Words: Juliet Kozlow
The Struts don’t care. They don’t care if you like them, they don’t care if you think they’re pretentious- they just don’t care. They’re going to go out, put on an amazing show, and have fun making music they like because at the end of the day, The Struts are The Struts. And that confidence behind their art is what makes them so enjoyable.
Perhaps I relate to lyricist Luke Spiller’s musical journey a little too much- most of what I listened to in my youth was religious or country music. Once I met the alternative and indie genres, I fell in love and started to figure out where I’d fit into this scene. Channeling their glam metal favorites, mix-matching today’s popular trends in music, and tying it all together with pure, Queen inspired rock, The Struts’ Everybody Wants is high energy and fabulous. On stage, they combine Foxy Shazam’s energy with Arctic Monkey’s universal appeal- making them an essential to catch on their US tour this spring.
“Roll Up” introduces The Struts with falsetto and guitar solos, drama fit for these music industry break outs. If anything, the radio ready “Could’ve Been Me” follows up with an example of The Struts’ knowledge that without commercial viability, today’s act is going to have an incredibly difficult time breaking into new markets.
“Mary Go Round” is a string-tinged ballad that’s the story of a breakup and its aftermath. It’ll be a perfect music video one day- imagine as you listen, Spiller wandering his relationships’ old haunts, seeing bandmates and reminders of their failed love interspersed with live performance footage. It’s a welcome new track for this US re-release of their 2014 Everybody Wants slowing down the album after a very upbeat first four tracks.
My main criticism of The Struts is that while they’re this glam rock band and sex, drugs, and girls are pretty essential song topics, it’s also 2016 and there’s definitely more substantial things to write about. “Dirty Sexy Money,” lyrically, sounds like he’s talking about his favorite lady of the night. If you’re into that (or can ignore it), the track is written to be danced to.
“The Ol Switcheroo” sounds Beatles inspired, playfully written about cattywompus pair of relationships. It’s made for the teenage summer romance movie commercial, sure to be coming to a YouTube ad near you soon. “She Makes Me” is just as peppy and cutesy- a welcome change in perspective compared to “Dirty Sexy Money.”
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOPPq90khJA[/youtube]“Young Star” is an ode to the life of a breakout musician, living behind marketing and the need to attract fans while still maintaining their integrity and personal relationships. It’s my favorite track off the album because it feels like the most honest and if anything, analytical about the modern music industry and how young teens’ idolization of musicians can border on creepy and obsessive.
As I hit the last few tracks of the album, I lost interest. I don’t find any real range in their music- tracks like “Dirty Sexy Money” and “A Call Away” feel ingenuine, the latter the album’s token motivational song. I don’t necessarily hear anything groundbreaking being introduced either and that’s not bad. The Struts combine what worked for plenty of influential acts, repackaging it into music that a modern teen can connect to- just like their parents did thirty years ago. So, maybe it’s not new, but it’s still damn fun. I know I’ll dance at the show anyways.
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