Amyl and the Sniffers may need to be careful not to become caricatures of themselves. Their gritty pub punk has gone mainstream, and now they’re headlining mid-sized festivals that usually lean toward big, swaggering rock acts. Their placement among deep, rumbling guitars feels almost cartoonish, but the raunchy catchiness of their songs justifies these slots even for the tough crowds.
We don’t necessarily want to see them only performing for art students anymore. It’s fine if they’re playing for the same people who cheer for the Foo Fighters. But let’s not forget that they’re serious about this—and hopefully, they won’t forget it either.
Perhaps things moved a bit too quickly. From “Not On Label” to Rough Trade in two years, followed by a rapid succession of albums, singles, EPs, and collaborations. And, of course, relentless touring. Cartoon Darkness (B2B / Rough Trade / Virgin) reflects a band that’s worn out.
Amy Taylor sounds a bit rough around the edges. Her band is coasting on familiar ground, and Taylor’s voice, normally so fierce, comes across as tired and scratchy.
Musically, we get new attempts after the wild success of Comfort To Me. Amyl and the Sniffers have never been as soft as on “Big Dreams” or as smooth as on “U Should Not Be Doing That.” “Me And The Girls” even ventures into dancey funkiness.
But these experiments are lost in a so-so rock album. So, take some well-deserved rest, please! We’ll see you in a few years, back in full strength.
Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness: A hot rod with flat tires. – RIFL
