Spinner

Art Brut Frontman Says Killers, Kings of Leon Songs Written by Robots

Ever since he took a jab at the lyrics of the Killers and Kings of Leon at the Glastonbury Festival last weekend, Art Brut singer Eddie Argos' inbox has been filling up with messages questioning his taste and, in some cases, his intellect. Even Argos' father has weighed in.

"My dad likes the Killers," Argos tells Spinner. "He sent me an email telling me, 'It's a good album. You should listen to it.'" But the singer remains unswayed. "Those bands' songs to me sound like they were written by robots," he says. "They don't sound like they were made by people. They're so produced, and sort of aimed at a demographic. They're not about anything."

During a Glastonbury performance of 'Slap Dash for No Cash,' Argos sang the lines "This sex is on fire" and "Are we human? Or are we dancer?" then questioned, "What does it mean? What does any of it f---ing mean?"

"A lot of people have been emailing me: 'You don't read enough. You're an idiot. ['Are we human? Or are we dancer?'] is a quote from Hunter S. Thompson,'" Argos says. "But you put that quote in the context of the rest of the song and it doesn't mean anything. Personally, I like songs to be about something.

"With 'Sex on Fire,' an angry Kings of Leon fan sent me an email saying, 'It's not meant to be taken literally,'" Argos continues. "Yeah, I know the sex isn't actually on fire. I'm not an idiot. But I can't imagine anybody having any sort of emotional response to 'Your sex is on fire,' unless of course they have set their genitals on fire, accidentally, at some point -- then I'd understand."

Although he was "slagging those bands off a little bit" during his performance of 'Slap Dash,' Argos stresses that the Art Brut track is more "a celebration of bands like Jeffrey Lewis and the Mountain Goats -- the bands that write genuinely affecting songs you hear and go, 'That means something to me.' It's about how much I love songs by people, recorded inexpensively at home, where you can hear the strain of their voice and them trying out new things."

Since the Glastonbury show, Argos hasn't heard from the Killers or Kings of Leon, saying, "I don't really expect to. Why would they care about me? They sell millions of records." He hopes not to hear from any more angry fans of those acts, either. "People who read this, please don't start hating me and emailing me and shouting at me," Argos says. "It's just my personal preference. I'm sorry."

All the AOL Music info you want to know

Killswitch Engage Welcome Back Original…

Noisecreep

KillswitchEngage.com After weeks of online speculation, it looks like…

Brandy and Monica's 'It All Belongs to…

The Boombox

Jason Merritt, Getty Images What a difference 14 years make. Back in 1998,…

Leslie Carter Death: Nick Carter Skips…

AOL Music Blog

Chad Buchanan, Getty Images Leslie Carter was laid to rest over the weekend…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

8 Comments

Filter by:
Trigger23

Ok, so the lead singer of a band which "formed... with the sole (and completely honorable) intention of getting girls and making it to Top of the Pops. " has the nerve to criticize Kings of Leon? I agree that the Killers are pretty so-so, but Kings are solid, soulful, dirty southern rock, and if he had actually listened to more than 1/4 of one stanza, then he'd know that. And really, if he doesn't understand what "this sex is on fire" means then he hasn't had a good shag in the entirety of his existence. Just because many people might not directly say that to whomever they're shagging doesn't mean that it is meaningless gibberish!

August 23 2009 at 4:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sally

Kings of Leon wrote three heartbreakingly gorgeous albums before the arena-rock rush-job that was "Only By The Night". Okay, "Sex on Fire" is a terrible song, but if Argos thinks they burst onto the scene with that one single, then I feel bad for him. The Kings haven't exactly been hiding away. They've been a massively critically acclaimed act in the UK and Europe since 2003. He can trash them all he wants, and get back to us when he writes anything as gritty and perfect as "Aha Shake Heartbreak".

August 23 2009 at 2:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
corykenny

I love kings of leon, i think Eddie Argos is pathetic and immmature, you do not need to say that at a concert.
I Dont think lyrics have to have a meaning or story thats not what makes a good song.
Anyways i dont see them playing at sold out arenas do you ??
Errr No.
1 Nil to kings of leon =)

July 02 2009 at 1:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jason

Kings of Leons cd is the best thing I have heard in years. Who cares what this guy says. I wasnt a fan before and now I am. Im listining to this CD non stop and skipping no songs. Cant say that for many other CDs I own.

July 01 2009 at 7:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LIVtheLife

Seems like those comments would really bug Caleb who worries about selling out and singing to fans of over-produced tunes that he doesnt even like at his own shows. Whatever I've like Brut, Killers, Kings and Mountain Goats...liking one doesn't mean you have to exclude the other Eddie - Stop worrying that enjoying music that becomes popular is going to ruin your artistic, indie cred.

July 01 2009 at 6:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LIVtheLife

Seems like those comments would really bug Caleb who worries about selling out and singing to fans of over-produced tunes that he doesnt even like at his own shows. Whatever I've like Brut, Killers, Kings and Mountain Goats...liking one doesn't mean you have to exclude the other Eddie - Stop worrying that enjoying music that becomes popular is going to ruin your artistic, indie cred.

July 01 2009 at 6:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to LIVtheLife's comment
samusaran88

Exactly, he should be more worried about bands like Coldplay who call themselves indie but collaborate with Jay-Z and make statements that bands like the Killers deserve to be in their league because of songs like "Human". If indie rockers have anything to worry about, it should be that there are pretentious people like Chris Martin out there trying to be the next Bono and making outrageous claims that they are in their own league. Music shouldn't be about leagues. It should be about music, and I think Kings of Leon and the Killers have more than proven it really is about that.

July 22 2009 at 2:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Daniel Kantor

Since when do songs have to mean anything? Sure I like when lyrics have meaning, but that usually doesn't dictate whether the songs are good or bad.

For the record, I like The Killers and Kings of Leon.

July 01 2009 at 4:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply