I’ve never gone in for the whole “so bad it’s good” thing. Not for me. But Dune Rats are back with “If It Sucks, Turn It Up” and the Aussies are well placed to get people playing these pop anthems everywhere.
The sort of band that are dumb, fun, and irresistible, the title track worms its way in unnoticed, and that’s even more true of the hook-laden “Be Like You”.
Their last album went to number one back home and they’ve opened for Don Broco over here. You can see why as “Solar Eyes” swirls by.
Singer/guitarist Danny Beus reckons that because they’re five albums into their career they should be able to release a record that shows all their different sides – and no one can argue that “…Up” does that. “Cheapskate” is as summery as anthems get, and “Main Beach” pulls things in from all over.
Nothing here outstays its welcome. “High Roller Selling Dope” is in and out and perfect power pop in 140 seconds, and this is the type of record that sweeps you into its energy whether you like it or not. “Paper Cuts Rehab” does exactly that.
There are loads of Aussie punk bands at the moment. The Chats, for example, would happily do “Rich Kid Rehab” – albeit it wouldn’t have the same melodic sensibility this does, although “Time Bomb” is more a sneering punk rock song that is sniffing glue with its mates so Dune Rats could do it too.
Indeed, by the time they’ve finished “If It Sucks, Turn It Up” with an acoustic, almost Stones-y romp of “Beers, Bongs and Bullshit” there’s not a lot that Dune Rats can’t do, to be honest with you.
Nowhere as dumb as it pretends it is, these songs are pop gems that are well placed to make Dune Rats stars anywhere people want to smile.
Rating 7.5/10
