Art Brut Shakes Things Up A Bit

Grab a straw, put your lips into a tightly pursed sucking position (you know, for the benefit of sucking out as much sugary goodness as possible), and kick that bathroom scale to the curb because it's time to salute National Chocolate Milk Shake Day. Helping out in that area is a quirky little German indie rock outfit answering to the name Art Brut. The objects of lead singer Eddie Argos' desire are "DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake". Art Brut makes a very compelling pitch band for these two not so guilty pleasures because they wax energetic about them, and do so with guitars organically grungy, drums bursting with strength, and Eddie explaining his young manhood days and how DC Comics and chocolate milkshakes made his world not seem quite so unbearable. In the opening stanza Eddie sort of goes off the milk splattered path with a brief explanation of how he loves cereal so much he has it for almost every meal. Yet, his life never really got that bad while he had DC Comics and chocolate milkshakes. Allow me to add my homespun two cents worth. When I was a little boy attending Casis School in Austin, Texas (I say this for the benefit of you bloggers not from the ATX...just in case)milk came to us from a distributor called Superior Dairies. Specifically we got regular white boy white milk (not sure if it was Vitamin D or not)and chocolate milk from the dairy whose product was "Moo Fresh". At least that's what it claimed on the small little carton. In the present day I'm enjoying Walgreens chocolate nutrition shakes and let me tell you they're too good to be nutritious. I sing praises of chocolate milk. It's one of those sublime luxury items that brightens up the sourness of any uber-crappy day you might be having. Now, about DC Comics, which is home to Green Lantern, my favorite superhero. Why is he my favorite you ask? Why is he even bringing this up in a blog that's supposed to be musically catered you might ask? Because I can think of about a half dozen situations where owning a power ring would be singularly grand. Think of the boring board meeting you don't want to nudge into your happy place. Just fire some well timed green laser at the assembled snore bores and voila, you have yourself a green soundproof bubble. Ah, now you can go back to my desk and get some bona fide work done. Answering the second question, well, because it's relevant to this review that I give both indulgences equal time. Now back to the song. Freddy Feedback (nice moniker) manages to make his bass moves sound as seductive as the titular items. He very much weaves his instrument up and around the endorphin zone of the body. Meanwhile lead guitarist Ian Catskilkin (they don't make last names like this anymore, do they?) is very zippy. That's the very adjective you'd want applied to this fun loving oddball of a tune. Mikey Breyer's adrenaline level behind the kit is exactly where it should be. In fact the entire band as a package has an average energy level that does wonders for the circulatory system. Just amped up enough, but not burning out of control. Eddie's been working since he was 10 (lyrically speaking) yet he's still into DC Comics and chocolate milkshake at the AARP magazine collecting age of (gasp!) 28. He can say that he's been accused of Peter Pan Syndrome and arrested development all he wants. He can claim to be developing late. I say there are some things you never outgrow (thank goodness). DC Comics and chocolate milkshake are wonderful things to wrap both your taste buds and creative juices around. I love the confessional nature of the song. You get a peek into the sensitive portion of Eddie's universe. He never got over that sweet, sweet taste. Please let the man have his two transgressions!! Snappy place to visit. Very silly too, which is also welcome in the post-millennial angst age we're enmeshed in. Pick up a copy of "Art Brut vs. Satan" the band's 2009 release if DC Comics and chocolate milkshake excite you no end. From a sonic vantage point the boys bring the extra little hint of pizzazz that makes for rewarding listening experiences. And besides, your waistline won't wag a finger at you. Always great, Eddie. We hear you and drink in each dairy boosted dollop.