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ALBUM REVIEW: "The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit" by Dune Rats

   I found this to be the equivalent of getting more drunk than you planned with people you don't really like; it was kind of fun at the time, but you don't really want to do it again. I was frustratingly torn in so many ways - on one hand you have a collection of annoyingly catchy songs with great hooks, a care-free party vibe and occasionally fist-pumpingly good singalongs; on the other you have abrasively bad production, juvenile and frankly terrible lyricism and a distinct lack of musical skill to be found on the majority of the songs.
   Before you say that I've missed the point completely, I should say that for a lot of this album, it works completely. It kind of plays out like a satirical B-movie that knows exactly what it is and doesn't try to hide it's obvious shortcomings - yes, we know it's a "horror movie" about killer sharks being thrown around by tornadoes, but what the hell, it's fun! Much like Sharknado, there are parts of The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit that are undeniably fantastic. "Scott Green" has both a hook that will stay in your head for way too long and rests on one of the best plays on words you will hear in music this year, and album closer "Bullshit" is pretty awesome too. But when you stand back and look at the whole package there are things that come into immediate focus that will either be an issue or not matter to you at all. It all just depends on where you stand in your tastes and what you look for in your music.
   For me personally, as you probably might have guessed, there are a number of things that quickly become an issue for me. Like I mentioned earlier, I cannot stand the production on this album. The guitar tones make me want to cry a bit and the drums seem really flat and lifeless. Having said this, I don't mind some of the bass tones on this album at all. Similar to the way cringe-worthy dialogue in a movie like The Room is funny for a while but becomes old really fast, I just couldn't get into the lyrical content at all. I shouldn't have to explain why. I honestly struggle to get to the end in one sitting because of this. And while I know that this is kind of the point, I still inherently can't really appreciate an album that rarely ventures further than three or four power chords in 4/4 (call me a snob, I really don't care).
   There are more than a few bangers on here though, and while someone like me may not enjoy the entire album experience as much as the next person, there is plenty of playlist-filler to be found. Depending on your approach to listening to music and the context in which you're listening to this album, you'll likely either be turning it right up and cracking a tinny or rubbing your temples. Just don't ask me which one is me, I honestly couldn't tell you.

Favourite Tracks: Scott Green, Bullshit and Braindead

 Least Favourite Tracks: 6 Pack

Rating: C

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