Paperjam

Bang Bang Rock & Roll by Art Brut

Music // Jim // 30th July 2005

Fuck me, music is boring at the moment.

From those quirky ringtones that cost naive 16 year-olds about fifteen quid to the shaggable yet unbelievably dull jazz-esque female singer songwriters, everything has gone a bit middle aged and coffee table.

Probably the worst offenders are the indie-lite guitar bands who punt out meaningless, benignly catchy tunes about how they are really not al that happy. Not properly angry or miserable - that might inspire something interesting, funny or at least annoying - these bastards just mope about like millionaire depression victims starting a course of prozac. They all manage to fit a really nice chord progression into the immaculate chorus though.

Can anyone really tell the difference between Coldplay, Keane, Razorlight, the band that Embrace have become, Stereophonics, Snow Patrol and so on and so on.
No, not really.

So when something different and exciting comes along it is worth championing which is why for a while now I have been annoying people in pubs about Art Brut. I was first alerted to their punk/indie band with a nutter shouting over the top sound by the NME-baiting Bad Weekend, then sought out some other bits and pieces through the naughty reaches of the internet. I liked the humour and intelligence of the songs along with the urgent, crunching sound of the band.

Eddie Argos: Ranting, Quotable

Now they have a shiny debut album out which is worth buying in the flesh, especially if you are a fan of painting by numbers. The album is far less rough round the edges than some of the earlier tracks, which isn’t really a problem - it is still all noisy and raging but with a slightly clearer version of front man Eddie Argos’ ranting and eminently quotable vocals surging along on top.

Franchise vision statement Formed A Band, does exactly what is says on the tin.
“Stop buying your albums from the super-market”

My Little Brother: Cautionary - Take it easy or you are going to turn out like Pete Docherty.
“Stay. Off. The. Crack”

Emily Kane, like a more romantic version of The Wedding Present
“Every girl that I’ve seen since looks just like you when I squint”

Change of tone for the churning, grim impotence fable Rusted Gun Of Milan
“Don’t tell your friends”

Modern Art: Should have been number one and become the anthem of the British Summer, comes over all Super Mario at one point.
“So I’m in the Pompidou, that’s in Paris”

Good weekend: Like an irritating twat in your office banging on about how much shagging he is doing with the girl everyone fancies in accounts, but in a good way.
“We’ve tried it a variety of ways, I’ve not slept in about four days”

Bang Bang Rock & Roll: Eddie can’t stand the sound of the Velvet Underground
“Met the sweetest girl, sold me a pill. Tasted like shit and it made me feel ill”

Fight!: Time for a ruck outside the pub from the sounds of it, with manly backing vocals.
“He’s a bit bigger, but he’s drunker. Isn’t he?”

Moving to L.A.: About the most laid back thing on the whole album, quite twee really.
“Hang around with Axl Rose, buy myself some brand new clothes”

Bad Weekend: Probably the definitive Art Brut song, especially the bit about texting in Top Shop
“There’s no reason for staying in, there’s nothing on the television”

Stand Down: I haven’t got a clue what this is about, catchy though.
“The bravest decision you ever make is admitting that you made a mistake”

18,000 Lira: All over in the blink of an eye. Fucking great while it lasts.
“The Red Brigade made us give our bomb back”

So there you have it, short punchy, noisy songs with clever and downright funny lyrics shouted by a man whom the music press have already started to the likes of Ian Dury and Mark E Smith. Next time one of your dull mates has a birthday, buy them this rather than the dull but worthy X&Y, they might not like it but at least they’ll notice it.

NOTE: to anyone I have given this album as a birthday present: You know I don't necessarily mean you.

The links are under here:

The Art Brut web site

All sorts of stuff plus the chance to start your own Art Brut franchise band, bet the Beatles are kicking themselves.

Outsider Art

What exactly is Art Brut then?