The words “genre defying” are a bit overused, and constitute a phrase that really doesn’t make sense. I’d go more in depth with that opinion, but that would just add up to a bunch of sentences of me trying to explain some idiotic statement. And, it’d make me look like a self-righteous jackass who talks about himself for the entire first paragraph of an album review. Oh, um, I’ll just start talking about XX Teens and their debut LP, Welcome to Goon Island, a record that, well, defies genres.
Goon Island is the best mix of guitars and dance music beats since Death From Above 1979’s lone album You’re a Woman I’m a Machine. The difference is that XX Teens takes its string influence from that of punk rock and not heavy metal suicide. But it’s not that poppy punk shit. It’s the “I’m British and I think you are a shit heel” sound made so famous by the Sex Pistols. Or at least that’s the overall sensation I’ve taken away from this album. Truth be told, I first got pulled into Goon Island when I thought I heard Damon Albarn’s guitar for a moment. Then I skipped to the next track—hoping I hadn’t stumbled upon another Britpop wannabe—and I heard something completely different.
Each song on Goon Island has its own personality, all the while keeping the sound of the band intact. “Darlin” comes on and sounds like something from a circus, with its boisterous horn section driving the raspy guitar throughout the track. “B-54” is a bit slowed down at the beginning, as we hear deadpan talking slip into a drug-crazed spiral. The audible smashing together of punk drums and guitars with synthesizer sounds is never more apparent than on “For Brian Haw." From the sounds of it, I don’t think Brian is ever going to be really too happy to hear this tune.
What I don’t understand is XX Teens’ ability to fly under the radar. Goon Island comes some four years after the band started playing together and has received little attention by us music writers. Hell, I’ve had this album in my possession for months, and am only now dishing out some love. It was only on the strength of my raving about it that my editors asked me to review it. Either way, famous or not, this first LP from XX Teens will most assuredly go on my end of year top ten list.
Artist:
www.goonisland.tv
myspace.com/xxteens
Download:
XX Teens – “Darlin” – [mp3]
Album:
Welcome to Goon Island is out now. Buy it on Amazon.
