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Rating:
At this rate, we might announce the birth of a new genre: Brut Pop.
It often happens when you're not quite sure how to label a band. And, damn, it's a great sign when a group isn't easily categorized. It signifies personality and artistic originality, qualities that are very, very rare nowadays.
Art Brut, then: a band of irresistible goofballs, also greatly appreciated by a good number of excellent fans (including Liam Gallagher and Daniel Radcliffe), who in a musical landscape like the British one (which risks flattening out like a thin slice more and more every day) is trying to create a style, an identity, a way to be recognized after just a few notes. And damn, they're succeeding.
Eddie Argos, the band's leader, approaches the pieces in a conversational tone, practically spoken, with a marked "cockney" accent. This has become a distinctive feature of the English group. What's more evident in the new album compared to the acclaimed debut "Bang Bang Rock 'n Roll" is a more pronounced, "thicker" sound, also super enriched by a flood of new influences, all coming from the fertile land of Albion.
While the decent debut was jerky but sparse and essential, this seems a more "polished" and curated work, right from a composed (despite the "subject" dealt with, that is the interruption of an amorous moment to turn up the stereo volume) "Pump Up The Volume", which seems to come from something by post-Bernard Butler Suede. It is followed by "Direct Hit" (soundtrack for "Fifa 2008"), the second single from the album: absolutely fantastic. The guitar layer is fantastic (Art Brut is advantaged by using two guitarists, a great choice sound-wise) and super rhythmic, and the choruses serve as excellent enrichment. Certainly a dancefloor filler, at least in the U.K..
"St. Pauli" is perhaps the track that most recalls the recent British invasion, Kaiser Chiefs/Franz Ferdinand side; the chorus in German is irresistible ("punk-rock ist nicht tot").
It continues in a whirling melting pot composed of the most diverse influences, from a "People In Love" that recalls the style of the debut album to the bouncing "Late Sunday Evening" (which contains a brief trumpet solo!), from the initial electric splurges of "I Will Survive" to the splendid first single "Nag Nag Nag Nag", passing through a weak "Sound Of Summer" and the more classic Britpop of "Blame It On The Trains". The closure with "Jealous Guy" is in the same tones as the rest of the album.
Eddie Argos: "I'm not an intellectual, I'm just an idiot! I believe you consider me much more intelligent than I actually am."
Do we want to disagree?
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Pump Up the Volume (02:52)
We'd taken our clothes off
In the wrong order
And you're leaving your shoes on
To make you look taller
I can't say I'm not
Enjoying the kissing
But I've a sneaky suspicion
That you're not really listening
I know I shouldn't
Is this so wrong
To break from your kiss
To turn up a pop song
I know I shouldn't
And It's possibly wrong
To break from your kiss
To turn up a pop song
I'm taking it slowly
I'll be reading the signs
I found my hand in a place
Where I can't tell if she minds
Rolling around
amongst our clothes on the floor
I can't help it
"Have you heard this song before?"
I know I shouldn't
Is this so wrong
To break from your kiss
To turn up a pop song
I know I shouldn't
And It's possibly wrong
To break from your kiss
To turn up a pop song
Then something angry
Muttered
Between two people,
Red and flustered
We'd just kissed
And that's about it
It may as well have been
Radio static
I know I shouldn't
Is this so wrong
To break from your kiss
To turn up a pop song
I know I shouldn't
And It's possibly wrong
To break from your kiss
To turn up a pop song
02 Direct Hit (03:30)
He went out in a rush
And can't tell if it shows
She's looking over a lot
And he's still in his work clothes
He can't talk to members of the opposite sex
He starts to talk, they start to look perplexed
So with his eyes on the prize, and just a glance at her breasts
He walks over, and he says
It's uncomfortable all night to sit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Move around like your shoes don't fit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Why is that cigarette unlit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
What's wrong? Scared to commit?
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Her friends are leaving,
She decides she's not going
She's been looking over a lot
And hopes it's been showing
She can't talk to members of the opposite sex
She starts to talk, they start to look perplexed
So with her eyes on the prize, and just a glance at her breasts
She goes over, and she says:
It's uncomfortable all night to sit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Move around like your shoes don't fit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
What's wrong? Scared to commit?
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
I don't care that your friends have split
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Here comes the really good bit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Move around like your shoes don't fit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
It's uncomfortable all night to sit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Why is that cigarette unlit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
I don't care that your friends have split
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Move around like your shoes don't fit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
What's wrong? Scared to commit?
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
It's uncomfortable all night to sit
Get on the dancefloor, it's a direct hit
Hit, hit, direct hit
Hit, hit, direct hit
Hit, hit, direct hit
Hit, hit, direct hit
05 Late Sunday Evening (03:07)
Late Sunday evening -
I only just feel like eating.
Am I feeling unwell
For what I've done or drunk
or someone might tell
I'm gonna find it hard to sleep tonight.
I'm gonna find it hard to sleep.
There's nothing that's been done
that can't be undone
you were sick
now you're better
there's work to be done
There's nothing that's been done
that can't be undone
you were sick
now you're better
there's work to be done
Everything has been shown to me
With only a magazine for company
Answers in the problem pages
to problems I've been having for ages
Late Sunday evening
There's no way I'm gonna be sleeping
Am I feeling unwell?
For what I've done or drunk
or someone might tell
I'm gonna find it hard to sleep.
There's nothing that's been done
that can't be undone
you were sick
now you're better
there's work to be done
When I feel my friends
Have been conspiring against me
I break into their bedrooms
And write in their diaries
Everything's gonna be alright
I'm gonna find it hard to sleep tonight
Everything's gonna be alright but
I'm gonna find it hard to sleep tonight
Everything's gonna be alright
I'm gonna find it hard to sleep tonight
Phone later if you'd like 'cause
I'm gonna find it hard to sleep tonight
06 I Will Survive (03:26)
I can get by without electricity
So you don't need to lend me money
I'm out most of the day
And it's not long until I get paid
And you're cold, hungry, put on a coat
My bread is stale you can tell it's not toast
You're always welcome to crash on my floor
There's no key or lock on the door
I know what it looks like
I can tell you're not impressed
I don't know what I'm doing
But it's feeling like success
A pile of clothes just been laundered
Drying damp in a bag in the corner
I'd love some tea but you won't find a cup
I've been using this saucepan to avoid washing up
And you're cold, hungry, put on a coat
My bread is stale you can tell it's not toast
You're always welcome to crash on my floor
There's no key or lock on the door
I don't know what I'm doing
But it's feeling like success
Life is what you make it
And I've made mine a mess
Sunlight comes in a few hours a day
But only I see it cause no one's awake
On the floor strangers starting to surface
Ashtrays and coffee cups sharing a purpose
I'm young and nothing can harm me
I sold all my records to pay for a party
I'm still drunk but that's alright
I've been staying out every night
You're always welcome to crash on my floor
There's no key or lock on the door
I've been avoiding my grown-up problems
As I have no idea how to solve them!
I will survive
I will survive
I will survive
I will survive
I will survive
I will survive
I will survive
I will survive
I will survive
07 Post Soothing Out (03:11)
You're only halfway
Through your working day
I'm sorry honey
But we both need your pay
I'm sorry about everything I've put you through
I'm sorry about getting by on making do
Every day is just like starting over
We try so hard but we keep on falling over
Every day is just like starting over
We try so hard but we keep on falling over
Every day is just like starting over
We try so hard but we keep on falling over
You're worried and I have my doubts
But I'm drunk when I text
So I send 'post soothing out'
I just had a nasty flashback
We both used our cards for cash back
Hard way to explain
Why my pockets are full of change
Every day is just like starting over
We try so hard but we keep on falling over
Every day is just like starting over
We try so hard but we keep on falling over
Every day is just like starting over
We try so hard but we keep on falling over
River deep and mountain high
There's some lyrics that'll never apply
'Cause I don't lie awake at night
With thoughts of river depth or mountain height
Don't care what your parents say
It won't always be this way, I
Don't care what your parents say
It won't always be this way, I
Don't care what your parents say
It won't always be this way, you're
Only halfway through your working day
I've met your parents
And I know it sounds rough
But I'm gonna be out,
When they come for your stuff
So cheer up now, it's not all doom and gloom
They never got around to decorating your room
10 Nag Nag Nag Nag (03:06)
Wet trousers in the washing machine,
but I’d rather be damp than seen in jeans.
I’m grown up now but refuse to learn
that those were just adolescent concerns.
I’m possibly missing something
someone should have told me.
A record collection reduced to a mixed tape,
headphones on I made my escape.
I’m in a film of personal soundtrack.
I’m leaving home and I’m never got a come back.
I’m learning lyrics from the CD inlay
to impress people with the stupid things I say.
I’m grown up now but refuse to learn
that those were just adolescent concerns.
I’m possibly missing something
someone should have told me.
A record collection reduced to a mixed tape,
headphones on I made my escape.
I’m in a film of personal soundtrack.
I’m leaving home and I’m never got a come back.
I used to have a bedroom to hide in,
but now I’m outside deciding.
Older but wiser,
this song’s the decider.
Is it the sound of a man wrestling with emotion,
or the sound of him losing
and causing commotion?
I’m nothing to my peers,
but envy and hatred.
How many girls have they seen naked?
I’m grown up now but refuse to learn
that those were just adolescent concerns.
I’m possibly missing something
someone should have told me.
A record collection reduced to a mixed tape,
headphones on I made my escape.
I’m in a film of personal soundtrack.
I’m leaving home and I’m never got a come back.
11 Jealous Guy (03:08)
You want to sleep and I do too
But I can't because I've got something to prove
I should be flattered that you feel like this
Satisfied by just a goodnight kiss
I can't sleep because I've started to question
Whether your ex-boyfriends let you get this much resting
I'm not going to let you sleep
I'm pulling on blankets and tugging on sheets
In the morning you'll still be here
But you're sleeping now, you've made that clear
I should be flattered that it's come to this
Where you're satisfied by just a goodnight kiss
I'm not going to let you sleep
I'm pulling on blankets and tugging on sheets
I'm not going to admit defeat
I'm pulling on blankets and tugging on sheets
You're asleep, I wish I was too
But I can't because I've got something to prove
I tried to wake you with a really loud cough
I accidentally set your alarm clock off
I can't sleep because I've started to question
Whether your ex-boyfriends let you get this much resting
I'm not willing to admit defeat
I'm pulling on blankets and tugging on sheets
In the morning you'll still be here
But you're sleeping now, you've made that clear
I should be flattered that it's come to this
Where you're satisfied by just a goodnight kiss
I'm not going to admit defeat
I'm pulling on blankets and tugging on sheets
I'm not going to let you sleep
I'm pulling on blankets and tugging on sheets
I should be flattered that it's come to this
Where you're satisfied by just a goodnight kiss
In the morning you'll still be here
But you're sleeping now, you've made that clear
I'm not going to admit defeat
I'm pulling on blankets and tugging on sheets
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