ALBUM OF THE YEAR - SHORT-LIST .... ALBUM #4 - Apr 2020

As those of you reading this know (thank you, you are nine nice people), these posts tend to be a reflection on the relationship I have with a band, regarding my history (if I have seen them live, how and when I discovered them) , rather than in-depth discussion on the album itself. Well, its my blog ... 

Clear winners this time, but with a mention to The Strokes new album, I should really give that more of a chance ... by the way, feel free to comment on here, if you have opinions, suggestions, arguments..?




April featured the reissue of the Art Brut debut album 'Bang Bang Rock & Roll', 15 years after the original release, and with an extra 15 tracks (digital release, those paying a fortune for vinyl got a download for the extra tracks, I believe). I got it on a Bandcamp Friday, support artists, folks ...

I was very late to Art Brut, and originally got the CD of this album, second hand for 4 euro, Dec 2018. I got their second album at the same time, and in 2019 I caught up with their backlog, I even purchased vinyl for the first time in over 20 years with their record day release (no idea where the vinyl is now, but the download code was nice...)

So Art Brut are one of the bands I've listened to most in the last two years. What finally caught my attention was their Nov 2018 album (their first in seven years), and the fact that the current Wedding Present drummer and my close personal friend (I said 'Hello Charlie' in the gents in Malta, and although clearly startled, he didn't have me arrested) Charles Leyton was drumming in this band too.

Art Brut connected with me...they are just FUN. I think the singer Eddie is the kind of person (who doesn't seem to have changed much from a attitude point of view) that I can identify with, and want to BE. Except when he has a dodgy moustache.

The album itself is great - but you probably all knew that for the last 15 years. I love the fact that Eddie can name songs 'Good Weekend', 'Bad Weekend', 'Every Other Weekend', 'Really Bad Weekend'.  Take things to the extreme! The bonus tracks are fine, I had a handful of them already from their 'Top Of The Pops' double-CD compilation. 'Formed A Band' is a perfect song, that I will never grow tired of.

The tracklisting is long, and therefore tiny ... 



When I found out in Jan 2019 that Art Brut were touring Europe and including Milan, I was delighted. Someone said their live shows are a perfect mix of a stand-up comedy show and a gig, and I am very aligned to that. I shouted, danced, crouched, sang, drank, laughed - it wasn't a large venue (near the airport, but very difficult to get to with public transport - they host big shows outside in the summer, and smaller indoor shows in the winter -  going home involved realizing I didn't know how to get home, so an expensive uber, a thankfully delayed train, and some random encounters - I was in an Art Brut song!). It was my favourite gig of 2019. When the current shitiness is over, I am so going to see them again ... Maybe a trip to Berlin ...?





Art Brut are on the Album of the Year 2020 short-list ... who will join them ?

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