Art Pop - Teenage Scum
Imagine a starting scene from a movie—a group of friends riding their bicycles through the bylanes of their old, rugged neighborhood. Laughers, chases, and memories constructed as they move down the lanes. This is what the first listen to Teenage Scum by Art Pop sounds like. A breeze of fresh garage punk and lo‑fi art‑punk with a hint of proto‑punk and DIY aesthetic. Teenage Scum by Art Pop is a piece made for the young. The song starts strong with a very raw, gritty sound. The distorted guitars consort with unpolished vocals, a build-up very reminiscent of garage punk bands like The Stooges or MC5. The piece has a ‘live’ feel to it. The heavy distortion of the guitar, paired with the fuzz, is straightforward, locking in tight with the kick drum. This gives a firm backbone for the song and makes it energetic. The vocals can be described as rough and urgent— an intentional artistic choice so as to match the genre’s ethos. Some parts sound slightly aggressive, too, which reinforces the choice. The song gives the feel of an anthem, one where social realism meets vulnerability. When you intercept the lyrics, the verses aren’t abstract or overly poetic. They are direct, and this helps the listeners in making relations— be it with anxiety or the economic struggle many young adults face today. Stand by Me (1986), the song is a perfect fit for the movie. It reeks of the carefree nature of youth, nostalgia, and adventure in a small town.
The Stolen Moans - Elbows Don’t Have Eyes
Disoriented– in a good way. It is in the middle of a carnival when you hear a song playing at a stall in fervour. The sound kicks your gut. The guitar mixed with signature vocals distorts you. All mixed with the buzz of the carnival, high on adrenaline. This is what listening to the latest album, Elbows Don’t Have Eyes by The Stolen Moans, feels like. The album features 13 songs, all so different yet chambered together in a fusion album. The listening experience feels like walking into a punk show, a protest rally, and a performance art installation all at once. The album is a fusion of garage-punk, experimental pop, art rock, and noise-pop, with hints of darkwave, post-punk, and even cinematic goth. These choices make the album stand out as an ambitious debut. The pieces oscillate between raw aggression, surreal lyricism, danceable grooves, and moments of atmospheric calm. With this album, the trio manifests a very refreshing, raw punk power. You hear tracks like More where the echo is early CBGB-era punk, while infusing funk and R&B lifts. This sense of familiar yet unexpected energy keeps listeners hooked. A quick jump. The songs jump from garage rock to dark disco. With jumps from tracks like Trees V3 to dadaist sound experiments Pu Num Tu, to an explosive chaos, I’m a Crow, there’s an unpredictability that creates a very dynamic listening experience. It’s somehow both disorienting and exhilarating. When it comes to the lyrics, the verses are very socially grounded. Words touch on topics like workplace misogyny, anarchist manifestos, feline royalty, and pulling a mirror to societal issues through imaginative imagery. This elevates the album in terms of style as well as substance. The songs have a rough edge to them. The first listen to songs like Dada Catapult, Falling Into, and Our Song feels like taking a bite. The songs hit you hard with drums, and the production avoids over-polish. This gives a raw, sort of live performance feel to the songs. The tracks also feature some very catchy hooks. Songs like Our Song introduce melodic respite amid the frenzy, offering singalong choruses and emotional clarity. Meanwhile, the closing epilogue and Falling Into add contrast. It is a delicate yet volatile mix that leaves an emotional impact. There are pauses, too. With songs like Bard-Inspired Treachery, Chaos and Heartbreak, there comes a featured piano in the beginning that gives the listeners a breather before delving into more complex pieces. The album fits the movie We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2021). Especially the song Falling Into. It seems to be an apt play during a long webcam monologue, adding emotional layers and ambiguity.