Citizen Dick Retrospective – Best of 2009 – Art Brut

Simply based on the sly backhand to the recording industry alone, Art Brut’s Art Brut Vs. Satan warrants plenty of accolade.  Push aside the fact that this album received more iPod workout spins than I can count in 2009, and what we’re left with is a swelling divergence into mild lunacy and wickedly apt musicianship.  In short, this entire album kicks ass with a whole slew of heavily charged weapons. Whether it’s Eddie Argos’ gregarious, heavily accented vocal indulgence or Pixies’ Black Francis’ recording process, the overall construction (or more appropriately, destruction) is superb and it is incredibly easy to fall into Art Brut’s pop-punk clutches.

Art Brut opted to infuse the singular recording style of Francis into this record and the pairing is well played. Tracks like the stomping “Alcoholics Unanimous” swirl with Argos’ in-your-face vocals and soaring guitar fills, and would lose incredible amounts of heft if recorded in multiple parts.  This raw and free-flowing sound works well throughout the whole record.  “The Replacements” is easily one of the best tracks of 2009, fast galloping and throwing jabs and expressing Argos’ intelligently dominating verbal irony.  In my April review of the album, I mentioned that it wasn’t so much that Francis was a catalyst for any major stylistic change from previous records, but more that the band and producer hit perfect symmetry together.

Another major piece of the record is the raucous energy of the band itself.  This is Argos’ ship, but avoiding major nods to bandmates is a huge disservice.  Behind the front-and-center metaphorically inane (if that’s indeed even legal) lyricism are pummeling bass riffs, bluesy guitar assaults, delicious freakouts, and chanting background vocals.  The sludgy romp, “The Passenger” pays homage it Iggy Pop, and “Am I Normal” weaves through slinky clean guitars and enough cymbal crashing to slice through ear drums.  Ultimately, without the crunching pulse of the songs themselves, Argos’ tone cannot stand alone.  As the band steers into the “confrontation” with Satan, they inherently cannot lose.  The epic seven minutes of “Mysterious Bruises” not only peaks the record, but also rounds up all of the hyperactive intensity of the music/words and sums it all up.  I woke up this morning covered in bruises.  I only danced to songs I like.  So I was sat down most of the night. Art Brut routs Satan in the competition because they cannot possibly lose.  The album itself contains enough duality to slam the beast back into hell.  It’s catchy and loaded with pop undertones but grates just enough to keep it out of the limelight.  It’s the perfect combo, and for much of the year, this release provided all of the sneer I needed.

Art Brut Official Site

Art Brut – DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake

Buy Art Brut Vs. Satan at Insound Now!