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By: Karl-Erik Stromsta
Art Brut's 2005 breakout debut, Bang Bang Rock and Roll, relied heavily on singer Eddie Argos' sophomoric – if hilariously spot on – lyrical musings. How, then, when it came time to put together the follow-up, do you tell Argos to tone down the jokiness and focus on the music? In the case of It's A Bit Complicated (Downtown) no one seems to have bothered. The result is somewhat less satisfying than the first, though not without its charms. It's not as if Argos' wry, blokeish wit has softened or become less funny. He still has an uncanny talent for turning irrelevant romantic minutiae into pleasant, comedic pop songs. Musically, Art Brut has managed to become a pretty solid retro-rock band. Unfortunately, the spotlight is almost always on Argos, and his schtick is wearing thin. It’s A Bit Complicated is a lighthearted album that's very difficult not to enjoy. But, ultimately it plays like a side-scrolling, beat-'em-up video game: Fun to play through once but mostly devoid of replay value.
JamBase | London
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