Vocalist Eddie Argos (an ex-goth obsessed with Jonathan Richman and Vincent Van Gogh) had previously been in a band, The Art Goblins, in his hometown of Bournemouth. Their stage show would see him “playing a vacuum cleaner” and escaping from a sack. They sounded not unlike cult Glaswegians The Yummy Fur and had songs such as I Wanna Be Johnny Dean and Disco.
Another ‘project’ was The Welsh Elephant, who penned the should-be-classic Fuck The MSP (which contains the catchy refrain “Nicky Wire can suck my cock!”). Having moved to London and determined to be in another band, Argos found himself at a party in Mornington Crescent and set about hassling everyone there to join him. A webzine-editor and guitarist called Chris Chinchilla (a ska fanatic) thought this sounded like a good idea – after all, it was a good way to impress girls. Argos was more concerned about getting on ‘Top Of The Pops’. Chinchilla talked his German flatmate Freiderike Feedback (grunge fan) into playing bass, and thus they got a bass guitar for her off eBay. Argos had a friend from Bournemouth who’d also just moved to London. Ian Catskilkin (thinks he’s in Led Zeppelin, but with better hair) used to be in a heavy rock band called Orco and he agreed to join the new band. Another friend then overheard a German man (who NME would later say looks like “he should be in Interpol”) on a bus telling someone how he played drums and worked in Merc, the shop on Carnaby Street selling cut-price mod clothing. Determined to hunt him down, Argos and Chinchilla went to the shop. He wasn’t working that day, so they left him a note. Mikey Breyer (listens to nothing but Weezer) would then join the band, and that was it – May 2003, Art Brut was born.
Much like Bloc Party, Art Brut’s first gig was an independently promoted show at the Kentish Town Verge. Chinchilla had booked it before the band was ready, at which there was much complaining by his fellow bandmates. Mike’s drumkit had yet to be imported, so he played sitting down (he usually stands up to play). After a number of other gigs round London they recorded a demo named Brutlegs, containing early versions of Formed A Band, Modern Art and Moving To LA, and made it available on their website. Formed A Band first saw the light of day on the debut Angular Records compilation album. After a journalist came across this recording, he sent an MP3 to the label Rough Trade. Within an hour of getting it, the label’s A&R man was in touch offering to release Formed A Band as a single.
Suddenly the band were all over the music press, picking up fans and haters with ease. Many people expected it to be nothing more than a one-off novelty single. They played a triumphant Swedish festival where a guy interviewed them and got confused, thought they were from Manchester (and had all his questions based around the city), and compared them to The Sultans Of Ping. They were also offered the main tour support for Razorlight but had to turn it down due to lack of funds.
Formed A Band was released as a single at the end of March 2004. A gleeful call to arms of sorts, Argos shouts “formed a band! We formed a band! Look at us, we formed a band!” before going on to proclaim how he’s going to “write a song as universal as Happy Birthday” and “play it eight weeks in a row on ‘Top Of The Pops’”. It reached No. 52, selling 5,000 copies, and cropped up in many end-of-year polls as the one of the best singles of the year, including ‘Blender’ – the USA’s second biggest music mag after ‘Rolling Stone’ - who proclaimed them the best unsigned band in the UK.
The rest of 2004 saw them playing numerous gigs from Brighton to Manchester, as well as a first anniversary show at the Tate Modern where they were joined by a couple of a Argos’ heroes – The Vessel (David Devant and His Spirit Wife) and Les ‘Fruitbat’ Carter (Carter USM). As a stop-gap between singles, they offered the new, shaky Brutlegs 2004, this time containing versions of Good Weekend (the one that goes “got myself a brand new girlfriend… I’ve seen her naked TWICE!”), Bang Bang Rock And Roll and an acoustic version of Moving To LA.
The frenzied Top Of The Pops (not a Rezillos cover) was recorded with a number of bands guesting on vocals (including Ciccone, The Boyfriends, The Long Blondes, Abdoujaparov, Prozak, Rhesus and Luxembourg) for inclusion on the Angular Records compilation Rip Off Your Labels, while Moving To LA saw yet another recorded appearance, this time in live form from the Bath Moles on the compilation Bring Your Own Poison: The Rhythm Factory Sessions.
In December ’04, their second single finally saw the light. A double A-side of Modern Art and My Little Brother (with B-side These Animal Menswe@r), it was released on the Fierce Panda label and reached No. 49 – scoring the band a bigger hit than before and, perhaps surprisingly, the highest chart position Fierce Panda has ever had. All the sleeves of the 7” were hand-designed by the band and fans, including one messy session at a Queens Of Noize night at Camden Barfly which ended with the stage (and crowd) being covered in fluorescent pink paint.
The start of 2005 sees them having completed their debut album, pencilled in for release in March, and having picked up even more fans including Graham Coxon, British Sea Power, The Libertines, Hope Of The States and genius boy wizard Daniel Radcliffe. Even the Happy Mondays’ Bez has tried to get onstage at one point with them at the Barfly but was so wasted at the time he didn’t manage it, despite Catskilkin’s attempts at pulling him by his arm.
Sadly, they’ve yet to appear on ‘Top Of The Pops’. Perhaps ‘CD:UK’ will be more accommodating. It’s better, anyway.
In Late August 2005 Chris Chinchilla decided to leave the band for personal reasons and was replaced by former Art Goblin, Jasper Future.
Art Brut performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, on April 30, 2006, at Pitchfork Music Festival in June 2006, and at the Festival Internacional de Benicàssim and the Dour Festival in Belgium, in July 2006 and are due to headline the Two Thousand Trees Festival in July 2008. Art Brut also released a split 7" with We Are Scientists, which was only released in America. We Are Scientists returned the idea and covered Art Brut's song 'Bang Bang Rock & Roll' on the single. Their version of "Bang Bang Rock & Roll" is also available on their b-sides album Crap Attack.
The band released their second album, It's a Bit Complicated, on Mute Records produced by Dan Swift , who has also worked with artists such as Help She Can't Swim, Victorian English Gentlemens Club, Kasabian and Snow Patrol. The first single to be taken from the album, "Nag Nag Nag Nag", was released on 20 November 2006, featuring the b-side "I Found This Song in the Road" and 5 live tracks from the Eurockéennes de Belfort Festival 2006. The song made Single of the Week in The Guardian's "The Guide" section. In 2007 they played on the American NME Rock and Roll Riot tour with The Hold Steady. In the United States, the album reached #14 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #32 on the Independent Albums chart.
On 1 March 2008 Argos revealed on his blog that Art Brut have amicably left EMI. In August 2008 Eddie Argos announced on his blog that the band have been recording songs for the third album. In late 2008 Art Brut returned to the studio to record their third LP Art Brut vs. Satan which was released on April 20th 2009. The album was produced by Frank Black formerly of the Pixies.
In September 2013 the band announced that long serving members Mikey Breyer and Jasper Future were retiring to be replaced with Toby Macfarlaine (guitar) and Stephen Gilchrist (drums).
2) Art Brut is a freejazz and improvisation group
Art Brut is:
Frank Wilke – trumpet
André D. – bass
Vasco Ribeiro Morais – percussions, voices
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Art_Brut/art_brut/
André D. on Souncloud: http://soundcloud.com/darius-improvise/tracks?format=html&page=1
Other review: http://dariusimprovise.blogspot.fr/2013/06/art-brut.html
Mysterious Bruises
Art Brut Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the drink that made me feel invincible
I don't know how I managed to do this
But I woke up this morning covered in bruises
I only dance to songs I like
So I was sat down most the night
I don't know how I managed to do this
I woke up this morning covered in bruises
Hahahaha
I found a bruise on my arm, one on my knee
I can feel some more in a place I can't see
Is this a new bruise, or has it been there forever?
When did I do it, I can't remember
Can't remember anything I've done
I fought the floor and the floor won
I can't remember anything I've done
I fought the floor and the floor won
I can't remember anything I've done
I fought the floor and the floor won
I can't remember anything I've done
I fought the floor and the floor won
I don't know how I managed to do this
But I woke up this morning covered in bruises
I'd finally decided to tell you how I felt
I mistakenly thought that the drink would help
I don't know what happened
The planets weren't aligned
I kept giving you a wink
You kept missing the sign
I can't remember anything I've done
I fought the floor and the floor won
I can't remember anything I've done
I fought the floor and the floor won
I can't remember anything I've done
I fought the floor and the floor won
I can't remember anything I've done
I fought the floor and the floor won
I finally managed to unravel the plot
It's not a happy ending, but it's the best that I've got
I woke up this morning covered in bruises
One Zirtec, two Advil are gonna get me through this
I finally managed to unravel the plot
It's not the happiest of endings, but it's the best that I've got
I finally managed to unravel the plot
It's not a happy ending, but it's the best that I've got
I had one Zirtec, two Advil
With the drink that made me feel invincible
I had one Zirtec, two Advil
Then I bounced around, just like a pinball
I had one Zirtec, two Advil
With the drink that made me feel invincible
I had one Zirtec, two Advil
Then I bounced around, just like a pinball
The lyrics of "Mysterious Bruises" by Art Brut describe the aftermath of a night of heavy drinking and partying. The singer of the song admits to having taken Zirtec and Advil with alcohol, which made them feel invincible, but ultimately resulted in them waking up covered in bruises. The singer cannot remember anything they did the night before and discovers multiple bruises on their body in places they cannot see. Despite feeling regretful for the night's events, the singer tries to find some positivity in the situation and ends the song by saying they have "finally managed to unravel the plot."
The song seems to be about the consequences of excessive drinking, and how it can cause individuals to lose control and experience potentially dangerous situations. The mention of wanting to confess their feelings to someone and the concept of missed signs suggests that the singer may have acted impulsively or inappropriately towards someone while under the influence. The repetition of the line "I can't remember anything I've done, I fought the floor and the floor won" emphasises the loss of control and the unintended consequences of drinking.
Overall, "Mysterious Bruises" is a cautionary tale that encourages listeners to be responsible when drinking and avoid putting themselves or others in potentially risky situations.
Line by Line Meaning
I've had one Zirtec, two Advil
Taking medication to help with pain or allergy before drinking
With the drink that made me feel invincible
Drinking a concoction that made them feel powerful
I don't know how I managed to do this
Uncertainty about how the bruises occurred
But I woke up this morning covered in bruises
Surprise and shock waking up with multiple injuries
I only dance to songs I like
Being choosy with music and selecting only favorite tunes to dance to
So I was sat down most the night
Spent more time sitting than dancing
Hahahaha
A nervous laugh in response to the strange situation
I found a bruise on my arm, one on my knee
Discovery of multiple bruises on different body parts
I can feel some more in a place I can't see
Sensing additional bruises that are difficult to see or locate
Is this a new bruise, or has it been there forever?
Questioning whether the bruise is recent or an old injury
When did I do it, I can't remember
Lack of memory about how the bruises were obtained
Can't remember anything I've done
Unable to recall any actions or events from the previous night
I fought the floor and the floor won
Falling and injuring oneself in the process
I'd finally decided to tell you how I felt
Intention to confess feelings to someone special
I mistakenly thought that the drink would help
Misguided belief that the drink would improve their courage or confidence
I don't know what happened
Lack of comprehension about the events that occurred
The planets weren't aligned
Feeling like one's luck was not in line with the universe
I kept giving you a wink
Attempt at making subtle advances towards someone
You kept missing the sign
The other person failed to pick up on the hints or signals
I finally managed to unravel the plot
Understanding the sequence of events leading to the bruises
It's not a happy ending, but it's the best that I've got
The conclusion is not ideal, but it is the only option available.
One Zirtec, two Advil are gonna get me through this
Belief that medication can alleviate the physical symptoms of the bruises
Then I bounced around, just like a pinball
Moving erratically or carelessly after consuming medication and alcohol
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: EDDIE ARGOS, FRIEDERIKE SIEPE, IAN WILSON, JASPER FULCHER, MIKE BREYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind