The Interiors are Chase Duncan (vox/gtr), Collin Jordan (bass), and Brian Lubinsky (drums). After self-releasing an EP and beginning work on a full-length CD early in 2007, the band quickly found a label and reached an agreement to release the disc on 54°40' or Fight. The initial elation over inking a deal proved to be short lived, however, as the brutal Chicago wind slammed a metal door shut on Duncan's hand the very day after the signing. Half an inch of his left index finger was amputated, production of the album was suspended and the future of the band lay in doubt. With the band on hiatus, the rest of the year was a grueling period of recovery and rehabilitation, but by late fall Duncan's hand had healed well enough to begin playing guitar again. In subsequent months, the album was not only completed, but managed to supersede the band's own expectations.
The Interiors' eponymous debut infuses inventive songwriting with an emphasis on strong, pulsing rhythms. The drums eschew grandiose shifts in favor of subtle variations on constant themes that run the range from stripped down, Stax-influenced backbeats to an eccentricity inspired more by African music than prog rock. This musical framework is fleshed out by hook filled, Mike Mills-goes-to-Kingston bass lines, and an array of arpeggios, distorted drones, and Richards meets Santiago riffs on guitar.
Duncan's lyrics are steeped in the dark, story-rich heritage of his birthplace, the American South. The Interiors' debut is a place where the bodies of the deceased are used for personal gain, men are paid to dig their own graves, and love is just a brief respite from self-destruction. Often obliquely addressing political concerns, the songs consistently balance the seemingly dark subject matter with an understated sense of humor, and ultimately carry a message of personal redemption and hope. This seeming contradiction is manifested not only in the diversity of material across the album, but the vocal approach itself, in which visceral barks coexist alongside sophisticated, winding melodies.
"[On Power Lines] One of the things that I think makes the rhythm here so ear-catching is the dynamic interplay in the rhythm section: listen in the introduction and the verse to the stark difference between the steady, clockwork bass and the changeable drum pattern. Interestingly, the bass breaking free of its strict pulse is more or less what creates the chorus, as the melody itself does not alter that much. On guitar, Duncan adds a handsome depth to the chuggy ambiance, with rounded, semi-drone-like tones and ringing arpeggios." - Fingertips
"There are so many great things about this song (Power Lines) it would take a review of encyclopedic proportions to do it justice. The obvious crowd-pleasing moments would have to include Chase Duncan's cool slacker vocals and Brian Lubinsky's refreshing off-kilter drumming but the overall feeling is of an indie classic in waiting ... The forthcoming album is awash with great singles like the slow burner with a jangling heart 'Crashing Through', the low slung shuffling rhythms of 'All The Cities' and the rapid-fire gunslinger that is 'Ghosts'. The Interiors have serious designs on your attention and if you know what's good for you, you'll reciprocate." - MP3Hugger
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