SEARCH

search for something you might like...

Pop Idles Joy as an Act of Resistance is Jason's LP of 2018

Pop Idles

Joy as an Act of Resistance is Jason's LP of 2018

by Jay Lewis, Reviews Editor
first published: January, 2019

approximate reading time: minutes

4 REAL

years end

1. Joy as an Act of Resistance - Idles (Partisan Records)

There's a famous quote that is sometimes attributed to Groucho Marx: 'The most important thing is sincerity. If you can fake that, you've got it made'. 

The line predates the dawn of rock and roll, an area of entertainment that has always perversely been promoted as being authentic and real. It's a fantasy that idealistic music lovers fall for time and time again. So much so that there's always genuine gasps of shock and horror when, for instance, the man who once sang ‘Anarchy in the UK’ and bellowed that ‘anger is an energy’ goes on to sell Anchor Butter. The outcry of indignation that fans of The Smiths recently expressed because of Morrissey's ridiculous remarks are more out of disbelief that someone they put on such a lofty pedestal could turn out to have such feet of clay. Will we ever learn?

Listening to 'Joy as an Act of Resistance' and seeing Idles play live, I feel that I'm again being cast as the wounded lover who swears that they will never make the same mistakes again, but then ends up stumbling oblivious into another romantic minefield. Will I ever learn? 

From the puncturing admission of 'I am my father's son/his shadow weighs a ton', of the album's slow, grinding opener 'Collosus' I feel that I have again found my band.  Then there are the swipes at toxic masculinity on 'Never Fight a Man With a Perm' and 'Samaritans' and the take down of petty nationalism on 'Great' ('Blighty wants her blue passport/
Not quite sure what the Union’s for'), and the plea for unity on 'Danny Nedelko' (before performing the song live a few months ago, singer Joe Talbot screams 'I fucking love immigrants'). By this point, my wariness and scepticism is fading and I'm starting to wonder whether this band were formed to answer the prayers of ageing lefties like me. 

Seeing Idles perform these songs live is a cathartic experience, like being in a revelatory therapy session, albeit with crowd surfing guitarists. Joe Talbot is one of the most engaging front men I've ever seen, mainly because he's so possesed by his beliefs, to borrow a line from the butter advertiser, he appears to 'mean it maaan!'

But have I been taken in yet again?  Will they scratch '4 REAL' into their arms in front of cynical journalists before penning an album of near-apocalyptic despair? or will they end up presenting a nice weekend show on 6 Music, chatting amiably to the vacuous presenters of The One Show and allowing their music to be used to flog clothes in adverts? 

For the time being I believe that Idles are sincere. They're the band that will get us through this fuck-awful period of ugly and divisive political ineptness. As one old English eccentric once noted 'There are Bad Times Just Around The Corner', those times are now here, as a defense we need to use Joy as an Act of Resistance.

Previous: Camp Cope ||| No Next, this is number 1

Jay Lewis
Reviews Editor

Jay Lewis is a Birmingham based poet. He's also a music, movie and arts obsessive. Jay's encyclopedic knowledge of 80s/90s Arts films is a debt to his embedded status in the Triangle Arts Centre trenches back then.


about Jay Lewis »»

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

A.I. House-Painter, Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Archibald Stanton, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Cassie Thomas, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Emily Moore, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Justin Scupine, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lauren Frison, Lee Paul, Lilly Pemberton, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Melanie Surfleet, Michelle Williams, Mickey, Mike Fox, Mike Marino, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone