With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Art Brut: Immaturity Is A Virtue
Listen
4:05
Eddie Argos, the 29-year-old leader of London's Art Brut, has made a career out of not growing up. On the band's new album, Art Brut vs. Satan, he regresses a little. But that may be for the best.
In the spring of 2004, Art Brut bowled over U.K. music hipsters with a single so simple and perfect and self-contained that it was hard to imagine what the band would do for an encore. From "Formed a Band": "And, yes, this is my singing voice / It's not irony, and it's not rock 'n' roll." Only if that's Eddie Argos' singing voice, how come he's talking? Maybe it is irony. And, definitely, it's rock 'n' roll.
Although nothing on Art Brut's debut (Bang Bang Rock & Roll) topped "Formed a Band," most of it was almost as fast, fresh and funny on the subjects of music and, secondarily, love. Unfortunately, the follow-up lived up to the title It's a Bit Complicated by slowing down and putting love first.
But on album No. 3, Art Brut vs. Satan, Argos goes back to what he knows. When a song titled "The Replacements" appears, it's already the third of four consecutive tracks about rock 'n' roll itself. There are only two cuts about love, and soon enough, one of those ("What a Rush") moves on to the subject of music, too.
Sponsored message
Argos doesn't claim to live clean. Art Brut vs. Satan begins with one called "Alcoholics Unanimous" and ends with one called "Mysterious Bruises," keyed to the wonderful line, "I fought the floor and the floor won." But there are also several songs about being young and poor — or, in the case of the one called "DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake," being 28 and still eating nothing but cereal.
Notable among these songs is "The Passenger," perhaps the finest rock 'n' roll song ever written about public transportation. On its own third album, The Ramones, another basic band who seemed incapable of topping itself, hitchhiked to Rockaway Beach because the bus was too slow. Less than keen on growing up, Eddie Argos isn't in that kind of hurry.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
