpol's subtlties are far more advanced than anything this band have created.
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
repeat for 12 or so songs and you have an album that lots of people bum.
fuck off and try again.
Spot on.
That's exactly it. This kind of sound is way too easy to pull off - I don't think bands deserve such hyperbolic praise for just shitting out formulaic bassline/delayed guitars/dancy hi-hat cobblers which relies entirely on the sheen of the production to make it sound appealing. It's such a half-hearted way to make music - it doesn't take a single risk.
Absolutely no one will be talking about this band in two years time.
Fact.
Editors - The Back Room
These guys are white-guy adventure hippies. No genius here.
Editors - The Back Room
.. talking about the tracks on it, "Camera" is beautiful, too :)
Editors - The Back Room
i really, really hate them.
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
I'm thinking of a word...it could be 'inoffensive'.
Editors - The Back Room
music-wise they are more synthy and i think the lyrics are better meaning they are not gibberish like interpol's.
it's a good album. however, i don't think they are interpol level yet.
Editors - The Back Room
I prefer antics to TOTBL though
*ducks
Editors - The Back Room
gibberish?
WHAAAAAAAAAT????!!!
Editors - The Back Room
If you like this kind of music, just be happy having more than one band making it...
btw: Fingers in the Factories is one of my favors...
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
Listen to Tom Vek - he's much better than Editors.
Editors - The Back Room
Editors - The Back Room
Re: Editors - The Back Room