Art Brut and Black Francis Battle 'Satan'

Posted on Dec 16th 2008 5:00PM by Jason Cohen
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On Art Brut's early favorite 'Moving to L.A.,' frontman Eddie Argos dreamed of drinking 'Hennessey with Morrissey.' Instead, Argos is enjoying some Willamette Valley Pinot Noir with Black Francis, who is producing the British band's third album -- tentatively titled 'Art Brut vs. Satan' -- in Salem, Ore.

After sharing a few bills in the U.K., as well as sharing a British manager, they hatched the plan for the album. "We all think he's cool, and everyone likes the Pixies," Argos tells Spinner. "Why wouldn't you want him to produce your record?" Argos' admiration extends beyond Pixies material. "He's amazing," Argos continues. "That Catholics record [1998's 'Frank Black and the Catholics'], he did it live on two tracks, with one edit. I love the fact that we are making this whole album in two weeks."

Surprisingly, Art Brut have never worked that fast or played this live in-studio before. Day-job obligations meant each member often recorded separately on 2005's 'Bang Bang Rock and Roll,' while producer Dan Swift took a more high-tech approach for 2007's 'It's All a Bit Complicated.'

"I tend to lean towards the more Miles Davis, 'Let's just put it down' kind of vibe," says Black Francis. "As opposed to the Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, factory approach -- which is also legitimate -- but Art Brut seem to really thrive in this kind of situation. The name of the band says it all."

Argos agrees with the strategy. "This is how we should have done it in the first place," he says. "Two weeks, punky stuff. Let's go, good! It's more like he's conducting us. He's like, 'Oh, try this. Try that.' And we try it, and he's nearly always right."

The album is set to include songs titled 'Chocolate Milkshake,' 'DC Comics,' 'Alcoholics Unanimous' and, with no apologies to Iggy or the Beatles, 'The Passenger' and 'Twist and Shout.'

"I was just telling [Francis] that I love naming songs that are already song names," Argos says. "Last album, we had 'I Will Survive.' This one also has a song called 'Positively Fifth Street.' That's one more than Bob Dylan!"

Then there's the title track, with its chorus of "The record-buying public, we hate them/This is Art Brut vs. Satan." Argos offers, "So it's kind of about how we hate the record buying public."

Meaning, the record buying public is Satan?

"Yeah. Why not? It wasn't about that before. But it's about that now."