Why did this album have such a strong effect on me? For the most part, up until that point, I hadn’t really given what I thought of as “indie rock” much of chance. For me, it was a fresh thought coming into my head after liking mostly heavier music for a considerable period of time. I discovered this album in my early twenties, and it just spoke to me. While Interpol may share certain characteristics with older bands in this vein, from the opening glimmers of “Untitled,” I was aware that this was a new, dark but plentiful world I could dive into, and perhaps expand my horizons.

While the guitars and bass follow the same familiar vibe of old school post-rock structures, the vocals, exquisitely carved out by the sullen yet immediate Paul Banks, keep the desperate tunes going. The opening song is delicate and timely, as if someone is drifting along aimless streets. I’ve always said this is the perfect album for lonely streets, and if you’ve ever taken in the quiet night-time, consider doing it again with this album as your companion. It’s really something. While the first song is a surprise slow burner that most bands wouldn’t pick to open their debut album, the second song (Obstacle 1) kicks like a gun and introduces you to an album that excels at being both fast paced and slowly captivating.

The third track, “NYC,” introduces us to the overwhelming feeling of the album, which is that its somber vision is of a world forgotten. By forgotten, I simply mean the hollowness of an empty city. This is not a bad thing in any way, shape, or form, unless you get robbed. Try not to get robbed. The sound created by Banks, bassist Carlos D, guitarist Kessler and drummer Fogarino have so many layers and interesting quirks going on, you wonder how the band doesn’t get lost in it all. During the experience of the album however, you get the sense that this is all part of the plan to suck you into an absolute monster of an album.

Many times in my life, I’ve gone for midnight bike rides and have had this album as my only company as I venture into the quiet, unsure darkness of a city currently asleep. When you have an album this good-by your side, this is the only companion you need. “Turn on the Bright Lights” simply isn’t an album meant to be played before the sun goes down. Songs like “Say Hello to the Angels” clearly show you how easy it is for this band to switch gears again and bring you an upbeat piece (Even if the lyrics are very much unpleasant). Upbeat music mixing simultaneously with dark lyrics is not a simple thing to do, but Interpol manages to do with ease. While we’re the on topic of music, maybe a mention of the lyrics is in order. Let’s for a moment talk about the significance, and absurdity of the lyrics. Now, when I say absurd I don’t in any way mean to portray them as dumb or lackluster. The lyrics are very much all over the place. Often times they can be quite weird, and venture back and forth from linear story telling to nonsensical words put together to move the song along. Not many bands are capable on doing this, but Interpol has continued to be experts at this.

Song titles on the album are equally interesting. “Stella was a Diver and she’s always down,” is both funny and sad at the same time. The song, and the lyrics, however, are nothing if not dark and leering. For me the song is the tale of a girl lost in her own world, unable to swim up to reality. Plainly you can hear the pain in Banks’ voice, calling out for his long-lost love, wherever she may be. One gets the feeling that Stella feels as though this world is not for her, which is heartbreaking because Stella’s love was the only thing keeping the narrators heart in the positive shade of the world.

“Roland” will likely continue to be one of my favorite songs the band has ever done. I always picture Daniel Day Lewis marching down the street in “Gangs of New York.” In the film, he was, in fact, a butcher and had the skill of knife work, both in a professional manner and a social, dangerous manner. Now the song is immediate, and lines like “He always had the time to speak to me, I liked him for it,” remind me of the gratefulness I felt towards adults who were willing to give up a few minutes of their time for the purpose of inquiring about a child’s vast imagination in a closed off world.

Many times, an albums first half is the most undeniable and enjoyable, but with this album, the flow of songs creates a perfect transition from start to finish. “ The New” starts out as a lovely song, but eventually descends into a darkness that is as scary as it is unnerving. This song belongs in “Jacob’s Ladder,” a film with so many different twists and turns you might feel as though the band was recording a proper score to accompany it.

“Leif Erikson” washes over you and reminds you clearly what this band does best: Lush, textured music with an eerie enough voice to accompany it. One last time, this album creates the unique feeling and perspective of being in alone in a city of millions. Most people don’t take the time to see from that angle, but to me, a certified night owl, it’s important to see the world as it is at all times, and to always keep in mind that just because you may stop for a break, the world will keeping going, and existing.

This album has been one of my favorite since I first got a hold of it, and like all of the remaining records on our countdown, it’s a portrait of a certain time in my life, and experiencing the album again gives me insight unknown at the time of my first journey to “Turn on the Bright Lights.”

Next time, we’ll discuss my Number 17th favorite album of all time. It’s an album of songs people had heard before, but never in this way, and in my opinion the MTV Unplugged session that made all other bow to it.