Amyl and the Sniffers - Cartoon Darkness (Album Review)
Friday, 01 November 2024
Written by Emma Wilkes
Photo: John Angus Stewart
We already know that Amyl and the Sniffers are loud and boisterous, and that they have a penchant for a trip to the pub. But thanks to ‘Cartoon Darkness’ we also know that they haven’t been too busy clowning to stop and take notice of the slowly deteriorating world around them. On album three their gritty punk vibrancy remains firmly intact, but there are added shades of grey that make any washes of bright colour pop even more.
At its best, ‘Cartoon Darkness’ is pithy, outlandish and impossible not to love. Opener Jerkin’ is side-splittingly vulgar as vocalist Amy Taylor shouts back at the haters choking the chicken behind a keyboard, while the grooving U Should Not Be Doing That is an equally lairy celebration of kicking out at not only actual critics but also our inner critics.
Tiny Bikini, meanwhile, feels like a quirkier, cheekier take on a Riot Grrrl anthem, while Me And The Girls is so much fun that it might just make you desperate for an invitation to whatever wild party Taylor and the girls are having, even if they’re just “drunk at the airport”.
That’s their cartoonish side, but their darker side is just as interesting. The downtrodden Big Dreams beautifully captures the tug of war between the desire to escape and the economy saying no, but still scrambles for hope. “Just take a breath and get out of this place / I know you can just get yourself together,” Taylor sings.
Bailing On Me, meanwhile, contrasts the malaise of heartbreak with a bright, almost retro groove. On the other hand, It’s Mine and Motorbike Song finds their sense of fury with scabrous riffs harking back to their pub-rock roots, hammering home that Amyl and the Sniffers are not sacrificing any inch of their individuality for mainstream success. Then again, after this album, world domination might be inevitable. Boy is it deserved.
Amyl And The Sniffers Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue November 05 2024 - DUBLIN National Stadium
Wed November 06 2024 - GLASGOW O2 Academy Glasgow
Thu November 07 2024 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NX
Sat November 09 2024 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy
Sun November 10 2024 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Mon November 11 2024 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Wed November 13 2024 - LONDON Roundhouse
Thu November 14 2024 - LONDON Roundhouse
Fri November 15 2024 - LONDON Roundhouse
Sat November 15 2025 - LONDON Alexandra Palace
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