Bang Bang Rock & Roll

Art Brut | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Downtown
• ASIN: B000F3AJA8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,087 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Formed A Band

2. My Little Brother

3. Emily Kane

4. Rusted Guns Of Milan

5. Modern Art

6. Good Weekend

7. Bang Bang Rock & Roll

8. Fight!

9. Moving To L.A.

10. Bad Weekend

11. Stand Down

12. 18,000 Lira

13. These Animas Menswear

14. Really Bad Weekend

15. Maternity Ward

Editorial Reviews

"In the spirit of sex you're too drunk for, drugs that don't work, and rock clichés that should be Sharpied to your forehead, these Brits deconstruct bombast via bombastic guitar riffs. Sing-speaking like he's working through a 'Learn To Read Handbook', front man Eddie Argos makes fun of star-fuckers and meatheads. Star-fuckers and meatheads will totally headbang along" - Spin. The formerly "best unsigned band in the world" (Blender) now looks forward to their US release. This new version contains several exclusive tracks not found on the UK version. "Wild, ingenious fun" - Pitchfork. Topped everyone's year end list (as an import), including landing the #3 spot on Pitchfork Media, #6 in Blender, and #38 in Spin.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Bang, Bang December 27, 2005

By M. Wells

Format:Audio CD

In the summer of 2005, I stumbled upon Art Brut when I read some rave reviews about their debut, "Bang, Bang, Rock N' Roll", in several online music mags. While I tried to fight off insomnia on this otherwise non-descript, humid night, the reviews I read made me curious to see just what these Brits had to offer my already deep music collection. The reviews, much like the one you are reading right now, were all rather pretentious and because of the apparent character of the people who penned them, I was skeptical about whether or not Art Brut was for me. I felt like these guys might merely be yet another semi-talented group of hacks rammed down my throat by the music snob elite. It turns out I was skeptical for a good, albeit very different, reason. When I gave "Bang, Bang" its first spin I was initially confused. These guys couldn't be frickin' serious, could they? The musicianship on the first track, "Formed a Band", didn't go any further than Art Brut hammering out a simple three chord song with a punk aesthetic. The lead singer, if you could even call frontman Eddie Argos that, never crooned; Argos merely spoke his lyrics into the microphone in a pronounced English cockney. And yet the music was catchy as hell and to my surprise, it had me smiling instantly. In a display of bravado and cockiness typically exhibited by the anti-Argos, Liam Gallagher, at an Oasis concert, Art Brut were actually taunting me on record and it was spectacular and fun. But the good times didn't stop with "Formed a Band". The next track, "My Little Brother", with its tale of late-bloomer rock fan angst had me cackling like the sleep-deprived lunatic I really am. Things got really interesting when Art Brut ripped into the third track, Emily Kane. I can not describe how wonderful a pop song "Emily" is. It manages to roll up sadness, comedy, innocence, and ferocity in a few minutes that blister. As a fan of the genre, it is tough not to love "Bang, Bang, Rock N' Roll". Rarely will a band get away with sticking its tongue this far into your cheek. Don't believe me? Check out the album highlight, "Moving to L.A." and you'll be hooked.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Popular culture no longer applies to me April 22, 2007

By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

There's just something so endearing about a band who announces on their first song: "Formed a band/we formed a band/look at us! We formed a band!" with a mixture of glee and winking confidence.

And it's just the warmup for this enthusiastic, energetic rock band, with their solid, peppy Britpop debut, "Bang Bang Rock & Roll." Their rollicking guitars are so infused with fun and over-the-top rock'n'roll sentiments that it's impossible not to be charmed.

A sizzling riff opens the first song, in which Eddie Argos announces that they've formed a band, and urges people to"Stop buying your albums from the supermarket/they only sell records that have charted." Then he adds with winking charm: "And yes, this is my singing voice. It's not irony, it's not rock & roll -- we're just talking.... to the KIDS!"

Turns out it's only the warmup -- next Art Brut focuses on the jangly, tight rhythms of how "My little brother just discovered rock & roll/There's a noise in his head, and he's out of control!"

From there, they trip off into a joyous round of tight Britpop odes to Emily Kane, bouncy little indiepop, and frolicking rock numbers that twist in on themselves during the catchy chorus. But they also try out some other sounds: the sunny Beach-Boysy pop of "Move to L.A.," and the weirdly ominous ballad "Rusted Guns."

At first, Art Brut sound like any other fun Britpop band. But their album blossoms the more you listen to it -- these lads have a tight grip on their brilliant instrumentation, and they know how to wink at us through their odd, somewhat repetitive lyrics.

The riffs in this album are simply stunning: they ring, buzz, bounce, and sizzle, tightly wound into solid tunes. They're paired with solid basslines and some smashing drums, along with some twisted keyboard and what sounds like stomping feet. Together, they form some deliciously dancy rock tunes, but they're complex enough to never get dull

At first, their lyrics sound kind of simplistic, and in a few songs they are. But listen carefully. They're a lot wittier than that: they take a few humorous jabs at L.A., the music industry, and derivative bands. And they know how to create beautifully over-the-top odes to a first love ("Every girl that I've seen since/looks just like you when I squint"), and the joy of rock'n'roll. Even a song about.... um, performance problems.

In fact, in some songs, they exude the delight of some teenage boys who are getting to have fun out on the town... with girls! In one song, Argos yells out joyously about a new girlfriend, "I've seen her naked.... twice!" Very cute.

Argos himself has a nice voice -- it's pleasantly ordinary, neither too smooth or too rough, and he can sing through quieter songs as well as the rollicking dancier ones. And occasionally he drops out of singing altogether, usually to deliver the best lines: "No more songs about sex and drugs and rock and roll / It's BOOOOORING!"

Art Brut's debut album is a fun, rollicking, laddish album of solid rock'n'roll tunes, delightful lyrics and solid singing. Definite;y a must-buy.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Stop buying your albums from the supermarket! March 14, 2006

By W. M. Davidson

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Eddie Argos' humorous lyrics and sometimes-sung, mostly-spoken vocals may initially make Art Brut seem like a novelty band or some kind of parody, but don't be fooled. Novelty acts get stale after the surprise wears off, but this album just gets more delightful with each listen. Strong melodies abound ("Bad Weekend" and the geniunely touching [yes, really] "Emily Kane" are standouts) and the band plays their smartly-constructed Britpop with an enthusiastic, punkish edge. If you like Britpop at all, don't be scared away by the unconventional frontman; you owe it to yourself to check out this outstanding record.