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Art Brut
At a recent New York City performance, Art Brut frontman Eddie Argos climbed into the audience, and implored all of the rapt hip kids to start a band. He threatened to return to Manhattan, track down every one of the audience members, and ask each and every single one if they had yet formed a band. Argos continued with, "...if you say no, then I will be very disappointed. Go home. Form a band." (I find it's very difficult to discuss the band without everything becoming an Argos quote-fest.)
Art Brut want you to look at them. And how can you not? Lead singer Argos demands to be heard. Wearing his trademark blazer and sporting a near porn-star moustache, he yelps, flails, howls, pumps his fist, and whips the crowd up into a frenzy. The exuberant post-punk music of Art Brut recalls the past greatness of The Fall and Buzzcocks, as well as channeling some of their contemporaries, the Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party, but with a sly sense of humor.
Sometimes we all need a rock'n'roll wink and a smile, followed by a swift kick in the arse, and Art Brut delivers. The lovably cheeky band tackles classic punk rock themes: everything from boring suburbs, hot girlfriends, bad sex, picking fights with bullies, and lost sweethearts, but with a keen analytical eye and pop ear that keeps listeners guessing and asking, "They are taking themselves seriously?" as Argos tells his brother to "stay off the crack!" and tells a story of himself head-butting a piece of modern art.
Their songs filled with more witticisms than every primetime sitcom on TV, combined, and the music is filled with more personality with a Chinatown bus full of proto-hipster teens. Be prepared for an assault of blazing guitar, slamming into your brain, as their bassist, Frederica Feedback jackhammers into your soul. Even if you're sure they're being sincere ("it's not irony...we're just talking to the kids"), there's no denying the ambition of a band that wants to write the song "that makes Israel and Palestine get along." Meanwhile they them go about following it up with something equally self-deprecating in the same breath, as Art Brut have written the catchiest and sweetiest song ever about erectile dysfunction.
We'll be leaving the light on for you, Eddie. We most certainly will.
Art Brut - Formed a Band
Art Brut - Emily Kane
Art Brut - Good Weekend
The official Art Brut site. Purchase Bang Bang Rock & Roll from Amazon or iTunes Music Store.
Posted by Queen of the Front Row at 02.01.06 at 1:24 AM
Comments
The first link is down.
Your blog is great!
Posted by: lls at 02.06.06 at 3:14 AM
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