Paperjam

New Art Brut album tracks on the web

Music // Jim // 8th April 2007

Albums being leaked early; mixed feelings. On the one hand it’d be nice to wait for the proper thing to come out. On the other hand no-one would have known any of LCD Soundsystem’s new stuff at the recent gig if the odd dodgy copy hadn’t changed hands previously. Steve held forth on the matter at the time.

So I morally debated with myself for all of twenty seconds before downloading the five leaked tracks from Art Brut’s forthcoming second album, It’s A Bit Complicated, and although I might have over-listened to it by the time it comes out (in June I think), I’m glad I did.

You’ve already heard the crashing Nag Nag Nag Nag, but there are four other tracks, which show that Eddie Argos is still the best lyricist around at the moment and that Art Brut are sticking to noisy punk-ish pop music. The edges are a bit more smoothed away than previously, but Pump Up The Volume and Direct Hit are still crunchy and catchy as anything. Post Soothing Out is sad and funny all at once, while also containing a quick critique of the work of Ike and Tina Turner. Honestly.

The great thing about Art Brut is that they make you feel about 18, probably because they have songs about pausing while snogging to say “Listen to this song it’s great” and they make you want to jump about like a fool, it all appeals to my juvenile side. Anyhow, I reckon the best thing available on this sampler is Late Sunday, which is so bouncy that it would get Stephen Hawkings pogoing. It goes really Britpop by the end, which doesn’t bother me at all, but I realise that I could well be in a minority there.

On this showing It’s A Bit Complicated could be the album of the summer, Art Brut are touring in June, get your tickets early.