An End Has A Start - Editors
release date: June 25, 2007
9 out of 10

It seems that you can't read about Editors without hearing comparisons to their
American counterparts, Interpol. Granted, both have excelled at emulating the dark post-punk sound created by Joy Division in the late 70's, but along with bands like Bloc Party, they have successfully modernized the sound and made it their own. In fact, I might have previously conceded that Interpol simply did it better, but with Editor's sophomore release An End Has A Start, that is no longer the case.

The first thing you'll notice about An End Has A Start is a fuller sound and a wider range than was featured on their remarkable debut, The Back Room. The record benefits from the addition of piano and dramatic moments of atmospheric calm on several tracks without sacrificing their edge. Additionally, the songs generally seem to have more emotion, more build-up, stronger climaxes and even more profound lyrics – if simple at times. The first single, Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors begins with a steady drum beat and vocals over simple piano notes, before it explodes into a barrage of guitars and drums. Tom Smith sings, in his deep, intense voice and apparent desperation, "someone turn me around, I cannot start this again". The Weight of the World is a slow, sad track with a strong buzz-like guitar throughout. An End Has A Start is rich with brooding, anthemic gems that seem to get better with every listen. It's hard to identify standout tracks as the album is full of them, but Escape the Nest, Bones and the title track are all undoubtedly destined for singles.