Ignore The Ignorant
Warner Bros.
5 Stars

Like many artists from the U.K., The Cribs are relatively unknown in the United States. For people just hearing their music for the first time, it may come as a bit of a shock that the band has not only been around for almost 10 years, but also that Ignore The Ignorant is the band’s fourth full-length album. The Cribs have a huge underground following in the United Kingdom and one has to hope that this album will grant them new and exciting exposure across the Atlantic Ocean in North America. The band has become well-known for their traditional approach to recording and their work in London’s Toe Rag Studio- with its vintage 1960s style setup- fits The Cribs’ approach perfectly. Their forth album is fun, raucous, dark and exciting all at the same time and totally worth checking out.

“We Were Aborted” is a strong opener for an equally strong album. The song has a bit of that gritty garage band sound along with a clear dose of indie rock and manages a careful balance between dark tones on the verses and a brighter sound on the chorus. Some excellent guitar riffs round things out and leave listeners wanting more. Things ease up a bit on “Cheat On Me” which maintains a darker feel than on “We Were Aborted.” Like most of the tracks on the album, the song lacks the over-polished and over-produced sound found on most albums these days and that adds an authenticity that is refreshing.

The mood lightens with “We Share The Same Skies,” a practically bouncy song compared to many of the other tracks on Ignore The Ignorant. The chorus is fun, bright and runs over some good guitar melodies. The harmonies by brothers Gary and Ryan Jarman also come off well and work superbly with the overall feel of the track. Things shift drastically, however, with “City Of Bugs,” and its extremely dark and melancholy opening. While the song could have been one huge downer, the combination of drums, guitar and vocals make it sound as if it could be early and excellent U2 track.

One of the many things The Cribs does well is finding a balance and pacing over the course of the album. Many artists try to string too many similar songs one after the other or don’t give listeners a chance to mentally “breathe” between tracks. This band does that perfectly and “Last Year’s Snow” is a good example of this pacing. After the intensity of “City Of Bugs” and the fast pace of “Hari Kari,” “Last Year’s Snow” is a much needed break. That is not to say it is a bit of fluff to be ignored, but the tone and the energy-level is just right at this point in the record.

The album’s title track is another fun stop on the journey through Ignore The Ignorant with a Jarman’s accent coming through clear, proud and strong and is a great nod to past British rock acts. For as biting as the lyrics can occasionally be, it is one of those tracks that’s tough to not tap your toes and bob your head along with.

In a time when music has become so dependent on technology to clean up the problems and make artists sound more talented than they actually are, it is rare for a band to come along and do things the old fashioned way and allow their true talent to shine through. Ignore The Ignorant is an excellent album, strong from beginning to end, and with a grit and pluck uncommonly found. It is well worth giving some time to explore what The Cribs have to offer.—EVELYN MISKA

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