Lupen Crook – The Pros and Cons of Eating Out

For an act that has been in existence for just over five years, Lupen Crook have left a hefty trail of releases in their wake, with The Pros and Cons of Eating Out, signalling their fourth full-length album, amongst a plethora of extended E.P.s.

Alas, their prolificacy has provided a catalogue which at best inspires indifference, at worst, rash-like irritation. Little has changed for The Pros and Cons… as their wide-eyed enthusiasm quickly turns from initially endearing to ultimately enraging, with the frantic fairground-pop of Will O the Wisp, and the jaunty, generic honky-tonk of Lest We Connect the Crooked Family, leading their manic charge.

When the Ritalin finally kicks in, they come down with the rather nice World’s End; however by that point, their self-satisfied, cheeky-chappie cheeriness may already have driven you into the shadows for refuge. [Paul Neeson]