Search - Art Brut :: Bang Bang Rock & Roll

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Carlos Raul Molina | Durham, North Carolina, USA | 05/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a genuine piece of art rock. It has the attitude of an artist, an masterful insight on the everyday worries of a rock star wannabe, full of dreams and projects that are not "dreamy" but fueled by the old combination of "music, sex and rock and roll". The sound, pure indie rock, distorted guitar and a singing voice so disctinctive that you wont forget after you listed to it once (and BTW, the front man is not singing, almost, is more like he's talking and telling you a short story of the life of a banda that is going to be big!).



Higly recomended, a shame no one has reviewd such a good album yet."

Popular culture no longer applies to me

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 04/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's just something so endearing about a band who announces on their first song: "Formed a band/we formed a band/look at us! We formed a band!" with a mixture of glee and winking confidence.



And it's just the warmup for this enthusiastic, energetic rock band, with their solid, peppy Britpop debut, "Bang Bang Rock & Roll." Their rollicking guitars are so infused with fun and over-the-top rock'n'roll sentiments that it's impossible not to be charmed.



A sizzling riff opens the first song, in which Eddie Argos announces that they've formed a band, and urges people to"Stop buying your albums from the supermarket/they only sell records that have charted." Then he adds with winking charm: "And yes, this is my singing voice. It's not irony, it's not rock & roll -- we're just talking.... to the KIDS!"



Turns out it's only the warmup -- next Art Brut focuses on the jangly, tight rhythms of how "My little brother just discovered rock & roll/There's a noise in his head, and he's out of control!"



From there, they trip off into a joyous round of tight Britpop odes to Emily Kane, bouncy little indiepop, and frolicking rock numbers that twist in on themselves during the catchy chorus. But they also try out some other sounds: the sunny Beach-Boysy pop of "Move to L.A.," and the weirdly ominous ballad "Rusted Guns."



At first, Art Brut sound like any other fun Britpop band. But their album blossoms the more you listen to it -- these lads have a tight grip on their brilliant instrumentation, and they know how to wink at us through their odd, somewhat repetitive lyrics.



The riffs in this album are simply stunning: they ring, buzz, bounce, and sizzle, tightly wound into solid tunes. They're paired with solid basslines and some smashing drums, along with some twisted keyboard and what sounds like stomping feet. Together, they form some deliciously dancy rock tunes, but they're complex enough to never get dull



At first, their lyrics sound kind of simplistic, and in a few songs they are. But listen carefully. They're a lot wittier than that: they take a few humorous jabs at L.A., the music industry, and derivative bands. And they know how to create beautifully over-the-top odes to a first love ("Every girl that I've seen since/looks just like you when I squint"), and the joy of rock'n'roll. Even a song about.... um, performance problems.



In fact, in some songs, they exude the delight of some teenage boys who are getting to have fun out on the town... with girls! In one song, Argos yells out joyously about a new girlfriend, "I've seen her naked.... twice!" Very cute.



Argos himself has a nice voice -- it's pleasantly ordinary, neither too smooth or too rough, and he can sing through quieter songs as well as the rollicking dancier ones. And occasionally he drops out of singing altogether, usually to deliver the best lines: "No more songs about sex and drugs and rock and roll / It's BOOOOORING!"



Art Brut's debut album is a fun, rollicking, laddish album of solid rock'n'roll tunes, delightful lyrics and solid singing. Definite;y a must-buy."

Restoring faith in rock and roll

M. Roberts | Chicago, IL United States | 05/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, this is going to be short and sweet. Why should you buy this album? You should by this album because it combines humor, sarcasism, fantastic lyrics, and some great riffs to create a fantastic stripped down no frills attached rock and roll album. Its great and it does not get lost it what it attempts to achieve, which is itself an achievement these days in the world of Indie Rock. Just when you thought Indie Rock was taking a turn toward pretentiousness, in essence replicating and creating the same sentiments over and over this album comes along and blows such a turn out of the water. Truly great stuff. Take a listen."