This is a TGEFM reader-submitted review. It may have been edited for content, spelling, or grammar but otherwise reflects the thoughts and opinions of the submitter.
Review by Michaela Logan
Dine Alone Records – 01 Jan 2021
The Dirty Nil gave art the finger, then showed it who’s boss.
After a desolate year deprived of live music, The Dirty Nil threw caution to the wind with their perfectly-ironically named album, Fuck Art. For an album that feels so strongly towards the art world, singer/songwriter Luke Bentham grabs artistry by the horns and takes it for the best ride of its life.
From the heavy hitting album opener “Doom Boy” to its pop rock anthem closer “One More And The Bill”, ‘Fuck Art’ straps the listener in for a mile-a-minute ride through rock and roll mastery. With inspirations ranging from AC/DC to Pantera, the guitar riffage in this album means business. One of the album’s finest hits, “Ride or Die” reminds us of why we love rock and roll guitar music; nothing but catchy riffs, tight rhythms, hard hitting vocals, and melodies that won’t leave your head without a fight.
Lyrically, ‘Fuck Art’ is every poet’s dream piece from start to finish. “Hang Yer Moon” has a perfectly belted chorus which transforms throughout the song in self reflection as the song progresses;
“Why would you hang your moon on me, I’m a liability, can’t you see” smoothly melds into the narrator’s of lack of hope for change “We can have a happy home when I clean up and hell has snow”, and final realization “I’m a black hole, can’t you see?”.
Its sequel, “Damage Control” carries on the poetic lyrics in its enticingly dark chorus “Burn the earth, drain the sea, light a fire looking for me”, leading into a minor chord heavy bridge illustrating the narrator’s sense of helplessness and chaos in the form of a head banging instrumental.
Before its finale, ‘Fuck Art’ hits some classic Nil pop rock hits like “Hello Jealousy” and “Possession”, whose classic palm mutes, sassy lyrics, and bouncy riffs reiterate their status as Canadian punk rock legends. “To The Guy Who Stole My Bike” takes satire to a new level with it’s song-length analogy about those who have crossed Bentham one too many times. Similar to the closing track “Evil Side” on their previous album ‘Master Volume’, “To The Guy Who Stole My Bike” embraces a tantalizingly dark guitar solo before concluding the track with masterfully harmonized guitars and Bentham’s smooth melody.
The perfect album finisher; “One More and the Bill”. The song does exactly what it explains with its lyrics, giving the listener one more taste of greatness before closing out the album. Focusing on the lines “gonna smash my TV, smash my phone, leave politics alone” in the catchy pre-chorus, the song reminds the listener to step back and appreciate the simpler things in life that often get overshadowed by the many distractions of today’s world.
Fuck Art takes musical artistry to a new level, leaving nothing to be desired. The album leaves the mind filled with unquestionably remarkable tracks that the mind craves hearing time and time again.
