"Antics" is the second studio album by American rock band Interpol, released on September 27, 2004, by Matador Records. The album marked a significant success for the band, peaking at number fifteen on the Billboard 200 and reaching number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. It sold over 488,000 copies in the United States and was certified gold by the RIAA in 2009.
Critically, Antics was well-received, with Drowned in Sound naming it the best album of 2004, and it featured prominently in various end-of-year lists across music publications. The album includes four notable singles: "Slow Hands," "Evil," "C'mere," and "Narc," each contributing to its commercial and critical acclaim.
In a 2018 interview with Vice, lead singer Paul Banks expressed that Antics remains his favorite album of the band, highlighting the intense effort put into its creation. He remarked that the band's confidence during the recording process helped them avoid the "sophomore slump," allowing them to engage with their music in a passionate and committed manner. This energy and dedication is palpable throughout the album, which solidified Interpol's status in the rock scene of the early 2000s.
Antics features intriguing design elements that enhance its thematic depth. Morse code appears in various places throughout the album's packaging, reflecting the nautical themes present in tracks like "Take You on a Cruise," "Public Pervert," and "A Time to Be So Small." Notably, the word "antics" is encoded on the back panel of the slipcase, along with other terms like "length," "narc," "cruise," and "exit."
The album's photography, capturing the band's essence, was done by Ami Barwell, further contributing to the visual narrative that complements the music. These design choices help create a cohesive artistic vision, inviting listeners to engage with the album on multiple levels.
