Everybody Was In The French Resistance... Now! - Fixin' The Charts, Volume One

In some of the more glowing appraisals of his work with Art Brut, Eddie Argos has been compared favourably to Craig Finn, barroom bard and Hold Steady’s head honcho. But it’s impossible to envisage Finn ever putting his name to anything as awful as Fixin’ the Charts. Argos’ maiden musical venture with girlfriend Dyan Valdes of The Blood Arm is comprised of ‘response songs’. Billie’s Genes, for example, is written from the point of view of the sprog in question, who counters MJ’s claim that “the kid is not his son.” Walk Alone refutes Gerry and the Pacemakers and Coal Digger takes a pop at Kanye. The whole thing reeks of novelty. Argos’ sprechgesang delivery always has the potential to grate, and the weakness of the musical backing – completely bereft of invention – ensures it does exactly that here. The motivation behind this record is perplexing. [Finbarr Bermingham]