CD review

Mongrel:

Better Than Heavy

Album review by Samson McD

 

Arctic Monkey’s drummer Matt Helders belts some mean skins here, unfortunately that’s where the goodness begins and ends for UK not-so-super group Mongrel. As a calling to arms of the disenchanted, unaffected middleclass this album lacks originality and vision; what remains is a series of overproduced generic cliches that for my money miss the mark both musically and politically.

            The message here is all a bit too clear; war in Iraq—bad; George Bush—bad; racism—bad; politicians—bad; terrorism—a reaction. While I largely share these sentiments, this is hardly breaking news and, frankly, if you’re not wise to these notions due to your spending the last decade parked in front of a bong and a game console, then you’re hardly likely to start giving a shit now. Worst of all, there exists an undeniable quality of flow to this album that leaves the bitter taste of clear wasted potential.

            If Jamie Oliver’s made for TV Cockney twang makes you want to smack him in his fat git face, then give this album a wide berth. Reeking of best intentions but begging for sincerity, Mongrel could use exactly that to make a bit more of a splash—just a bit more mongrel with my spoon fed polit-hop please.