Idles - Ultra Mono
Just buy this album now!
So this was my first introduction to this particular band, and my first impression is that they might be a wee bit angry at stuff in general. Seriously though, it’s an immediate assault to the eardrums, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Why I haven’t heard these guys before is a bit of a mystery, but then in this day and age it’s always possible that stuff slips through under the radar. Idles have a lot to say, and it’s more than apparent that they’re just not impressed with the state of the world in general, in fact they’re quite happy to shout out their messages at every opportunity, and an unsuspecting audience may well be blindsided by the sheer force behind it.
The general feel of this album is angst. The lyrics are thought provoking, and the delivery is spot on, straddling the line between indie and punk pretty much perfectly. It just begs to be listened to just to appreciate the full impact. It’s almost impossible for this to just fade into the background. The position should be front and centre because that’s the only place that this album can be appreciated fully.
That said, the music is secondary compared to the message conveyed in the tracks. I’m not detracting from the music in any way, as that area is absolutely on point, but you need to listen to the lyrics to understand what the band is trying to express.
To sum things up, if you’re looking for something you can relate to, from a working-class point of view, then this album is right up there in your “must buy/listen” list. This is music for the masses, even though the masses might not like it, but who cares? Idles certainly don’t, they stand loud and proud, like it or not, and hold a middle finger to the oppressors of society, and that’s fine by me.
Just buy this album now!
9/10
