Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper

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Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper
Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper.jpg
Studio album by
Julian Plenti
ReleasedAugust 4, 2009
Recorded2008–2009
StudioSeaside Lounge Studio, Brooklyn, New York City
Genre Alternative rock, art rock
Length37:22
Label Matador
Producer Paul Banks, Peter Katis
Julian Plenti chronology
Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper
(2009)		 Banks
(2012)

Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper is the first solo album released by Paul Banks, the lead singer for the band Interpol, under the name Julian Plenti. It was released on August 4, 2009. [1]

Contents

The music video for "Games for Days" was directed by Javier Aguilera and features Emily Haines from Metric. [2] [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Clash (6.0/10.0) [5]
Drowned in Sound (6/10) [6]
The Fly Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Gigwise Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Paste Magazine (71/100) [9]
Pitchfork Media (6.2/10) [10]
PopMatters (4/10) [11]
Spin Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
NME (positive) [13]
Q (4/5)

In a First Listen feature on their website, The-Fly.co.uk said that Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper "could almost be two different albums – one with folky, Bon Iver-esque lullabies and one with upbeat art-rock stomps" and that it is a "beautiful little sonic beast". [14] ClashMusic.com reviewed the album, praising its ambition but stating that it sometimes suffered for a lack of simplicity, but added: "That said, it's a collection of eleven songs that will haunt and inspire you at the same time with a bewitching mix of influences and styles." [5] Gigwise.com gave the album 4/5 and described it as "An ambitious attempt to give Banks his individuality back." then going on to say "Interpol may take most of the plaudits in his career but it’s Julian Plenti who reveals the true Paul Banks." [15]

Track listing

All tracks written by Paul Banks.

  1. "Only if You Run" – 3:49
  2. "Fun That We Have" – 3:41
  3. "Skyscraper" – 3:20
  4. "Games for Days" – 3:57
  5. "Madrid Song" – 2:08
  6. "No Chance Survival" – 4:04
  7. "Unwind" – 3:18
  8. "Girl on the Sporting News" – 2:53
  9. "On the Esplanade" – 3:41
  10. "Fly as You Might" – 3:57
  11. "H" – 2:39

"Only if You Run" is featured in the end credits of the Joel Schumacher film Twelve , as well as in the episode "Sabotage" of Stargate Universe . "Skyscraper" is featured in the final scenes of the 2011 American thriller film I Melt with You .

Personnel

Additional

Chart performance

Chart (2009)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [16] 70
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [17] 81
UK Albums (OCC) [18] 171
US Billboard 200 [19] 103
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [20] 1
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [21] 16
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [22] 39

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References

  1. ↑ "Interpol man to release solo album". nme.com. NME. May 5, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Julian Plenti, 'Games for Days' – Video Premiere". spinner.com. Spinner.com. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  3. ↑ "Julian Plenti – "Games For Days" video premiere and Fallon tomorrow". matadorrecords.com. Matador Records. 6 August 2009. Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  4. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1612259
  5. 1 2 "Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper".
  6. ↑ Tudor, Alexander (2009-08-04). "Julian Plenti – Julian Plenti Is Skyscraper / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  7. ↑ "Album Review: Julian Plenti / 'Julian Plenti Is Skyscraper' (Matador)". The-Fly.Co.Uk. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  8. ↑ Hot right now (2009-08-05). "Julian Plenti – 'Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper' (Matador) Released: 03/08/09". Gigwise. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  9. ↑ "Julian Plenti: Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  10. ↑ "Album Reviews: Julian Plenti: Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper". Pitchfork. 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  11. ↑ Miller, Cody. "Julian Plenti: Julian Plenti Is… Skyscraper < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  12. ↑ Modell, Josh (5 August 2009). "Julian Plenti, 'Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper' (Matador)". SPIN.com. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  13. ↑ "NME Reviews – Album review: Julian Plenti – 'Julian Plenti Is Skyscraper'". Nme.Com. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  14. ↑ The Fly (June 10, 2009). "First Listen: 'Julian Plenti Is Skyscraper'". The-Fly.co.uk.
  15. ↑ Gigwise (August 3, 2009). "Julian Plenti – 'Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper' (Matador) Released". Gigwise. Archived from the original on August 23, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Julian Plenti – Julian Plenti is Skyscraper" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Julian Plenti – Julian Plenti is Skyscraper" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  18. ↑ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 Rodney P. – The Pussycat Dolls". zobbel.de. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Paul Banks Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Paul Banks Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Paul Banks Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Paul Banks Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
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