"El Pintor" is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Interpol, released internationally on September 8, 2014, and in North America on September 9, 2014, through Matador Records and Soft Limit. The album's title, which means "the painter" in Spanish, is also an anagram of "Interpol." It marks the band's first release without bassist Carlos Dengler, who left the band after their 2010 eponymous album.
El Pintor received acclaim from both critics and fans. To promote the album, Interpol went on a summer tour. The album produced five singles: "All the Rage Back Home," "Ancient Ways," "My Desire," "Anywhere," and "Everything Is Wrong."
El Pintor was self-produced by Interpol and recorded at Electric Lady Studios and Atomic Sound in New York City. The album was engineered by James Brown, known for his work with Foo Fighters, and mixed by Alan Moulder, renowned for his work with My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Nine Inch Nails. With bassist Carlos Dengler's departure, frontman Paul Banks took on bass duties for the album. The record also features guest appearances from Brandon Curtis (Secret Machines), Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish), and Rob Moose (Bon Iver).
In a 2018 interview with Vice, Banks reflected on the uncertainty the band faced after Dengler left, noting the challenge of maintaining their quality without him. However, he acknowledged that the band quickly found a new direction, with a shared goal to focus on a more straightforward rock sound. Banks described the process as a positive reset for the band after exploring different styles on their previous work.
