Nag Nag Nag (+Nag)

Not only three nags (Cabaret Voltaire), but four, for Art Brut's new single, released today (November 13, 2006) entitled Nag Nag Nag Nag.

"It's about, and it can't just be me, when I was younger and my parents had a go at me, or I was in a bad mood I'd put my Walkman on and go for a big long walk to sort myself out. And I was thinking about how much I did that - ignored my parents nagging me - and realising that people who do that grow up funny - you miss something you should have been told because you weren't listening. I don't feel any different now to when i was 17 - I'm 26 now - I don't think you change really between those periods and maybe it's because you're not listening to people. I dunno it sounds very pretentious when I say it but it's just about putting your walkman on, stonking out of the house and coming back again" - Eddie Argos (Artrocker, Sep 2006)

AB is definitely the vanguard of ironic rock. Without their Velvet Underground mocking, their excessive ambitions, and their distant relations with popular culture, they'd just be another UK garage flash in the pan. I listened to Bang Bang Rock & Roll over and over (and over and over and over) to the point where when I finally saw them live, I was one of the very few fans chanting along, for every song.

The first time I heard this track was at the Opera House in Toronto on October 14th, part of their latest tour, which features We Are Scientists as the support act. It's a good single with catchy guitar hooks and their trademark execution of sarcasm+irony+cockney accent. Admittedly it's better onstage than on record, though the band is spectacular live so I can't complain. My favourite line - "Wet trousers in the washing machine, but I'd rather be damp than seen in jeans." For some reason, which Eddie explained but I can't seem to remember, the band don't like jeans. Hah! Can't win them all I suppose.

"Art Bruts, NAG! NAG! NAG! NAG!" as Eddie said.

Art Brut - Nag Nag Nag Nag [mp3] [buy]