Artist: Art Brut
Album: Art Brut Vs. Satan
Year: 2009
Grade: 3.5 pretzels
There aren’t many bands anymore that I feel comfortable calling “punk.” After the initial explosion of bands in the 1970s, on both sides of the Atlantic, the genre once known as “punk rock” has migrated very far away from its roots. The problem, as I see it, is that most people think “punk” is defined by a sound (fast guitars, yelling, sloppy style) and not by a mentality. So many modern “punk” bands are trying to do exactly what the world expects a punk band to do and, without realizing it, they’re opposing the actual spirit of punk. True punk is not limited by expectations. True punk is pure self-expression, without any rules or formulas imposed on the group from outside forces.
I’m not sure if I’m ready to call Art Brut a “true” punk band, but they’re damn closer than most artists I hear these days. When they broke onto the scene in 2005, with the fabulously self-referential single “Formed A Band”, their sound and style sounded absolutely fresh and new. Frontman Eddie Argos’ charismatic blend of self-deprecation, humor and pointed social observations brought huge smiles to your face as you listened to their songs. Coupled with charmingly ramshackle music, the band’s debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was an absolute winner. Four years have passed since then and Art Brut are on to their third album without changing the formula much.
Art Brut Vs. Satan has some of the same problems as the band’s disappointing sophomore effort, It’s A Bit Complicated. The band’s seemingly endless talent for churning out winning little melodies on the debut isn’t in full force. Both “Demons Out!” and “Summer Job” seem shaky and weak. Argos has also lost some of his attention to detail. His range of targets on the first album (modern art, erectile dysfunction, Los Angeles, etc) has mostly been whittled down to songs about girls, booze and music. While he’s more than capable of writing these songs well, I wouldn’t mind seeing Argos branch out again when it comes to subject matter.
That said, Argos can still charm a smile onto your face right through a song. “DC Comics And Chocolate Milkshake” is a wonderful anthem about not giving up things that make childhood awesome. Even at his most corny, as on the profoundly silly love song “What A Rush”, Argos manages to deliver a line like “I can’t believe those things I said, I blame it on a rush of love to the head” with total sincerity. The tunes may be slowly sliding downhill for the band, but Argos’ charm and quirkiness aren’t going anywhere.
Art Brut Vs. Satan is definitely a step in the right direction for Art Brut, especially after a very lackluster second album. It’s encouraging to hear the band sound this immediate and punchy again, mostly thanks to a crisp production job by Charles Thompson, who evokes his own Pixies albums with clean mixes and loud guitars. Plus, even when the record doesn’t quite click, it has a certain charm. As Argos himself says on “Slap Dash For No Cash”, “why does everyone try to sound like U2? It’s not a very cool thing to do?” Art Brut are still making exactly the kind of music they want to make, without trying to pretty things up to appeal to a wider audience. I thank them for keeping those fires of punk burning.
I’m not sure if I’m ready to call Art Brut a “true” punk band, but they’re damn closer than most artists I hear these days. When they broke onto the scene in 2005, with the fabulously self-referential single “Formed A Band”, their sound and style sounded absolutely fresh and new. Frontman Eddie Argos’ charismatic blend of self-deprecation, humor and pointed social observations brought huge smiles to your face as you listened to their songs. Coupled with charmingly ramshackle music, the band’s debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was an absolute winner. Four years have passed since then and Art Brut are on to their third album without changing the formula much.
Art Brut Vs. Satan has some of the same problems as the band’s disappointing sophomore effort, It’s A Bit Complicated. The band’s seemingly endless talent for churning out winning little melodies on the debut isn’t in full force. Both “Demons Out!” and “Summer Job” seem shaky and weak. Argos has also lost some of his attention to detail. His range of targets on the first album (modern art, erectile dysfunction, Los Angeles, etc) has mostly been whittled down to songs about girls, booze and music. While he’s more than capable of writing these songs well, I wouldn’t mind seeing Argos branch out again when it comes to subject matter.
That said, Argos can still charm a smile onto your face right through a song. “DC Comics And Chocolate Milkshake” is a wonderful anthem about not giving up things that make childhood awesome. Even at his most corny, as on the profoundly silly love song “What A Rush”, Argos manages to deliver a line like “I can’t believe those things I said, I blame it on a rush of love to the head” with total sincerity. The tunes may be slowly sliding downhill for the band, but Argos’ charm and quirkiness aren’t going anywhere.
Art Brut Vs. Satan is definitely a step in the right direction for Art Brut, especially after a very lackluster second album. It’s encouraging to hear the band sound this immediate and punchy again, mostly thanks to a crisp production job by Charles Thompson, who evokes his own Pixies albums with clean mixes and loud guitars. Plus, even when the record doesn’t quite click, it has a certain charm. As Argos himself says on “Slap Dash For No Cash”, “why does everyone try to sound like U2? It’s not a very cool thing to do?” Art Brut are still making exactly the kind of music they want to make, without trying to pretty things up to appeal to a wider audience. I thank them for keeping those fires of punk burning.
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