Eddie Argos' Art Brut are the Fall of sophomoric art bands. Or at least they were.
Over six years of hi jinx and high spirits, reaching a hypothesis (no, I meant that word: it is like conceptualizes the jokes as he tells em) of humor in 2009 with songs like "Alcoholics Unanimous" and "DC Comics And Milkshakes" . But I've always preferred them more in theory than practice. even at his best leader Eddie Argos gets old fast.Eddie's speaky singing is a drag after awhile and his ability to nail shut a melody a major irritant.
In order to move forward the band had to move sideways, they had to become what they are or give it up and walk away. Brilliant! Tragic! finally completes the melodies, songs like "Seaweed" and "Lost Weekend" are mainstream pop hampered only by Argos voice and "Axel Rose" is obstreperous and funny, "Martin Kemp" a hard rockin' feast and "Clever Clever Jazz" isn't jazz but it is clever.
So, it seems like Art Brut have a full time career except… Eddie Argos is such an annoying singer that even though the songs sound good, they still sound detonated.
Grade: B