Millie Manders and the Shutup release their second album `Wake Up, Shut Up, Work` at the end of this month which follows on from `Telling Truths, Breaking Ties` and it’s an album that tackles mental health and women’s rights, and how hard life currently is.
The album opens with `Angry Side` a forceful but thoughtful look at the folly of youth. A reflection on the singer’s adolescent rage and fury shared in a pounding thumping rock out with some delightful sax tones scattered throughout. We enjoy a more energetic nigh on rapped musing with `Shut Your Mouth` which appears to ponder on the attraction of romantic partners that bring a kind of toxicity with them and trying to avoid the attraction.
`Me Too` explores the culture of victim blaming and shame that infects conversations on sexual assault. A powerful exploration shared in a fury filled tirade but with the rage held in check and concisely directed. There`s a ska like vibe to `Fun Sponge` a comment on self-worth which channels the anger of when women`s views are ignored, regardless of their relevance.
`Windows` bounces between a ska and punk like tone and may well be another view on self-analysis. The pace is a little slower, but the resentment is still ramped up on `R.I.P.` which seems to be a metaphor for a relationship that has expired.
`Halloween` is a further brooding submission on what may be an inevitable break up. I read that `Rebound` was inspired by a toxic relationship. A lively danceable and humorous offering but with a sincere and serious message at its core.
`One That Got Away A.V` addresses the concept of being that past love that was lost to the whims of fate and has a delightful danceable punk ska texture that`s really hard to resist. There` a kind of spoken word stream of consciousness running through `Threadbare` at times. A track that hints at surviving difficult times, physically and mentally.
`Can I Get Off? ` is an invective against the multiple “genocidal” conflicts happening across the world. A track that`s loaded with sturdy sentiment and presented in an at times quavering sporadic edgy soundscape. The album closes out with `Pressure` which races along with an underlying restrained tension.
`Wake Up, Shut Up, Work` is an energic and dynamic listen and is full of thoughtful, honest, spirited, and animated lyrical content. Millie heads up the vocals along with guitar and alto sax and is assisted by Joe Quigley on guitar, George Boreham on bass and Pete Wright on drums and samples to bring her vision to light.
At times, the subject matter isn`t easy to listen to as it addresses subjects such as toxic masculinity, mental health struggles, female empowerment, and gender inequality but it`s shared in a way that isn`t preachy and against a really irresistible danceable soundscape.
As the famous quotation says, “the pen is mightier than the sword” and here it rings true with around forty minutes of thought-provoking aural pleasure.
Rating 8.5/10
