It's a Bit Complicated

It's a Bit Complicated
Studio album by Art Brut
Released 18 June 2007 (2007-06-18)
Genre Indie rock, garage punk, garage rock
Length 33:55
Label Mute
Producer Dan Swift
Art Brut chronology
Bang Bang Rock & Roll
(2005)		 It's a Bit Complicated
(2007)		 Art Brut vs. Satan
(2009)
Singles from It's a Bit Complicated
  1. "Nag Nag Nag Nag"
    Released: 20 November 2006
  2. "Direct Hit"
    Released: 25 June 2007
  3. "Pump Up the Volume"
    Released: 11 February 2008

It's a Bit Complicated is the second album by British band Art Brut. It is the follow-up to their debut album Bang Bang Rock & Roll and was released on 19 June 2007. It debuted on the UK Albums Chart at #123.

Writing and recording

It's A Bit Complicated was recorded at London’s Terminal Studios and was produced by Dan Swift (whose other work includes Futureheads, Franz Ferdinand and Snow Patrol),[1] "a more like-minded producer"[2] according to Argos. 'With the first album, we were all still at work and stuff, so we couldn't all be in the studio at the time' Argos says. 'We couldn't really gang up on the producer and do what we wanted'.[2] This time round, the band had more input in the production, though. 'We'd all be there at once so we could gang up on him. We'd say "Do it like this!" You're just more comfortable when you're all there. So, that made it better. In fact, Ian [Catskillian] lived at the studio for a bit. We'd come in and find all these new backing vocals and things [that he had done overnight]. When someone is living in the studio, you sort of get into it'.[2]

Explaining the songwriting process, Eddie says; 'I was trying to write the words to the music as they wrote the music, but that was bit stupid and a bit complicated, so I had to go home and write the words at home and I came in and added the words to the music afterwards'.[3]

'We wanted this album to sound sort of bigger and polished' Argos says. 'We're working towards writing very honest pop music. And we mean it. We've been trying to do that. The last two songs I wrote for the first album were "Emily Kane" and "Rusted Guns of Milan." I love them. I like being that person who's so honest. So, this [album] happens to be more like that. And, I'm a bit complicated so, it's a bit complicated'.[2]

Ellaborating on the album's title, Argos said; 'With the first one, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, it was just songs we had been playing live. It was already written when we recorded it. But this time we sort of sat down and tried to write songs… which was a bit complicated. Not too complicated. We got over it. So, the music is more complicated; we've got some trumpets and things like that'.[4] 'That’s what we kept saying all the while we were recording the album;‘it’s a bit complicated’. It just made sense that that would be the title.'[5]

New guitarist

Eddie and new guitarist Jasper 'Jeff' Future

It's A Bit Complicated is the first Art Brut album to feature guitarist Jasper 'Jeff' Future. When Chris Chinchilla left the group in late 2005 (citing financial and personal problems[6]) he was soon replaced by Future, who'd previously played guitar in Eddie Argos' earlier band, The Art Goblins.[7] According to Argos, "Chris didn't want to tour. He gets tired easily. He is busy. He has another band. He is writing a book. He left because of that. He has been replaced by Jasper. I have known Jasper for years. He was in my previous band. I phoned him up: 'Chris has left. Do you want to join?' And he said: 'Sure. When?' I said 'Like Today!' He had to move and leave his house".[8] Reflecting on Chinchilla's departure, Argos has said; 'I’m quite stupid. I thought it was romantic, starving to death in a bedsit somewhere. But Chris likes comfort more than me I think, so he left.'[5]

Talking about Jasper's input in the band, Argos says; 'It's funny, I love the way I see Ian and Jasper [Future, rhythm guitarist] play guitar together. It's like pick-up sticks or legos or something'.[2]

After leaving the group, Chinchilla formed a new band, Macaca Mulata, with former members of London Punk band, Rhesus.[6][9][10] The group relocated to Australia and recorded their debut album, AAA, on a budget of $150,[11][12] in just six hours. The album was released online in April 2008, after the group had disbanded.[11]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [13]
Artrocker.com [14]
Blender [15]
NME(8/10) [16]
PopMatters(7/10) [17]
The Guardian [18]
Pitchfork Media(7.4/10) [19]
Rolling Stone [20]
Yahoo! Music UK(5/10) [21]
URB [22]

The initial reaction to the album has been generally favorable. The Guardian awarded the album full marks, comparing the group to both The Fall and Half Man Half Biscuit. Their glowing review of the album concluded with the line: "Full of the kind of bathetic genius English pop used to excel in, Art Brut are life-affirming - and are worth 500 of almost every other new guitar band."[23] NME gave the album 8/10, believing that the group seemed "poised on the brink of mainstream acceptance".[24] Pitchfork's review of the album was positive, scoring them 7.4, and noting "Art Brut have succeeded in crafting a satisfying half-mature sequel"[25]

Not all reviews were positive, however; Q's Simon Goddard stated that after their first album Bang Bang Rock & Roll, It's a Bit Complicated sounds "extremely tired," with the "principal culprit" being singer Eddie Argos, who "is torturous after the full 34 [minutes]."[26]

Departure from EMI

In February 2008, EMI released "Pump Up the Volume" the third single from It's a Bit Complicated without informing the band.[27] There was no physical release of the single and only a video was released after the single had been issued. Writing on the Art Brut website, the band stated; "It seems Art Brut have accidentally released a single. Yes, the rumours are true. But how could this happen, you may ask? Why were we not informed? Well, my friends, pick up any thread of incompetence and it will usually lead you to a record company. That's right, it seems EMI have decided to release 'Pump up the Volume' without informing either the band or myself, making any kind of widescale promotion rather difficult."[28] On 1 March 2008, Argos subsequently revealed on his blog that Art Brut and EMI had amicably parted.

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Pump Up the Volume"   2:56
2. "Direct Hit"   3:34
3. "St Pauli"   2:58
4. "People in Love"   3:04
5. "Late Sunday Evening"   3:11
6. "I Will Survive"   3:31
7. "Post Soothing Out"   3:15
8. "Blame It on the Trains"   3:01
9. "Sound of Summer"   2:48
10. "Nag Nag Nag Nag"   3:10
11. "Jealous Guy"   3:18
Total length:
 33:55

Credits

References

  1. ↑ "ART BRUT RETURN / News Stories / Music News from THE FLY - The UK's Most Popular Music Magazine". The Fly. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Interview: Eddie Argos of Art Brut (Pt. 3) - ARTISTdirect News". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  3. ↑ Krinsley, Jeremy (6 August 2007). "Eddie Argos of Art Brut | Bothering". Impose Magazine. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  4. ↑ "Interview: Eddie Argos of Art Brut - ARTISTdirect News". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  5. 1 2 "Coda Music Agency LLP - Talent Booking Agency | Corporate Events Entertainment". Codaagency.com. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  6. 1 2 "One Louder". Oneloudernyc.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  7. ↑ "Music News from THE FLY - The UK's Most Popular Music Magazine". The Fly. 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  8. ↑ Laurence, Alexander (31 December 2005). "The portable-infinite: Art Brut". Portable-infinite.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  9. ↑ Macaca Mulatta 0 5 years ago in MP3s (23 July 2006). "Macaca Mulatta". Another Form of Relief. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  10. ↑ "Macaca Mulatta - Artist - triple j Unearthed - free music | new Australian music | independent music". triple j Unearthed. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  11. 1 2 "Macaca Mulatta | blog op Myspace". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  12. ↑ ChrisChinchilla Chris Chinchilla+ Add Contact (19 November 2007). "Macaca Mulatta Album Recording | Flickr - Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  13. ↑ Phares, Heather (19 June 2007). "AllMusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  14. ↑ "Reviews | Slash The Seats". Artrocker.com. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  15. ↑ Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  16. ↑ "NME Album Reviews - Art Brut". Nme.Com. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  17. ↑ Keefe, Michael. "Art Brut: Its a Bit Complicated < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  18. ↑ David Peschek (22 June 2007). "CD: Art Brut, It's Getting a Bit Complicated | Music | The Guardian". London: Arts.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  19. ↑ "It's a Bit Complicated | Pitchfork". PitchforkMedia.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  20. ↑ "Its a Bit Complicated : Art Brut : Review : Rolling Stone". RollingStone.com. 13 June 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  21. ↑ "Art Brut It's A Bit Complicated Album Review, New album reviews and latest album releases on Yahoo! Music". UK.Launch.Yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  22. ↑ "URB Magazine :: Reviews :: - Art Brut". Urb.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  23. ↑ David Peschek (22 June 2007). "CD: Art Brut, It's Getting a Bit Complicated | Music". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  24. ↑ "NME Album Reviews - Art Brut". Nme.Com. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  25. ↑ "Art Brut: It's a Bit Complicated | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 20 June 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  26. ↑ "Art Brut: It's A Bit Complicated". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
  27. ↑ "» Art Brut Who Shot Ya". Who-shot-ya.com. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
  28. ↑ "ART BRUT SINGLE RELEASED BY EMI WITHOUT THE BAND KNOWING / News Stories / Music News from THE FLY - The UK's Most Popular Music Magazine". The Fly. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
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