citizen bird is great. they're from sweden. I was getting more shoegaze/psych vibes from them more than joy divisiony vibes, though.

The Lies are probably the closest
band that i would compare to
joy division. i'll check out Citizen
Bird. i don't think interpol is anything
like joy division. there is no punk
in their DNA. i think warshaw's
transformation wasn't entirely
a conscious one. not to say
that interpol was entirely conscious
of their band's sound either, but
joy division's sound is a bit heavier,
and i think that's because of warshaw.
interpol, well it sounds a bit more
popish, not as heavy. no interpol
is never joy divison.

Having just recently heard some Interpol I can see where some might think the two are similar.. but those of us that can tell the difference it's as night and day really.. the singer is trying to sound like Ian... TRYING...but falls short in my opinion.. they are not bad .. but definately not Joy Division

Well, I like them both... and I think Interpol may not be totally original, but it's important to remember that they're making music at a completely different time in musical history. They are drawing on a whole library of available musical sounds that exist now, thanks to the pioneering of JD, U2, Smiths... and even '90s bands like Afghan Whigs and Blonde Redhead. I Don't really think that Interpol sounds like anyone else, they just have a sound that's appropriate for the current trends, and people are paying attention to it because the '80s retro thing is back in full swing.

I went to an all ages Interpol show last year, and they sounded OK, but I like the CD better than the live show. What I was most struck by was the crowd. I mean, I was a little kid in the '80s, but I remember the music and the fashion first hand... but here I was in an auditorium full of 16 year olds, all dressed in full '80s regalia! It blows my mind...

I'm with Chris. I don't see how anyone can't see how much Interpol resembles The Chameleons, musically anyway if not lyrically. The JD comparisons are odious and just plain lazy journalism.

I'd like to think I know from whence I speak - I've been a JD fanatic since 1978 (I own original copies - all bought new when released - of FAC 2 "A Factory Sampler", the "An Ideal For Living" 12" and the Sordide Sentimentale 7", among others) and had a ticket to see Joy Division play at The Starwood in West Hollywood on June 6th, 1980. I also own several Chameleons records and saw them live back on March 20th, 1987 at the Variety Arts Theater in downtown LA.

To me, the Interol-Chameleons similarities are undenyable.

"I don't hear it Chris.
And I have been a Chameleons fan for a longtime."


they sound so much alike, at times, that it's almost silly.
Check out the song 'A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days'... the guitar changes after the chorus, "men of steel"
also check out the drum beat of 'In Shreds' and tell me that doesn't sound like 'PDA'.
just in general, they both have a very, very similar feel musically.