Art Brut release a new five cd ‘best of’ box set with `And Yes, This Is My Singing Voice! ` this month.
The collection features the debut album `Bang Bang Rock and Roll`, their second studio album `It’s A Bit Complicated`, along with unreleased live material `Art Brut – Live in Paris 2006` and `Art Brut Live From ULU with Horns`.
Of the thirteen tracks that make up the first cd `Bang Bang Rock and Roll`, we have tracks that have been used in video games, television programmes, and even a commercial during the Super bowl. `Formed A Band` retains its delightfully egotistic nigh on haughty self-importance. There`s the amusing observational view of potential emigration with `Moving to L.A` and what was a hidden track `Subliminal Desire for Adventure` a quite mesmerising funky instrumental.
Second cd `It’s A Bit Complicated` has the swaggering `Pump Up the Volume` a single that was released without the band`s permission. `St Pauli` is a bass driven foot-tapper and still stands up along with the quirky `Jealous Guy` which closes out this disc.
The third disc `Bang Bang Rock and Roll, Bootlegs and B-Sides + Live From ULU w/ Horns` includes twenty five tracks of which there`s a stripped back acoustic `Moving to L.A`, short, sweet and punky `Top Of The Pops!` which has the band and friends singing/shouting along and `Emily Kane` a favourite of singer Eddie Argos and offered live with a horn section. It closes out with an extended version of `Good Weekend` which runs at nearly nine minutes in length partly due to a drum solo and audience participation.
On disc number four `It’s A Bit Complicated (Bootlegs & BSides)` we enjoy a further fifteen cuts. Amongst the rarities are the shouty `Direct Hit` with has a duet with Hank Starrs From Animals That Swim, an alternative version of `Late Sunday Evening` and closes with a live version of `Nag Nag Nag Nag` from the Eurokéennes Festival.
The fifth and final disc `Live in Paris 06/02/2006` has a further fifteen bangers. It opens with `Formed A Band` which leads in with Metallica`s `Enter Sandman`, the slow burn `Rusted Guns of Milan` another favourite of singer Eddie Argos, the quite waltz like mesmerising `Stand Down` before leaving us with the thumping `Good Weekend`.
On this box set there`s eighty tracks to enjoy over the five discs so i`m sure they`ll be something here for all to relish. Like me this release with allow you to reacquaint yourself with these art punk garage rockers who hit the road in September for a fourteen-day tour of the UK and Germany, where i’m sure a fair few of these tracks will get a dusting down.
Rating 8.5/10
