Before issuing their debut,
The Back Room
, in August 2005,
Editors
were immediately compared to the dark, brooding sounds of
Interpol
as well as the
post-punk
brashness of
Echo & the Bunnymen
. Singles such as
"Blood"
and
"Bullets"
quickly put
in the elite crowd of those to watch that year. The band --
Tom Smith
(vocals/guitar),
Chris Urbanowicz
(guitar),
Russell Leetch
(bass), and
Ed Lay
(drums) -- compose a tight
rock
sound that's both raw and defined, particularly on album opener
"Lights."
are an anxious, frantic, and passionate group, and the album is done with taste from the start.
Smith
is vocally passionate without being too steely, unlike
frontman
Paul Banks
, as he exclaims, "I've got a million things to say," while his bandmates add to the song's rushing intensity. From there, the blistering
"Munich"
and the more luxurious, danceable
are the standout moments of this 11-song set.
is one of
's especially stylish numbers, thanks to the matching guitar work of both
Urbanowicz
. The surging storm that is
is further proof that from the first note,
lunges at you with a dynamic that's fierce, wiry, and slightly fashionable.
Alternative rock
hasn't seen anything like this since the release of
Turn on the Bright Lights
. ~ MacKenzie Wilson