It Means Nothing album: archived reviews
Siamo in area di rock radicale, violento insolente beffardo, e la musica conferma: un incrocio tra Wire, Fall e Gang Of Four
Vengono da Norwich, non sono più ragazzini e derivano da un gruppo chiamato F*** Dress che (mi avvisano dalla regia ma potrebbe essere una little swindle of rock&roll) ha scelto di cambiare nome dopo aver venduto la vecchia sigla a una catena di abiti per ragazzi.
Comunque, sigla titolo e storiella, ci siamo capiti. Siamo in area di rock radicale, violento insolente beffardo, e la musica conferma: un incrocio tra Wire, Fall e Gang Of Four, con il marziale clangore della batteria, acuminati denti da chitarra-sega e una perfida voce da schiaffi con accento irritantemente Brit. Nei patti la monotonia, che non solo non è evitata ma accuratamente ricercata, con nove variazioni sullo stesso tema di garage avvelenato, di depravata Louie Louie in Norwich. Una noia? Tutt’altro, anche perché gli Scumbag sprizzano sulle loro tele monocrome variopinti drippings di parole. In questo somigliano ai Chumbawamba: più ironici che nichilisti, oltraggiosi ma con juicio, e molta perversa paradossale fantasia.
Se la prendono con i tic dei collezionisti di vinile, martellano i prigionieri dei network sociali, immaginano le banalità quotidiane delle rock star e nel pezzo clou tracciano un identikit al vetriolo del tipico fan Radiohead, che vive con la mamma, si obbliga a leggere Nietzsche ed è schiavo delle sue manie. Tira quest’aria anti Thom Yorke, in effetti, più contro i seguaci che contro la band, mi sembra. Be’, chi è iscritto a quel partito si segni la canzone: si chiama God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead.
The intriguing band name alone makes you curious enough to check out Scumbag Philosopher's debut It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing, and the angry vocals, wailing guitars and a lot of attitude don't disappoint. Grant Madden talks rather than sings lyrics about celebrities, social networking and the general misery of modern life. The first single is the ironically titled "God is Dead So I Listen to Radiohead" which draws you in with its driving beat. Songs such as the dissonant "Tickbox Exercise" and the catchy "On the Shortwave" highlight Jon Burke's wailing guitars. There is a menacing feel to songs like "Sunshine Corporation" and "I Like Sums," while "Your Heroes At Home" and "Social Networking Site" show off the band's sense of humor. All and all, this is an intriguing post-punk debut that grabs your attention and doesn't let go.
After the rip-roaring ‘God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead’ single a few months ago, this long player expands the SP palette with some strident and savvy songs which sound like Carter USM covering The Fall (and that is a complement). The guitar sounds are retro but also quite “now”, a bit like that Replicants LP last year, timeless garage rock I guess you’d call it. And the lyrical themes, the barky frontman backed by the shouty but rather sassy sounding female, very Brix era… are attacked with an uncompromising vigour.
Starting off with ‘Tickbox Exercise’, a real toe-tapper with a fabtastic guitar riff, evoking dead end call centre jobs and corporate doom, this should be played loud. ‘I Like Sums’ is verging on idiot savant territory and attempts to make maths cool, which it almost does. ‘Your Heroes at Home’ is hilarious and groovy, with a few Half Man Half Biscuit tendencies (“Brandon Flowers has forgotten that it’s bin day”) – “and the front hedge needs trimming”.
The rest of the nine tracks include the aforementioned ‘God is Dead’, the sneering ‘Social Networking Site’ and the eponymous ‘Scumbag Philospher’. ‘Sunshine Corporation’ pours scorn on self-improvement manuals while ‘On the Shortwave’ really does appear to be an commentary on changing music formats of our time. (“Still buy records, can’t let vinyl down, watch them spinning round”) – and an update of ‘I’m Into CB’ as well.
A cage-rattling debut, makes you glad to be alive.
There’s a real ‘A to Z’ of things to spot in your typical Scumbag Philosopher review.
A usually stands for Abrasive, Agit or Angular.
F is The Fall
G is Gang of Four
P is Peel
W is Wire
You didn’t think I was going to do them all did you? I mean, come on! I do have better things to do with my time. Listening to Scumbag Philosopher though, isn’t a chore. These guys are really rather good. It’s true that you’ll find most of the above references in every review piece going around. There’s a reason for this. It’s all true. 100%, no debate, lock stock and smoking barrel. I’m even guilty myself, twice. Once here and previously when we featured the band in our ‘first glances’ piece.
And yet Scumbag Philosopher transcend this rather clumsy pigeon holing. This they achieve; a) by injecting some self-awareness and a good deal of humour into proceedings and b) by being rather good. Clanging, discordant opener ‘Tick Box Exercise’ is one of many album successes. But it gets even better.’ God Is dead So I Listen To Radiohead’ was, I think, a lead –off single before the album came out and it’s clear why. Witty, incisive lyrics and a hilarious spoof video never allow this track to become mired in Sixth Form territory (as the track name might suggest) My own personal favourite has to be ‘Your Heroes At Home’. Fabulous stuff. More please guys.
And thank f*** somebody is protesting about something in music. It’s been a while.
As to the tracks I haven’t yet mentioned, approximately half maintain this quality whilst the others dip a bit. Fair enough for an album in this day and age. There’s obviously some way to go to match the tour de force scornfulness of Colin Newman’s continually (after 30 years) excellent Wire. And the Mancs will doubtless say the same of The Fall. No matter. We’re in a different place here, a parallel universe of mirth making mischief. No Zzzzz’s to be found here.
Intet er helligt på britiske Scumbag Philosophers debutalbum 'It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing’. Popstjerner tilsvines, sociale netværker får fingeren, hipsterkulturen bliver spiddet, og så får alle de åh så forfærdelige mappedyr lige et par velmenende ord med på vejen: »I find it comforting to know / how many strokes make up / each number on a digital alarm clock face«, synger forsangeren på albummets anden skæring akkompagneret af bastante trommer, groft forvrængede guitarer og en barnligt insisterende backingsanger.
Og lad os blot få det sagt med det samme: Scumbag Philospher kan i perioder være noget så ulidelige, påståelige, ja decideret frelste, at man uvilkårligt får lyst til at slukke for anlægget. Men bag al ordkløveriet og de på overfladen tomme slagsange gemmer der sig rent faktisk et morsomt forskruet post-punkband, der er i god dialog med deres hjemlands ærværdige rockhistorie, og som har kompositorisk egenart.
Her er referencer til Wires minimalisme, Gang of Fours paroler, Magazines skævhed, og ja, så spøger en vis Hr. Eddie Argos minsandten i forsangerens vokale levering. Fremragende anskueliggjort i 'Tickbox Exercises' viltre monotoni, den savtakkede rytmik på 'Isolation' og de hvirvlende guitarangreb på 'God Is Dead So I Listen to Radiohead'.
Dermed ikke sagt, at albummet er helt uden skønhedsfejl. Enkelte numre virker en kende forcerede, og undervejs går punkudkrængningerne lige lovligt meget i tomgang. Men det kan ikke benægtes, at Scumbag Philosopher har begået et medrivende debutalbum, der udviser stort potentiale.
Płyta numer dwa to dzieło niezbyt młodych, a dzięki temu nieźle obytych w rockowej tradycji muzyków z Anglii. Grupy Scumbag Philosopher. Pisałem już o ich singlu „God Is Dead So I Listen to Radiohead”, w którego tekście łączą snobizm filozoficzny (Nietzsche) z muzycznym snobowaniem się na Radiohead, patrząc na rynek muzyczny z lekką ironią. Niepozbawiona ironii jest cała płyta „It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing”, której przyjęcie jest na razie odwrotnością hype’u wokół UMO, a zarazem dokładnym odbiciem modus operandi tamtej grupy. Tyle że tutaj mamy fascynację postpunkiem i amerykańską sceną alternatywną sprzed lat, amalgamat wpływów Wire i Sonic Youth. Opowieści o idolach muzyki rozrywkowej w tekstach jest sporo, kulminację zyskują w „Your Heroes at Home” z jakże dziwnie dziś postrzeganym zdaniem „Amy Winehouse needs to sort her speeding fine”. Warto posłuchać, choć można się trochę sfrustrować muzycznym, jak by nie patrzeć, konserwatyzmem Anglików.
Jedni i drudzy mają wszystkie cechy retromuzyki dla retromaniaków. Obie płyty są „ciekawe”, warto posłuchać obu, ale też o żadnej z nich nie sposób powiedzieć, że jest świetna. Reynolds mógłby te formacje wykorzystać jako niezłe przykłady w swojej książce.
Post-Punk, Groß-Britannien, eine Kombi, deren Glanzzeit bereits eine ganze Weile zurück liegt. Schiebt man das Debut des britischen Vierers Scumbag Philosopher[1] in den Player, wird man allerdings sofort an Factory Records erinnert und fühlt sich 30 Jahre zurückversetzt. Die Band um Sänger Jon Burke setzt nicht unbedingt auf Experimente, sondern konzentriert sich darauf, schmissigen, schnörkellosen Post-Punk zu spielen. Besonders die Kombi aus Burke’s eher wenig für Melodien geeigneter Stimme mit dem Background-Gesang von Drummerin Anne Reekie hat es mir angetan. Mit jedem Hördurchgang ein wenig mehr. Man muss den Songs auch etwas Zeit geben, denn was zu Beginn noch ein wenig uninspiriert wirkt, frisst sich nach und nach mit seinen Ecken und Kanten ins Gehirn ein. Lediglich etwas länger hätte die Scheibe schon sein dürfen, zumal es nur auf 9 Songs kommt, aber Alben mit einer Länge von unter 30 Minuten sind ja derzeit gut in Mode…
Płyta numer dwa to dzieło niezbyt młodych, a dzięki temu nieźle obytych w rockowej tradycji muzyków z Anglii. Grupy Scumbag Philosopher. Pisałem już o ich singlu „God Is Dead So I Listen to Radiohead”, w którego tekście łączą snobizm filozoficzny (Nietzsche) z muzycznym snobowaniem się na Radiohead, patrząc na rynek muzyczny z lekką ironią. Niepozbawiona ironii jest cała płyta „It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing”, której przyjęcie jest na razie odwrotnością hype’u wokół UMO, a zarazem dokładnym odbiciem modus operandi tamtej grupy. Tyle że tutaj mamy fascynację postpunkiem i amerykańską sceną alternatywną sprzed lat, amalgamat wpływów Wire i Sonic Youth. Opowieści o idolach muzyki rozrywkowej w tekstach jest sporo, kulminację zyskują w „Your Heroes at Home” z jakże dziwnie dziś postrzeganym zdaniem „Amy Winehouse needs to sort her speeding fine”. Warto posłuchać, choć można się trochę sfrustrować muzycznym, jak by nie patrzeć, konserwatyzmem Anglików.
Jedni i drudzy mają wszystkie cechy retromuzyki dla retromaniaków. Obie płyty są „ciekawe”, warto posłuchać obu, ale też o żadnej z nich nie sposób powiedzieć, że jest świetna. Reynolds mógłby te formacje wykorzystać jako niezłe przykłady w swojej książce.
Intet er helligt på britiske Scumbag Philosophers debutalbum 'It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing’. Popstjerner tilsvines, sociale netværker får fingeren, hipsterkulturen bliver spiddet, og så får alle de åh så forfærdelige mappedyr lige et par velmenende ord med på vejen: »I find it comforting to know / how many strokes make up / each number on a digital alarm clock face«, synger forsangeren på albummets anden skæring akkompagneret af bastante trommer, groft forvrængede guitarer og en barnligt insisterende backingsanger.
Og lad os blot få det sagt med det samme: Scumbag Philospher kan i perioder være noget så ulidelige, påståelige, ja decideret frelste, at man uvilkårligt får lyst til at slukke for anlægget. Men bag al ordkløveriet og de på overfladen tomme slagsange gemmer der sig rent faktisk et morsomt forskruet post-punkband, der er i god dialog med deres hjemlands ærværdige rockhistorie, og som har kompositorisk egenart.
Her er referencer til Wires minimalisme, Gang of Fours paroler, Magazines skævhed, og ja, så spøger en vis Hr. Eddie Argos minsandten i forsangerens vokale levering. Fremragende anskueliggjort i 'Tickbox Exercises' viltre monotoni, den savtakkede rytmik på 'Isolation' og de hvirvlende guitarangreb på 'God Is Dead So I Listen to Radiohead'.
Dermed ikke sagt, at albummet er helt uden skønhedsfejl. Enkelte numre virker en kende forcerede, og undervejs går punkudkrængningerne lige lovligt meget i tomgang. Men det kan ikke benægtes, at Scumbag Philosopher har begået et medrivende debutalbum, der udviser stort potentiale.
Every so often a record comes around which has a big effect on your life and over the last week or so my life has been enlightened by the debut album from Norwich band Scumbag Philosopher.
It seems like a very long time since we first heard the gut shaking "God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead", recently issued as a single and I must admit to thinking they would struggle to surpass that. I was however oh so very wrong because although "that" track is one of nine on the album the other eight are stupendously, tremendously brilliant and if you choose not to get yourself a copy of "It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing" because my mates dad is the bloke who decides whether people should be committed in this area and I'm sure he would be happy to send you to a place where you could heal.
Definicija post-punk-a prema sveznajućoj wikipediji sadržava elemente alternativnog underground rocka u koje su inkorporirani krautrock, dub, funk, experimentiranje pa čak i disko ritmovi. Jednom rječju čušpajz. Ali kakav! Kao nositelji tog dijela moderne muzike označeni su Wire, Gang of Four, P.I.L., The Fall i drugi. Kako su mnogi od tih bendova već odavno prestali postojati, a ostali nisu baš u naponu snage, posljednjih godina pojavila se nova garnitura post punk bendova koju su predvodili Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, Bloc Party… Iako su oni čvrsto ustoličeni na svojim pozicijama, čini se da se pojavljuje i sljedeća generacija takvih bendova. Jedan od njih, čiji se debi album nedavno pojavio na tržištu su SCUMBAG PHILOSOPHER.
Osim spomenutih referenci, zbog muško ženskog vokala moguće je da će Vas neka od ovih devet pjesama podsjetiti i na legendarne PIXIESe. S treće strane, vezano uz textove pjesama, cinizam koji se isčitava iz njih vrlo lako bi mogle doći i iz pera još jedne legende, Mark E. Smitha. Ako se još niste zainteresirali za ovaj bend, poslušajte Tickbox Experience ili I Like Sums koji su izravni unuci prvih post punk hitova. Brandon Flowers, Amy Winehouse, Bono, Jack White i mnogi drugi u Your Heroes at Home prikazuju se kao obični ljudi koji plaćaju račune ili brinu o penziji, Thom Yorkea i Radioheada prihvatili u God is Dead So I Listen to Radiohead, u priči o neurotičnom i neprihvaćenom dečku iz predgrađa koji brije na Nietzschea, dok je Social Networking Site anti-socijalne mreže pjesma. Scumbag Philosopher idu na turneju s The Fall.
Oni su next big thing!
OK…maybe this says more about me than the band (in fact, it definitely does) - but whilst I thought the first two tracks I heard off this album were ok, now it makes the most sense with in the context of the album. Hmm, anyway… Whilst there were lots of bands who did stuff with the post-punk records of the late seventies and early over the last ten years, Scumbag Philosopher have realised that whilst Entertainment! by Gang Of Four is an excellent album, they can also have a hell of a lot of fun with The Fall-pre Brix Smith, Harvest-era Wire and more than a nodding acquaintance with the likes of The Cramps and Killing Joke. But whilst you can tell where their influences may lie - as with all the best bands, they have taken them and are running wild with them. And it’s bloody fantastic. It’s infuriatingly catchy -’Scumbag Philosopher! Scumbag Philosopher!’ You will be singing once you’ve heard it. Because you’ll go and buy it. There’s four band members here and not only are they playing as a group but they’re intensely individualistic players who draw you in. And of course, there is the album’s main track ‘God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead.’ Not a swipe at Radiohead per se -some of the band ARE fans and I’m still happy to put my hand up to being one, too - but those who slavishly worship Nietzsche through their slavish devotion to Radiohead. And buying two copies of everything - one to play, one to keep. I cannot help wondering if the sort of Philosophy student I might have been just a little bit is being ripped -and I’m laughing at the joke with everyone else. This album rocks like a bastard, frankly; and it’s got a very cool sense of anti-cool. You know what to do…
bei words on music springe ich immer wieder mal aus dem fahrenden bus, denn die haltestellen sind undeutlich markiert, da musst du fix sein, und neugierig. wir beschäftigten uns u.a. mit for against, almost charlie und jüngst erst mit should. nun ist ein aktueller release am start, die verantwortliche kapelle hört auf den namen scumbag philosopher. hübscher titel, (der im übrigen nach verschmelzung mit ein paar heimatbissigen punks zuungunsten vom bis dato verwendeten fuck dress angenommen wurde, letzteren moniker verkaufte man für viel geld an ein modeunternehmen, das eine neue linie für die modebewußte junge frau erstellen wollte, humor der besonderen art) der gut zum musikalischen konzept, postpunk, passt. bei "it means nothing so it means nothing", wie sich der titel des albums in gedankliche sphären schwingt!, handelt es sich um das debut des englischen vierers. neun songs, die druckvoll, mit entschlackten und doch knackigen gitarren (jon burke) getrieben, nach vorn preschen. ein two-drum kit genügt, um die belege auszugeben, der bass beherrscht die szenerie, den rest überlässt man grant maddens bariton und anne reekies alt. was sich nach billiger ausstattung anhört, ist dann vielleicht auch eine, erfährt aber im zusammenspiel eine aggressiv düstere atmosphäre, die sich wie grauschleier über die energiegeladenen stampfer legt. das so etwas in diesen zeiten noch geht, wage ich zu bezweifeln, aber anhören kann man das ja. es wundert zumindest nicht, dass es sich bei den musikern um kollegen älteren semesters handelt. wie man selbst. da fallen wohl biografien übereinander. und die lehnen sich an wire, gang of four oder the fall, für die die band übrigens im juni auf der uk tour eröffnen durfte. ok, es ist nicht hip, aber macht eine menge spaß. sollte man musikalische ergüsse anders behandeln? zumal, wenn sie mit so viel humor daherkommen. eine portion selbstzweifel neben der aufmerksamkeit für menschliche schwächen. dass sich dabei der vierer selbst nicht allzu ernst nimmt, versteht sich von selbst.
De meest sardonische postpunk van het jaar komt van Scumbag Philosopher. De Britse bende komt behoorlijk bijtend uit de hoek. Laat je dus niet vangen: ‘It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing’ betekent wel degelijk iets. Meer nog, de ganse maatschappij wordt zowat op de hak genomen.
De Romeinse satiredichter Juvenalis grijnst en knikt goedkeurend als hij Scumbag Philosopher hoort tekeergaan tegen bureaucratie, consumptiemaatschappij en sterrencultus. Zeker nu de boodschap verpakt wordt in hoekige, maar vreselijk aanstekelijke post-punksongs. Als het ons door de band zelf niet met uitgestreken smoel werd afgeraden, waren wij al lang volgeling van de Filosoof-Klootzak.
God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead is namelijk een kleine sensibiliseringsoproep om nu eindelijk eens te stoppen met het blindelings overnemen van het wereldbeeld van zogezegd invloedrijke artiesten. Een snerpende gitaar kwakt de lyrics tegen je kinnebak en als je geen uit de kluiten gewassen Nietschze-snor hebt om je te beschermen, komt dat best hard aan.
Voor zover wij het begrijpen is Nietzsche trouwens de Scumbag Philosopher waarvan sprake. ‘It Means Nothing’ luister echter ook makkelijk weg zonder dat je hebt zitten zwoegen op diens ‘Ecce Homo’ of ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’. Op de hoes wordt Rodins ‘Denker’ afgebeeld tijdens de schafttijd. Weer een aanwijzing dat Scumbag Philosopher het liefst van al de fundamenten onder de heilige huisjes wegmaait. We gaan verder.
Tickbox Exercise lacht de in procedures vastgeroeste ambtenarij uit in haar gezicht. “How many times did you have to call, you can always fill in a feedback form.” We herkennen het allemaal. De bezwerende gitaren en de spitante tongval van Grant Madden en drumster Anne Reekie maken het geheel even dwingend als de bureaucratie zelf.
I Like Sums gaat op hetzelfde elan verder. Adam Greens bas en Jon Burkes snerpende gitaar voeren de gelederen aan. Reekie beukt ondertussen de vellen van haar tweedelige set murw. En elke keer we Madden “number” horen zingen, moeten we denken aan Colin Newman (“Think of a number” komt recht uit Wire’s Three Girl Rumba).
Vanuit het motto “de stront van pophelden stinkt ook” wordt in Your Heroes At Home stilgestaan bij de dagdagelijkse beslommeringen van “mensen” als Chris Martin, Amy Winehouse en Bono. Wat Madden en co eigenlijk vinden van Facebook en andere Social Networking Sites behoeft geen verdere uitleg met regels als “Add me, facespace my book // Friend me, spacebook my face.” De grootste sneer lijkt echter geadresseerd aan de industrie die dealt in geluk, de Sunshine Corporation. Madden leest mechanisch voor uit een zelfzekerheidscursus. Aan het op je in vretende ritme is ook hier geen ontkomen.
En zo slaagt Scumbag Philosopher er een half uurtje en negen songs lang in om ons bij de les te houden. Sommige teksten zullen misschien snel voorbijgestreefd zijn, maar als we er in Scumbag Philosopher een luide sirene tegen de dagelijkse vanzelfsprekende absurditeit bij hebben, dan zijn we wel érg benieuwd wie of wat het op hun volgende album zal moeten ontgelden.
They’re awkwardly good, they sound a little geeky, like they might spend their time cataloguing their vinyl record collection and sing songs about simple trigonometry and mathematical shapes and god being dead so they listen to Radiohead.
Scumbag Philosopher are from Norwich, they were once called Fuck Dress and now they’re not, they deal out call and response lyrics, him out front calling, her on drums responding.
They know what time the buses run, they know where to go to find their fun. Not many songs about CB radios these days, got your ears on? Have you moved on? State of the art, now garage sale? You can’t let vinyl down…
All kinds of Wire and Fall and Gang Of Four staccato angles and pointy stabby post-punk tunes and English eccentric goodness with an added bit of New Wave geek.
Es curioso cómo un sello de Minneapolis como Words On Music tiene tantas propuestas con un sonido más bien de corte inglés. Así una de sus bandas de siempre, Should, tienen como grandes referentes al sonido shoegazer o al mejor y más pop Brian Eno. Lo prueban una vez más en su último y apreciable trabajo “Like A Fire Without Sound”. También han sacado el Ep de los veteranísimos For Against que siguen enamorados de los primeros Joy Division y Wire. Con “Black Soap” además. Inauguran una nueva serie para presentar material muy raro y nunca antes publicado.
De hecho “Black Soap” es el primer tema que grabaron en el 84 y esto está rescatado y bien restaurado de una demo en 4 pistas anterior a su primer disco. Tienes más información de esta veterana banda y de las publicaciones de este sello en words-on-music.com. Pero es que el amor por estos sonidos tan británicos les han llevado a presentarnos el gran trabajo de debut de esta joven y filosófica banda (Nietzsche está presente en citas y hasta en el art-work del trabajo). Su sello cita como principales referencias a Gang Of Four, Wire y The Fall. Las dos primeras están muy claras. De los de Mark E.Smith también hay algo en forma de crudas guitarras, pero hay más todavía de los primeros Joy Division y hasta de los anteriores Varsaw. La verdad es que esta media hora se pasa sin que te des cuenta y te quedas con las ganas de más. Esto es post-punk de primera categoría y está recibiendo grandes elogios entre los seguidores del género pero también de los de la buena música en general. 'god is dead so i listen to radiohead' Arrancan con un pedazo de single como es “Tickbox Exercise”, repleto de fuerza y garra con un ritmo marcial y voces de mando. “Heroes At Home” es otro más que posible single y el tema “Isolation” (no es el de Joy Division, ¡eh!) suena brioso como los primeros Talking Heads o The B-52’s pero con cierta oscuridad a lo Sisters Of Mercy.
El tema “Scumbag Philosopher” da nombre al grupo y es su declaración de principios a dos voces y lleva a menudo la violencia de los primeros Public Image Limited (PIL). Su mayor éxito, con inspiración en Nietzsche, es la trepidante “God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead”. Un título que indica la especial personalidad de este grupo. ¡Conóceles en scumbagphilosopher.com y atrévete también con la música de este arriesgado sello!
This is officially the hardest review I’ve ever written.
So congratulations to Scumbag Philosopher for that. ImageIf you’re looking for Matt Bellamy or Thom Yorke soaring vocals, sublime falsetto or a distant sense of mourning, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Scumbag Philosopher are not there for writing great displays of tuneful diorama. No. They’re here to write simple songs with repetitive rhythms and some of the most diverse, matter-of-fact, left-of-centre lyrics ever committed to CD. They’re not shit though. Most bands would read the above paragraph and be deeply disappointed, but the former Fuck Dress probably won’t. They have this knack of making social commentary so painfully obvious it’s impossible to not listen. It’s almost mesmerising how simple they make some of the most astute observations surrounding life, celebrity and all that surrounds you. Take the almost hilarious ‘Your Heroes at Home’, a fun yarn featuring a snippet of some of the current biggest stars in music and film. Chris Martin paying a gas bill; Amy Winehouse sorting out a speeding ticket; 17.000 celebrities all going to the shops. Take ‘God is Dead so I Listen to Radiohead’, a title that’s…unique as it is. Time wasted now is time saved later, they wail. Well, touché. The lyrics are an English students dream. Deconstructing them, finding new meanings behind something that sounds simple is a welcome challenge as there clearly are more layers to the words.
Musically, what are you listening to? Well, not a lot. The bass is usually as monotonous as the vocals. The guitars are in a mind of their own and the drummer has clearly died of boredom. The whole thing would make an excellent song, and I even gave self-titled single ‘Scumbag Philosopher’ a positive review. However, all nine tracks presented on ‘It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing’ probably mean absolutely nothing if they all sound the same, which on a first listen, it could be very easy to say happens here. Well, ‘Social Networking Site’ is a particular instant gem though, it has to be said. Never before have I heard such a venomous attack on the likes of Facebook and Myspace. “Friend request denied”. Damn right. It’s passive aggressive venom, but venomous nonetheless. It comes as a bit of a shock in fact. So the music isn’t exactly a masterpiece. Jack White needn’t worry yet about his position as one of the worlds current greatest musicians. People aren’t going to be scrambling at the music shops to grab the Scumbag Philosopher tab books either, but that’s clearly the point. Scumbag Philosopher isn’t in existence in order to make anything remotely challenging just for the sake of it. Guitar wankery is not high on the agenda. Making sure that the point, whatever it may be, gets across in pinpoint fashion is clearly the top item on the itinerary, and they’ve garnered a pretty decent following from fans and critics alike as a result.
Give the songs a second and third chance though. They tend to evolve more and more as time progresses, especially if you listen to them with the context of the album. These songs seem to work best when not listening to the album itself, but on shuffle or random mode as part of a compilation playlist. In fact, at 28 minutes long this would normally be considered a horrifically short album, but if it were any longer, the fun would probably quickly wear off. Certainly not one for putting on repeat.
So do I actually LIKE it? Well, I’m confused by it a little and I know I won’t be the only one, but I’ve always been one to be opened up to new things. Just last week I said The Sounds wrote my current album of the year, despite not being a connoisseur in dance music. Scumbag Philosopher don’t so much as open your mind, as bore a whacking great hole in it with a three-inch thick drill. This is music for people who hate what people call “music” these days, and for the niche, that’s all that matters.
Fire Note Says: Unique and entertaining listen from Norwich group Scumbag Philosopher! Album Review: The debut record from England's Scumbag Philosopher instantly grabs your attention right from the beginning as first track "Tickbox Exercise" sets the tone for the short 28 minute nine-song album, as the call and response vocals between Grant Madden's consistent baritone and drummer Anne Reekie's alto pitch makes for a lyrically sharp combination all the way through. This vocal relationship shapes the direction for Scumbag Philosopher but the bands angular approach to things here creates addictive song structure that keeps you coming back for more.
The grinding guitar line in "I Like Sums" is a prime example of just one way the band builds on their soundscapes, while on other tracks like the catchy "God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead" the drums rapid fire playing keeps your feet tapping. On the feverish "Isolation", the band has a thumping bass line in the background as Madden's quick lyric delivery plays right off Reekie's supporting chime ins for another album highlight that clocks in under 3 minutes.
Scumbag Philosopher have released a very unique listen and true grower with It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing, as the short album never wears out its welcome and truly gets better after each spin with its bold attitude, relaxed but confident vocal delivery and its true punk origins! Key Tracks: "God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead", "Isolation", "Social Networking Site"
Gli Scumbag Philosopher sono il risultato delle esperienze passate di Anne Reekie (batteria) e Adam Green (basso): nel 1996 formavano i Fiel Garvie che raggiunsero una certa notorietà col singolo “For What I Love” ed ebbero un ottimo riscontro di critica e pubblico. L’esperienza si chiuse nel 2006 con la pubblicazione di “Caught Laughing”. Successivamente misero su i Fuck Dress, l’anticamera dei Scumbag (in cui militano anche Jon Burke alla chitarra e Grant Madden alla voce), diventando famosi con il singolo e il video di “God is Dead so I Listen to the Radiohead” (con il titolo “Suburban Nietzsche Freak”), riproposto in questo ultimo lavoro It means nothing so It Means Nothing, uscito per la Words On Music che vanta artisti come Lorna, Almost Charlie e Should.
Per capire lo spirito dell’album basta leggere il titolo (chiaro riferimento all’esistenzialismo), vedere l’artwork con la statua di Nietzsche (l’album è un omaggio al filosofo tedesco) e leggere i testi che fanno una critica ironica e non moralista della società odierna; il tutto senza risultare pesanti, ma con un tocco di amara allegria che li rende originali e li differenzia dalla profonda cupezza che contraddistingue il genere. Per quanto concerne le sonorità, invece, alla base c’è un solido post-punk con la voce di Grant Madden che ricorda molto le interpretazioni di Fall, Wire e Gang of Four. Il revival del post-punk è in sovraesposizione ma gli Scumbag Philosopher riescono a distinguersi anche per le incursioni in altri generi (soprattutto l’indie-rock generazionale degli anni 00).
Il primo pezzo “Thickbox Excerise” riassume perfettamente quanto detto: chitarra pulsante e caotica, cantato solenne che si avvicina molto allo spoken word che si intreccia perfettamente con il controcanto femminile. “I Like sums” ha un suono ossessivo e ripetitivo, il basso è ostinato e prende in giro le migliaia di statistiche ci circondano; “Your Heroes at home” (insieme a “Isolation”), fra le migliori del disco, ha un piglio più accattivante anche nell’esilarante testo contro la cultura della celebrità (“Brandon Flowers has forgotten it’s a bin day, Chris Martin has a gas bill to pay”). Si prosegue con le martellanti “Scumbag Philosopher” e la stupenda “God is Dead so I Listen to the Radiohead” (che rimanda a “Ecce Homo” di Nietzsche): il ritornello difficilmente andrà via dalla vostra testa. Con “Sunshine Corporate” (critica all’atteggiamento di alcune aziende) e “Social Networking Site” (“Add me, but in the same room”) si ritorna al mood iniziale dell’album.
La conclusiva “On the ShortWave” è quella che risente di più delle derive indie. Senza musica la vita sarebbe un errore: e sarebbe sbagliato non ascoltare questo disco con cui gli Scumbag hanno dimostrato, oltre ad un elevata capacità di scrittura, una notevole inventiva e abilità negli arrangiamenti, modernizzando un genere inflazionato.
Intelligence is a rare commodity in a dumbed down, TOWIE (The Only Way Is Essex for the fortunately uninitiated) world. True wit is even rarer. The uber sceptical, confrontational Norwich band Scumbag Philosopher (who used to labour under the more confrontational and anti-commercial name of Fuck Dress) have both in abundance and bring them to bear on their debut album It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing . They rail at the world from the other side of the mainstream, from a corner of the music world that John Peel used to call home.
With angular guitar, metronomic drums and alienated call and response male/female vocals it’s an album that harks back to a time when indie actually meant something; a time when indie was a badge of honour for bands who stood outside the mainstream not a day pass to the 'C' list; a time when intelligence and experimentation meant more than a diploma from the Brits School. It’s an album that carefully chronicles the petty frustrations of modern life. From the senseless bureaucratic evaluative processes of the modern corporate clones (Tickbox Exercise) to the utter pointlessness and deceits of on-line social interaction (Social Networking Site) they take on popular, consumerist culture in a fight to the death. By the end of the album, by my reckoning, these scumbag philosophers are well ahead on points. Heroes at Home is an hilarious reminder that the so-called heroes of popular culture are no different than us mere mortals. Although I’m not sure that Bono is really worried about his pension plan.
The album’s centrepiece and masterpiece is the naggingly insistent alt punk assault of God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead (formerly known in the band’s Fuck Dress incarnation as Suburban Nietzsche Freak). Abrasive guitars, disinterested semi-spoken boy/girl vocals and a chorus that sticks to the brain like a superglued gecko It’s been around for a couple of years now but still sounds like it’s been freshly minted. It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing burns with angry indignation, sardonic frustration and satirical confidence. It’s heartening that there are bands like Scumbag Philosopher around to remind us of the absurdities of modern life. If they didn’t exist, for our own sanity, we’d need to invent them 7.5/10
It may seem an oxymoron but lo-fi Punk is the closest I can get to describe Scumbag Philosopher, the Norwich 4 piece. Maybe Alan Partridge's view of the East Anglian town being sleepy and laid back transposes itself into the rebellious youth poking fun at religion but not wanting to appear too animated. Even drummer Anne Reekie can only be bothered with 2 drums in her kit.the album is stunning collection of tracks with hypnotic bass lines, chaotic drums, and diverse but complementary vocals which will ensure their infectious choruses will be buzzing around your head all day.
An excellent and original debut album and possibly the best band to come of on Norwich if not he whole of Norfolk!
Amate la rassicurante precisione della matematica e della trigonometria? Dio è morto e lo rimpiazzate ascoltando i Radiohead? Vi stupisce il fatto che il cantante dei Killers si sia scordato di svuotare l’immondizia o che Chris Martin abbia la bolletta del gas da pagare? Quando chattate con due tipe senza vestiti del Brunei, non vi rispondono? Avete a che fare con bigotti supponenti che sanno cos’è giusto e cosa sbagliato e rimpiangono i vecchi, rispettabili tempi d’oro? Questo album potrebbe fare per voi…
Gli “Scumbag Philospher”, quartetto di Norfolk nato come “Fuck Dress” nel 2008, nel loro primo album uscito per l’americana “Words On Music”, offrono testi ironici ed intelligenti, slogan a due voci (quella nervosa e baritonale di Grant Madden, contrapposta a coretti, gridolini e commenti di sottofondo di Anne Reekie) supportati da una base ritmica martellante e da riff di chitarra senza pretese virtuosistiche, ma immediati in pura “old school” post punk (Fall e Gang of Four su tutti, per intenderci). Non è che ci sia molto da dire: nove tracce gradevoli, forse un po’ monotone, all’insegna del “già sentito” per chi è avvezzo a contorsioni e sobbalzi di un certo tipo di musica derivata dal “rock alternativo” degli anni ottanta … Certo che però, quando mi accorgo che nel loro pezzo apparentemente più malinconico e sofferto (Your Heroes At Home) stanno parlando di Amy Winehouse intenta ad impilare le multe per eccesso di velocità, delle preoccupazioni di Bono riguardo al piano pensionistico e della sfortunata foratura della bici di Courtney Love nel suo giardino… finalmente capisco!
Non sarà un capolavoro, ma credetemi: quando lo ascolto il mio faccione è veramente compiaciuto!
La semana pasada se puso en contacto con rcokingandblogin uno de los miembros del grupo Scumbag Philosopher, quería enviarnos su disco de debut para que pudieramos escucharlo y si era posible hacer un comentario del mismo. Tras hacernos llegar el disco y contestar algunas preguntas ya tenemos preparado un pequeño post sobre la música de este nuevo grupo, cuyo primer disco verá la luz a finales de Abril. Cuando Chris Cunningham poco dado a realizar videos de grupos masivos, excepto algunos pequeños casos, como Madonna o Bjork, compuso un video del nuevo grupo The Horrors titulado “Shena is a Parasite”, la mayoría de la gente se lanzó a conocer quien era ese nuevo grupo con el que Chris Cunningham estaba colaborando. Allí descubrimos un grupo siniestro con la inocencia de haber fabricado el disco practicamente ellos solos, un trabajo muy interesante y lleno de ingenuidad y frescura. Tras su disco de debut Cunningham pasó a ser productor del segundo disco y la ingenuidad de las primeras composiciones pasó a convertirse en un amasijo pop que atemperaba las atmosferas a las que nos transportaba su primer trabajo, increible como se puede transformar un grupo con algo de dinero para producción.
Scumbag Philosopher se encuentran igual que The Horros con su primer trabajo. Conserva la ingenuidad y las ganas de un disco de debut, sin aditamentos, sin gran producción, sin espectaculares sonidos. Esta claro lo que quieren ser y a quienes van dirigidos. El grupo se encuentra cerca del lado más oscuro de The Fall, no nos referimos a sus riffs mas conocidos y sus canciones más bailables, sino a quellas en las cuales se tiende más a la disertación. Así se encuentran a medio camino entre el pop y la música psicodélica, trabajando cada una de las canciones para intentar conseguir ese ambiente, a caballo entre la psicodelia y el punk, dentro de la mejor tradición de música independiente inglesa. Claro que lo que distingue a un grupo de otro suele ser la voz del mismo, Scumbag Philosopher tiene dos voces, una masculina y una femenina, tras escuchar la primera canción del disco pensamos en algunas de las canciones de B52, pero el grupo claramente no tiene nada que ver con ellos, si no es que intenten acercarse a la psicoledia. Esa combinación de voces está más cercana al trabajo de The Kills, pero sin pretender llegar al lado más rockero de esta banda sino alejados de ese planteamiento y buscando un camino distinto.
El debut de esta grupo parece interesante, si te gusta la música independiente no te lo debes perder, si vas buscando a Lady Gaga olvidate por completo, este no es tu grupo. Pero si quieres acercarte a un nuevo trabajo y te gustan las guitarras y los parlamentos, Scumbag Philospher se acerca bastante a lo que estas buscando. ¿Que podemos pensar de un grupo que titula una de las canciones del Album “God is dead so I listen to Radiohead”?, declaración de intenciones y single masivo.
In some way I think I’m a post-punk man. I know, it’s a pretty silly term but having said that, I think it’s more silly how these days manufactured boys steal some guitar riff from Joy Division and let us believe they’re the new reincarnation of Manchester’ finest. Post-punk was what happened after punk and it meant that nothing has to be perfect, it just had to come straight out of the heart and that makes bands like Wire or Gang Of Four timeless.
A long introduction to tell you that we received the debut album by a British band named Scumbag Philosopher which gave us the same feeling. Some will say that these nine songs on here have an indie-appeal and that’s kind of true as the interaction between the male vocals from Grant and the female ones from drumster Anne give you some feel that reminds us of The Pixies. But it’s the directness and the lyrics that make them so similar to (forgotten) Peel heroes like Half Man Half Biscuit or I, Ludicrous. Just listen to songs like “Your heroes at home” or “God is dead So I listen to Radiohead” (and no it doesn’t sound Thom Yorke at all!) and you know enough!
For those who still don’t get it: this is the same bitter cynic stuff that could have come out of the head by monsieur Mark E. Smith! According to the band’s label they wrote some classics which equals Gang Of Four’s “Entertainment!” and such words can be debatable but still, we think that this band delivered a great album that captures the essence of post-punk and that is a merit.
This band is to the post-punk of The Fall, early Wire and Gang of Four as Len Price 3 are to mid ’60s UK freakbeat. In other words, after two singles, this UK band’s debut Lp breaks absolutely no new ground here musically, but you absolutely won’t find a better band playing this style and the energy, sincerity and contemporary lyrics (dealing with subjects like social networking and those who are sanctimonious about music) show that this is not merely another nostalgia trip or cash-in attempt after the success of other UK bands who have tried this style. With only 9 songs in 27 minutes, it’s an exhilarating ride, too!
Business Lady gave this 4/5. Scumbag Philosopher are a four piece post-punk outfit most likely from London town, though I can’t be sure. ‘It Means Nothing So It Means Nothing’ is an almost perfect presentation of the post-punk blueprint.
It not only features spiky guitars, chunky slabs of bass and repetitive drum grooves, it also contains the kind of wry social commentary you’d expect from a Wire/Gang Of Four/Red Monkey/Submission Hold LP. Scumbag Philosopher break from the mould by enlisting an additional drummer. Though it doesn’t make a dramatic difference to their overall approach it does free up drummer/vocalist Anne Reekie to add a feminine vocal contrast to Grant Madden’s dry baritone, thus lifting these tracks from potential drudgery. ‘It Means Nothing…’ is definitely an amusing listen and with track titles like ‘God is Dead So I Listen to Radiohead’, ‘Sunshine Corporation’, ‘Your Heroes At Home’ and ‘Social Networking Site’ it’s apparent that these kids excel in the fine art of sardonic wi! t.
Biting stuff.
One shouldn’t start with a negative when writing about a fine piece of work, but the saddest point to make about Scumbag Philosopher is that if John Peel were still alive, they would be on constant rotation on his show. For this Norfolk act are anarchic, witty, punky and – at their best – downright catchy.
The record begins with an anthem that would be appreciated by anyone who has worked in a large organisation. ‘Tickbox Exercise’ is a cracking song too; with Grant Madden’s cynical vocals defying appraisal systems (“You want me to strive to be better but don’t follow your own letter”) backed up by drummer Anne Reekie’s high-pitched response, whilst the guitars and rhythms create a tight Gang Of Four-style framework.
Each song appears to have a target. ‘Heroes At Home’ debunks celebrity culture, the incredibly infectious ‘Social Networking Site’ throws scorn on the likes of Facebook (“Add me but I’m in the same room. Friend me, but I’m sat next to you”) and ‘God Is Dead So I Listen To Radiohead’ speaks for itself. The quartet are angry and satirical but also back up their songs with compelling riffs and vocal hooks. It would be rather ironic if their addictive qualities were matched by extended airplay but it’s important that provocative music like this exists.