Art Brut Vs Satan

Art Brut | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 21, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Downtown
• ASIN: B001UGISGQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,424 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Produced by former Pixies' front-man Frank Black, Art Brut Vs Satan is the band's third album, and while not a huge departure from the band's debut effort, Bang Bang Rock 'n' Roll, it is very different from the commercial production of their last record, It's A Bit Complicated. The 'Satan' featuredin the title is front-man Eddie Argos' impression of the record-buying public, following the band being dropped by their label EMI, and the lyrically the theme of the album veers between adolescent love and Argos' rage at the record industry. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and clever, even if the schtick gets old at times, May 5, 2009

By 

Howlinw (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art Brut Vs Satan (Audio CD)

3.5 stars.

I've been listening to this band off and on for years, and admit that they're kind of a guilty pleasure for me. No way am I in the demographic you'd associate with Art Brut. I'm a gainfully employed Californian thirtysomething who would look pretty ridiculous if I were able to squeeze myself into the tight, fashionable clothes these guys probably wear. When I listen to this music, however, it takes me back to my younger years when I would go see punky bands play at little clubs. Perhaps that explains at least in part why some of the tracks on this CD are such a fun listen for me.

This band's sound is almost like rock n roll stand-up comedy, with a ridiculously brash cockney-accented vocalist and a very stripped-down punk aesthetic. The problem with this band is the "one-trick pony" phenomenon, ie once you've heard a few of the band's songs you've heard them all. Also, the distinctiveness of their approach tends to lead to a love-'em-or-hate-'em type of reaction among the music-listening population (not unlike prog-rock band Rush, which is one of my favorite bands and about as far on the other side of the rock n roll spectrum as you can get from Art Brut). In other words, most people will know right away whether or not they like this band.

When it comes to any of Art Brut's music, I tend to cherry-pick from the albums and download a few tracks with lyrics that strike me as being particularly funny, clever or somehow relevant to my life at the time. I then throw these tracks on mixes with other things. Ultimately that's the best way to listen to these guys IMHO. A whole Art Brut album is a bit much to sit through at once.

What's here is fundamentally no different than their earlier stuff, and in a way I'm glad. Ironically this is a very safe purchase (the irony is that "safe" was probably not what the band members were going for when they entered the recording studio) - if you know about this band then you know what to expect from each new batch of songs that they release. They've sharpened their sound a bit here with the wise choice of producer Black Francis (of the Pixies) to produce some great garage rock sounds. For a band like Art Brut it's the best you can hope for.

If you are among the uninitiated, I recommend that you download a few tracks if you are curious. "DC Comics and a Chocolate Milkshake" is a great place to start, a nice little warm, friendly slab of nostalgia that makes perfect sense to me. If you like what you are hearing, you might consider giving a listen to some of their older stuff too. You don't need to be wearing tight trousers to appreciate good music.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fierce, joyous, hungover and extremely goofy, February 1, 2011

By 

Peter B - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art Brut Vs. Satan (MP3 Download)

I can't stop listening to this album! It was produced by Frank Black, and I can hear echoes of the Pixies' sound in the instrumental music. I can't say the same thing about the lyrics, however: lead singer Eddie Argos is an English lad with a confessional style and a highly self-deprecating sense of humor. Some sample lines: "You like the Beatles, and I like the Stones/ But those are just records that our parents own." "The record-buying public SHOULDN'T BE VOTING." "I've had one Zyrtec, two Advil/ With a drink that made me feel ... invincible." Do the songs sound similar to each other? Yes, yes they do. When they are as awesome as they are, however, this is not a bad thing.

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Album, June 8, 2009

By 

THE TRUTH (nyc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art Brut Vs Satan (Audio CD)

I am not going to get to technical like the weenie reviewer before me. This, like there other albums deserves a full download, then drop 2-4 songs you dont like. Just saw them last week at the Mercury Lounge, and they were great. Can't go wrong with any of their albums, but I like the first and this one the best.