Light hearted indie punk
Art Brut showcase a new album in the same infectious indie vein as Kaiser Chiefs, but with a less formualic base and an almost punk element in the charismatic spoken vocals; sounds good already.
How do you follow up a tune called 'Formed A Band'? Well you go and release an ingenious 12-track album full of curiously catchy pop songs. 'Formed A Band' naturally kicks off the album with its ecstatic punk guitar; it's full of cheek and personality. "And yes this is my singing voice/it's not irony," asserts wonderfully named Eddie Argos; although I have to say that bassist Freddy Feedback beats him hands down in the moniker stakes. Allegedly Art Brut wanted everyone to form a band so they could relate to popular culture, they even include a draw your own poster sheet so you can make your own modern art; it's proof of Art Brut's crazy humour and indestructible charisma.
Single, 'Emily Kane' is still one of the strongest tracks; a breezy lament to Argos' ex-girlfriend. This is the kind of honest track that draws comparisons with the personal and un-pretentious poetry of Morrissey and Blur. The whole album is like an autobiography, charting the most rock n'roll experiences in the band's lives. 'My Little Brother' tells the tale of Argos' younger brother discovering rock n'roll; this may not sound the most riveting subject, but poignant lines such as, "every single song on that tape said exactly the same thing. Why don't our parents worry about us?"
'Modern Art' is obviously just that with its revved up guitars and in-your-face lyrics "modern art makes me want to rock out"; it certainly reflects the brashness of some of our modern artistic masters. Also rather like modern art, Art Brut will be slated as worthless and shallow, but there's just something inexplicably catchy that makes it impossible to write them off.
'Fight' is reminiscent of Madness' humorous tone and almost musical-esque plot based songs. Everything except the vocals is really unimportant to this chatty little tune.
The bio-album does get tedious in parts; the cheerful 'Good Weekend' leaves me slightly bored of hearing the laborious details of a teenage (I'm hoping)Argos' new girlfriend. It's redeemed later by 'Bad Weekend', which shows a mature move from love of girls to love of music, merrily slating the confines of pop culture. A slightly darker guitar tone kicks in with some melodic pauses, making this one of the more noticeable tracks instrumentally.
The rock connoisseurs may raise accusations of unoriginality, but surely rock n'roll is about pleasing the kids, and Art Brut do it with charisma and style. Their songs may not change your life, but they might brighten up a dull day.