If you’re following closely, you may remember I very recently wrote something to the effect of “direct political statements, like ‘Fuck ICE’ and ‘Fuck the Zionist Entity’ run pretty thin after a while” and “don’t exactly reward listeners with a novel perspective or add anything to the conversation.” Well, it’s not that I was wrong exactly, but I am going to amend my position. In the right context, these sorts of statements are exhilarating and, most importantly, fun. If it sounds like I’m contradicting myself, what can I say? I contain multitudes.
On their new EP, “HOISTED BY MY OWN PETARD,” CURBSITTER do not contain multitudes. They are single-minded and aggressive, bordering on berserk, and this is not a bad thing. In fact, they prioritize a quality many musicians and bands don’t take seriously enough; they are, in a word, fun (Exhibit A: the EP’s third track, “TYPE A FOOL”).
They also make time to criticize and eviscerate the powerful, punching up and knocking out a few teeth in the process. While not on this EP, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention their benefit track “BYE BYE BIBI,” the proceeds of which, according to their Bandcamp, are “for the people of Palestine, living under perpetual assault by the Israeli government.” A worthy cause if there ever was one.
So, yeah, CURBSITTER aren’t going to win any awards for subtlety, but with lyrics like “artificial intelligence is gonna steal your art and make it look like shit” they provide listeners with a much-needed outlet for the disgust and anger that are a staple of living in this pathetic excuse for a country. If you hate AI and genocide, then CURBSITTER is the band for you. If you like that shit, then I must ask: what the fuck are you doing reading this review?
Links of interest:
https://curbsitter.bandcamp.com/album/hoisted-by-my-own-petard
https://www.instagram.com/curbsitter_mke/
