On his sixth solo record, John Grant leans into 1980s textures and vocoder, delivering 11 songs of varied, entertaining synth-pop that, while offering a marvellous platform for his unique, occasionally hilarious lyricism, don't quite match his best work.
The stand out moment is It’s a Bitch, a slapping synth-funk cut that dazzles and struts. It channels certain imperial phase Prince moments, alongside a hint of Swiss (semi-novelty) duo Yello in its production and arrangement.
And, perhaps unsurprisingly, the words are just great: “I was deep within the bowels of the establishment / Wondering how I'm ever gonna pay the rent / I was boning up on my Icelandic declensions / When the landlord rang me up and said / ‘You don't get no extension.’”
The actual sound of Grant's voice recalls some of the more processed moments on Beck’s 1999 record ‘Midnite Vultures’, while the humorous swagger takes us all the way to the Pet Shop Boys or, possibly, Flight of the Conchords.
Another great moment comes on All That School For Nothing, which opens with dancing digital bass and expands into a fully fledged party track at around 85 bpm. As ever, Grant’s lyrics take centre stage: “I got the seven-year itch about two minutes in / When they told me 'bout the concept of original sin.”
It’s literary and conscientious, highly diaristic writing that makes one think of Morrissey, though Grant seems both more opinionated and somehow less aggressive than the former Smiths figurehead (or maybe that’s just Morrissey as he appears now).
Either way, it's the best thing about 'The Art of the Lie'. It’s writing that is sometimes angry, sometimes horny, but always undercut with self effacing humour and a touch of despair at the world. While it doesn’t quite hit the heights of his previous record — 2021’s ‘Boy from Michigan’ — ‘The Art of the Lie’ remains a decent and frequently compelling waltz around the mind of this pop outsider.
John Grant Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu October 17 2024 - LONDON Hackney Church
Fri October 18 2024 - LONDON Hackney Church
Sat October 19 2024 - SUNDERLAND Fire Station
Mon October 21 2024 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Tue October 22 2024 - DUBLIN Vicar Street
Thu October 24 2024 - CARDIFF Tramshed
Fri October 25 2024 - BRISTOL Beacon Hall, Bristol Beacon
Sat October 26 2024 - BEXHILL ON SEA Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion
Mon October 28 2024 - BIRMINGHAM Town Hall
Tue October 29 2024 - NORWICH Epic Studios
Thu October 31 2024 - MANCHESTER New Century
Fri November 01 2024 - LEEDS Project House
Sat November 02 2024 - LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall
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