Given their penchant for writing high-quality, post-punk inspired music, the comparisons to Interpol are inevitable and also fairly accurate. SWR, like the fashionable boys from the NYC, churn out swanky, dark songs underpinned with nervous anxiety and a paranoid sexuality. However there is a rather major difference between them that no one has mentioned... I mean beyond the cosmetic difference that SWR uses more electronics. On the heels of their excellent first album, Interpol clearly became embarrassed by all of the direct comparisons to Joy Division and shifted their sound for the 2nd album - a disappointing album in my opinion. However She Wants Revenge seem perfectly happy in their skin regardless of whether it is viewed as derivative. Their comfort comes through on the album in the form of a confident, although somewhat introspective, swagger.
All of the songs here are upbeat and danceable despite their Goth overtones, so anyone interested in mildly subversive music should have fun with this. It isn't a particularly complex album in concept but it makes up for it in attitude. Atmospherically it's a good album but lacks the depth of true postpunk ala Bauhaus/Tones On Tail, Cure, JD, etc. Any linkage with The Smiths is way off the mark (and any subsequent dissing of The Smiths by other reviewers is even further off the mark). In summary, this is bound to be a hot band and I greatly anticipate the full length.