Brilliant! Tragic!

No matter what the artistic pretensions, South London’s Art Brut render them irrelevant with tough, slanted electric guitars that emerge to save the day. Eddie Argos is likely to talk his way into a traffic ticket with his smart mouth but the band takes him away. “Lost Weekend” throws in a quick quote of the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction” riff. “Bad Comedian” uncoils like the ‘90s slacker princes in Pavement on an angry jolt. “Axel Rose” has some choice words for the lead singer of Guns N’ Roses as Argos imagines himself trapped in the faded star’s body. The power chords of “Martin Kemp” keep the attack charging. “I Am the Psychic” rattles forward with an aggression more in keeping with ‘70s punk than the group’s usual ‘80s post-punk influences. “Sexy Sometimes” throws up a vampiric funk that’s as close to pure come-on as Argos is likely to execute. The songs are brilliant, but the musicianship is even better. Tight, concise and uncompromising, Brilliant! Tragic! is as essential as the group’s 2005 debut,Bang Bang Rock & Roll.