Editors

Despite the ever-present comparisons to Interpol and Joy Division, Editors came out of the UK with their heads held high and a dark, intense slice of post-punk for a debut, The Back Room. This second album is a lot like said debut, which is a great and frustrating thing. It’s great because Editors excel at straddling the fine line between melodically dark and depressing. Vocalist Tom Smith has a slight monotone, à la Paul Banks of Interpol, but he has a greater range than other singers and can vary the mood better. Also, when the guitars ring out in the songs’ climaxes, they have a bit of a straightforward rock feel. Editors essentially know how to put the right amount of space in their songs, never making them too alienating or claustrophobic. This is seen best when they go for the melodic jugular, as on the title track and "The Racing Rats.” Sure, it’s a bit manipulative but this is engaging, intense and catchy-as-hell music. The ready-for-radio sound will polarise some but I won’t care since I’ll be too busy hitting repeat.