Art Brut - "Art Brut vs. Satan"

- Released: April 20, 2009
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 8
- Performance: 7
- Recording: 6
- First Impression: 7
- Staying Power: 8

It's nearly impossible to slap a genre label onto Art Brut.  Indie pop rock, power pop and punk rock come close but don't quite match.  The closest band for comparison might be The Ramones, but even then there's only a passing resemblance.  Lead vocalist Eddie Argos assumes the role of the everyday, working-class, loser, then speaks his stories in time with well-constructed erm... indie-power-pop-punk intrumentals and occasional backup vocals.  In any case, it's accessible, clever, entertaining, funny (in a good way) and bloody addictive.

Suggested sample track: "Alcoholics Unanimous"

Recommendation: sample a few tracks.  If you like them, then buy the album, and also sample some of Art Brut's equally impressive back catalog (namely the albums "It's a Bit Complicated" and "Bang Bang Rock & Roll").