These days, I find comfort in cynicism. It’s a coping mechanism. I just doubt things are going to change for the better and am glad to leave the hoping to younger people. Like LIFE, the Hull-based punks who have just released their debut album, the dryly titled “Popular Music”. Throughout eleven songs they rage against the establishment, politicians, Trump, Brexit and everything else that doesn’t strike their fancy.
And they do a pretty good job of it. Sure, it’s not entirely original and you will regularly hear echoes of The Clash, Buzzcocks or a less snarky Future Of The Left. And the album’s second half is not equally ‘popular music’ in my playlist as the first half. But their anger radiates sincerity and they bring so much energy to the table that it’s hard not to get caught up in songs like “In Your Hands”, “Go Go Go” and “Rare Boots”.
Track listing:
- In Your Hands
- Sugar God
- Go Go Go
- Rare Boots
- Membership Man
- Earthworm
- Popular Music
- Electricity
- Beautifully Skint
- Ba Ba Ba
- Euromillions
