Interpol

In 2002, Interpol helped lead the charge of New York bands influenced by the post-punk and new wave sounds of the early 1980s. With Cure-like moody guitar and synth riffs and dour, Ian Curtis-style vocals, they conjured up a dark but infectious sound. Their debut full-length TURN ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS quickly found a home in the hearts of those who'd been warmed up by the likes of the retro-loving Strokes and White Stripes (though the boys from Interpol are far artier and not even remotely garage-rock).

• rock
• pop