Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll
[Fierce Panda]

Art Brut have been kicking around the London scene for a while now without having released an album. Dismissed as a joke band by many (including the NME, but what do they know?), they have really managed to prove how well their sound can be pulled off on a proper record, despite what all the critics said. The album would be a treat for just Eddie Argos' lyrics alone, his ironic and witty ramblings ranted in his unique drawl, the only accent that would work. He can't sing. But you can't sing lyrics this good.

The first time I heard the lyric "Everything will be just fine/I hear the murder rate is in decline" in song "Moving to LA" I almost wet myself. Eddie's lyrics show so much class and give off such a good vibe that you can't help but smile when listening to this record. Tracks such as "Emily Kane", the sad story of a man's prolonged love for his childhood sweetheart and "Rusted Guns of Milan", an anthem of erectile dysfunction sit happily next to each other and you hardly notice.

The effect of Art Brut is that of pure euphoria, not in the MDMA sense, but more in the sense that you are left with a huge grin on your face singing "Modern art/makes me/want to rock out, woo!" getting strange looks from passers-by. The band are renowned for their love of art and this fascination is evident just by the artwork and literature that comes with the album. Included is a poster-sized grid of tiny squares 176x176 and a list of co-ordinates to fill in in order to replicate the image on the front of the album. It's hell.

Having followed the band loosely since the days of debut single "Formed a Band" I was struck by how much they have changed since those days. "Formed a Band" no-longer sounds home made, it sounds studio-made, almost...professional. Other tracks such as "Modern Art" and "Good Weekend" have been subtly changed (thank God Eddie decided not to let the lines "there are little children running about/i see this as my window of opportunity" stay next to each other) and "Good Weekend" has been extended to employ a guitar solo ("Go guitar, go!").

For bursts of 2-minute punk joy, listen to the demos. For bursts of 3-minute aural sex, listen to the album.