'Art Brut vs. Satan', the winner? You, the listener (Art Brut Vs. Satan - Art Brut)

Member Name: Salmon91

Product:	Art Brut Vs. Satan - Art Brut
Date:	20/08/09 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Harder, punkier sound, Eddie Argos' wit and frank honesty

Disadvantages: The times when Eddie Argos tries to tunefully sing

In the years of their existence, Art Brut and their singer Eddie Argos have always been indie outsiders. This seems quite appropriate for a band whose name is the French label given to the 'outsider art' movement. It's almost as if they are trying to dodge the mainstream appeal of their art-rock contemporaries.

However, for Art Brut, being on the outside has evidently given them a lot of song writing scope, and their latest album 'Art Brut vs. Satan' deals an awful lot with Argos' frank and honest opinions of bands and the music industry.
On the song 'Demon's Out' Argos out rightly states 'The record buying public shouldn't be voting' and laments the fact that 'nobody likes the music we write'. On the face of these bold statements you might not take an immediate liking to Argos and his songwriting, but it's his self-deprecation, humour and personal honesty that really make you warm to Argos.

Whilst on some songs, he's complaining that too many bands are sounding like U2 and wishing singers would be the same as they are in their songs. But on others he's showing his love for chocolate milkshake and comic books or telling us a story about being too shy to approach a girl. His honesty makes the song 'Am I Normal' very funny and endearing, he criticises himself in the same way as he does other bands and singers.

In interviews Argos is often asks why he chooses to use a 'speak-singing' technique, to which he will reply that he doesn't choose to do that, he simply can't sing very well. In fact that one time he does try to tunefully sing on this record, it sounds quite painful to listen to, even if he does say 'To sing now would be inappropriate' just beforehand. Luckily, his 'singing' technique lends well to his story telling style of song writing and really gives a great deal of individuality and believability to his songs.

Although Argos and his wit are the stars of this album, that's not to say his band aren't impressive, they are. The songs have more of a rock and roll and punk sound to them than most recent indie bands, and this suits Argos' love of bands who 'press record and play it straight through'. What suits their style of music even better it's the record's producer. Frank Black of Pixies fame was behind the knobs and faders for the recording of 'Art Brut vs. Satan' and his influence is very apparent with a much more rough-around-the-edges sound than Art Brut's previous albums.

Overall, this album is a very fun and surprisingly rocky listen, the songs are not as catchy or pop-sounding as their last two albums, but that's not entirely a bad thing, and the band really gets the opportunity to shine here, rather than being simply a fairly generic platform for Argos' lyrics. I think that in the battle of Art Brut and Satan, Satan is the music industry and recording buying public on the whole, I really don't think Art Brut are going to win, but I think they like it that way, and it makes for a really great listening experience.

Summary: Art Brut continue to be loveable outsiders with another underrated gem.