It only seemed like yesterday that The Brutalists breezed through the door with an album that made many people sit up and pay attention as these seasoned pros (I’m sure they won’t mind that) used every sinew of nous between them to craft one of last years best debut albums. I’m pleased to announce that 2019 they’ve seen fit to put on their dapper zoot suits and loafers and jump on their Lambretta’s to deliver their sophomore album ‘We Are Not Here To Help You’.
Let’s get straight down to business with ‘Leave IT Out’ (try not to put on your best arfu Daley when saying that. It’s bright and breezy as it ducks and dives around in its pork pie hat and finest Mod fretwork. With a nod and a wink to the ’60s rhythm and blues we’re right on it. What you might call a right solid opener. Not spectacular and certainly not disappointing. The guitar playing is tasty and the solo is retro tastic.
It’s not about the singer its not about the image it’s about the song and These Brutalists have got a duffle bag full of ’em. Nigel Mogg guitarist/vocalist Kent Holmes, bassist Robert Cripps and vocalist/drummer Charlie Nice are knocking out a really good legacy of tunes as The Brutalists ‘If I Just Do Nothing Now’ is complimented by a really sweet rolling organ underneath the melody as that Cockney charm is given a workout.
‘Take It All Away’ gets a bit Bowie funky on us and shows that this isn’t just a one-trick pony although it fits in with the bigger picture it’s more akin to the Stones around their ‘Emotional Rescue’ phase perhaps even on the middle eight it has shades of Japan or a more pop sensible Hanoi Rocks I kid you not. ‘Something To Say’ falls outta Notting Hill in the late ’70s and no doubt Mogg gets his best Strummer happening as the band chill out and kick back. Getting a little deeper in their Ska ‘Price On Your Head’ is an excellent bit of skank as the musicians really cut loose.
If you never heard the debut and thought you might be picking up a Rock album considering the LA Guns and Quireboys connections then I suggest you take a deep breath and open your mind to new sounds because this isn’t like either this is something else entirely with elements of the Small Faces and the Clash mixed with some Rock and Roll and Ska this is a mixed bag for sure but its the sound of a band really working on their songs and delivering another impressive record ‘You Got Nothing On Me’ rocks it up to compliment the laid back vibe of the previous few tracks but essentially this is a band comfortable making music they want to hear and writing the second album of really strong material it might be lacking the instant appeal of the first one based on the fact that I expected to hear something along the lines of what they deliver and I’m glad to report that it doesn’t disappoint.
Fear not rockers because ‘Useless Information’ is a sweet little rock and roller. If only Keith and Mick could put an album together as good as this these days fans would be drooling. The last part of the album is definitely in Stones territory and the sum up this album on the final track ‘It Was Never Meant To Be So Easy’ well, that’s certainly what they make this Rock and Roll business sound like, It’s not a piece of piss is it? but the Brutalists make it sound like that. I strongly suggest you at least check this out but I’d go further and say just Buy it you won’t be disappointed.
Buy We Are Not Here To Help You Here
Author: Dom Daley
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