Obstacle 1

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"Obstacle 1"
"Obstacle 1" cover
Single by Interpol
from the album Turn on the Bright Lights
Released November 11, 2002

September 15, 2003 (Remix)

Format 7", CD
Recorded  ?
Genre Indie rock
Length 4 min 11 s
Label Matador Records
Producer(s) Interpol
Chart positions
Interpol singles chronology
"Obstacle 1"
(2003)
"NYC"
(2003)

"Obstacle 1" is a song from Interpol's first album, Turn on the Bright Lights.

It has been considered by some to be a defining example of the "love-it-or-hate-it" aura that fans and critics say surrounds the band; some fans truly enjoy the song, and some prefer to avoid it. The song, inasmuch as it can be defined by a single genre, most fits with the post-punk revival sound that Interpol has become known for, although it is noticeably different from most other songs they have recorded. With a louder, more electric sound, "Obstacle 1" contrasts with the rest of Turn on the Bright Lights.

The song's lyrics carry no obvious meaning other than a subtle underlying theme of yearning and love. As with many of Interpol's cryptic lyrics, this was perhaps a deliberate choice to allow the listener to either interpret as they feel the song resonates with them or to simply enjoy the sound without having to decode a meaning (compare with the Icelandic band Sigur Rós's use of a gibberish language, "Hopelandic", to the same end).

Some fans of the band Editors believe that they used many of the guitar riffs and sounds within their song, "Munich". Although this phenomenon is more in the ear of the beholder than necessarily factual, the two bands have often been compared, sound-wise.

In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Obstacle 1" at number 91 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.

Contents

[edit] Track listings

[edit] Obstacle 1 single

  1. "Obstacle 1"
  2. "PDA" (Morning Becomes Eclectic Session)
  3. "Hands Away" (Peel Session)

[edit] Obstacle 1 Arthur Baker Remix single

  1. "Obstacle 1" (Arthur Baker Remix-Edit)
  2. "Obstacle 1" (Arthur Baker Remix-Long)
  3. "Obstacle 1" (Radio Edit)

[edit] Obstacle 1 DVD single

  1. "Obstacle 1" (video)
  2. "Specialist" (Black Session)
  3. "Leif Erikson" (Black Session)

[edit] Video

The promotional video for the song was directed by Floria Sigismondi.

v  d  e
Interpol
Paul Banks | Daniel Kessler | Carlos Dengler | Sam Fogarino
Greg Drudy
Discography
Albums: Turn on the Bright Lights | Antics | Untitled
Extended plays: | Demo Tape | Fukd I.D. #3 | Precipitate EP | Interpol EP | The Black EP | Interpol Remix EP
Singles: "Obstacle 1" | "Slow Hands"| "Evil" | "C'mere"