Description
To describe Idles as punk can be somewhat misleading, if only because it conjures images of late-'70s fashion and politics. However, they certainly inhabit the spirit of punk -- including the spittle-inducing vitriol and the acerbic lyrics -- but with a newfound energy that isn't trying to re-create an old aesthetic; instead, it's the sound of an angry band reacting to an increasingly tense and imbalanced world.
Brutalism's debut album balances tragedy and comedy in an absurdist satire on the rich elite's ignorance of the poor, with standout track "Well Done" taking aim at Mary Berry's supposed love of reggae. Talbot's infectious lyrics and soaring choruses back up the gut punches and sniggers with solid songwriting.