Interpol Songs Ranked

Interpol is an American rock band from Manhattan, New York. Formed in 1997, their original line-up consisted of Paul Banks (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Daniel Kessler (lead guitar, backing vocals), Carlos Dengler (bass guitar, keyboards), and Greg Drudy (drums). Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino. Dengler left to pursue other projects in 2010, with Banks taking on the additional role of bassist instead of hiring a new one. Interpol’s debut album Turn On the Bright Lights (2002) was critically acclaimed, making it to No. 10 on NME’s list of the top albums of the year and No. 1 on Pitchfork Media’s list of the top 50 albums of the year. Here are all of Interpol songs ranked.

Don’t miss out on the RAW Interpol music below! Click to experience the power of soul punk!

20. Hands Away (Turn On the Bright Lights, 2002)

“Hands Away follows, and it slows us back down once again, very reminiscent of the opening track. The track feels very atmospheric, and it feels like a passage between the first part of the album and the second part of the album.”

19. Memory Serves (Interpol, 2010)

“Vocal lines linger for eons, in some songs (especially in “Memory Serves”) lingering in a fairly whiny way; the brittle guitars forever churn below the murk.”

18. NYC (Turn On the Bright Lights, 2002)

“And then comes NYC. With lyrics such as “Subway she is a porno” or “The subway is a porno”, Banks sings about how the hope comes from yourself, and that the city will rise again because, despite all the events, New York cares about itself and will once again rise from the ashes to be strong and united as always. Overall, the track is good as a hymn to NYC, and few other songs do justice to the city than this – it recreates the atmosphere of the city at night perfectly, more than other song, which prepares us for the next song.”

17. Heinrich Maneuver (Our Love to Admire, 2007)

“It bugs me that I like this song so much. It’s completely wrecking havoc on my disdain for current bands stealing from my formative new wave years. You can’t argue with results though. Best Joy Div..I mean, Interpol song ever.”

See more: Interpol Albums Ranked

16. Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down (Turn On the Bright Lights, 2002)

“I can not talk about how incredible this track is, as Paul Banks sings about Stella over some of the most clasthphrobic riffs you will ever hear on a record about a girl he once loved, but that she killed herself by drowning. The lyrics are incredible, full of innuendos and tongue and cheek moments. When Paul shouts “Stella I Love You” just before the second chorus, it sounds just as perfect as it did 17 years ago, when the world first heard it, and it gives you chills, as you feel the pain from the narrator as he looses Stella, his love. “

15. Take You on a Cruise (Antics, 2004)

“Take You on a Cruise” is simply guitar heaven, and it is coupled with Banks’ sensual vocals and ambiguous lyrics. “Slow Hands” acts as a good Indie rocker, easy to dance to.”

14. Leif Erikson ( Turn On the Bright Lights, 2002)

“For me the most emotive lyrics in an Interpol song. Also, no guitar riff has ever made me feel so much. This song makes me think about my best friend and his relationships.”

13. No I in Threesome (Our Love to Admire, 2007)

“No I in Threesome, must be one of the very few songs I enjoy that have a repetitive piano line. The “Babe it’s time we give something new a try” line is quite a distinct moment in their whole discography, for me.”

12. Public Pervert (Antics, 2004)

“Public Pervert” is one of the album’s most forgettable tracks, but once again, it is saved by the guitars in the bridge. Also, an amazing experience when listening to the album on vinyl.”

11. All the Rage Back Home (El Pintor, 2014)

“…And I keep falling, it’s all the rage back home…” Has his signature slightly sad sounding lyrics, with a ripper of a backing guitar and base. The whole songs just rocks.”

10. The New (Turn On the Bright Lights, 2002)

“The New enters the frame next, and the track lyrically gets us back on the relationship status of the narrator. Despite his love for a girl, he can’t fully commit to her, as he keeps lying to her despite his love, as shown by the song chorus. The narrator wishes to be free, but for that, he needs to drop the person he loves, but he hopes he can come back to her. The mood created by the instrumentation feels like if something bad is about to happen as if the narrator has to decide on its fate. It feels like a line of thought – chaotic, but somewhat consistent in its own right.”

9. My Desire (El Pintor, 2014)

“This song is a slow burner and should have been allowed to meet the general public like that, not deprived of a major part of its build-up. Besides, who are they trying to fool? It’s not like they’re going to score a Billboard hit with it anyway, guitar music being as devalued as it is right now by both the public and the musical blogosphere. The only video/radio outlets that care about Interpol at all right now are the ones willing to go against the flow, and they would not have cared that the song is 5 minutes long. They would have played it anyhow, because it rocks.”

8. Slow Hands (Antics, 2004)

“Slow Hands is a very derivative sounding indie rock track that doesn’t just not stand out in this album at all, but also in the genre as a whole”

7. Rest My Chemistry (Our Love to Admire, 2007)

“Man when I fell unwanted/ depressed I listen to this song and feel much better.  It glides on two alternating but pretty similar riffs- one that plays during the lyrics and one that doesn’t. The one that plays during the lyrics has a similar affect on me as The Scale, and this time it’s even sultrier. The other riff seems pretty derivative of Pixies’ Where is My Mind? and to be honest, I prefer it here. The song itself is wonderful to cry to and it’s possibly the strongest on the album. I also love some of the lyrics, like “I live my life filled with no pain, just some rage and 3 kinds of yes.”

See more: OutKast Albums Ranked

6. Narc (Antics, 2004)

“.I happen to own this album on vinyl, and one of my most beloved experiences is being inundated in the sonic heaven that is the guitars in “NARC,” specifically in the chorus.”

5. Untitled (Turn On the Bright Lights, 2002)

“Not only it begins Interpol’s best album, but manages to not only mix perfectly all of the instruments, but also to create an atmosphere that is simple and yet unique, complete in itself. A perfect song that shows what music is all about.”

4. C’mere (Antics, 2004)

“There’s something about this song… I recognize it’s not nearly as good as Turn on the Bright Light’s songs (each and every single song of the album) but this just gets to me in a way I cannot explain.”

3. PDA (Turn on the Bright Lights, 2002)

“One of the band’s more fast-paced songs that also happens to contain Interpol’s signature for odd lyrics. Easily their best song. Every single second of it is intense. And, the most epic outro ever to a song.”

2. Evil (Antics, 2004)

“It’s definitely worth your time to check out the Zane Lowe BBC version of the song. The vocals are much more raw, and it has a really haunting atmosphere. It’s just powerful!”

1. Obstacle 1 (Turn On the Bright Lights, 2002)

“First song I listened from Interpol that made me fall in love with the band, even though Evil was the first song I listened from them, it did not had the same effect. Greatest song.”