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Blame Culture (2017)

by RISKEE & THE RIDICULE

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1.
You don’t tell us when we’re finished, We tell you lot when we’re finished, You don’t tell us when we’re finished, We tell you lot when we’re finished. Nobody likes us we’re too ghetto, Nobody likes us ‘they ain’t punk’, Nobody likes us we’re nobodys, Nobody likes us and we don’t like nobody We’re too young for the punks too rude for the rude boys, Nobody wants to help the new boys, Because they’re afraid of the new noise, No wonder they blunder under skullduggery, When you’re threatened by a band it feels like daylight buggery, Oi! Nobody likes us but it’s nothing, I’ll make like a porn star and take it on the chin, I can walk on water ‘yeah he can’t swim’, Can’t take the piss out of me because I’ve just been, Piscine your paddling pool au revoir, leaving, Someone best warn the government the peasants are breeding, We’re starting the process the unthinkable thinking, The elitist boat is slowly sinking. You don’t tell us when we’re finished, We tell you lot when we’re finished, You don’t tell us when we’re finished, We tell you lot when we’re finished. You don’t tell us when we’re finished, We tell you lot when we’re finished, You don’t tell us when we’re finished, We tell you lot when we’re finished. Oi, we’re the future mate you’re the past you’re done, You’re like Fred Flintstone and we’re more like George Jetson, Don’t let the haters become dictators to your aura, You’ll be sure to succeed, nothing surer Wizardora, Blam! Meteorite hitting the earth knocking it off it’s axis, You factless actors need practice the fact is, I don’t care if you like me, You’re listening to this track, ‘look mummy irony’, Look at my ego all nice and shiny, If you think it’s dope it’s dope so don’t try sly me, Sexist man haters masquerading as feminists, Do nothing for the cause but help the chauvinists, ‘There’s a phrase that you often hear which is 'they sold their souls for fame and fortune', and I would suggest rather then that being a myth there is a lot of truth to that statement’. Why aren’t your band famous yet we really love your sound? Pledge your allegiance to the pound or you’ll die underground! Nobody likes us we’re too ghetto, Nobody likes us we ain’t punk, Nobody likes us we’re nobodys, Nobody likes us and we don’t like nobody, Oi! Nobody likes us we’re too ghetto, Nobody likes us we ain’t punk, Nobody likes us but we won’t be diminished, We’ll tell you lot when we’re finished!
2.
Banger 03:04
We just let that banger drop, We won't make do with what we got, 'Cause what we ain't got we will get, No sweat, no sweat, no, no, no sweat, NO SWEAT. Drop, We won't make do with what we got, 'Cause what we ain't got we will get, No sweat, no sweat, no, no, no sweat, no sweat Let's get first things first, Let's get it straight coz right now it's curved, I'll get this crystal clear with words, Dirty on the track, audio perv, What the hell we doing here walking among the avalanche, I say garage you don't say garage, A bucket is not a bouquet it's a facade, I say savage you don't say savàge, Dig down to the depths of the darkness, That energy's theirs you can harness, Let that narcissism go, Release unload, What we perceive ourselves to be is nothing like reality, So let this beat destroy your soul, Relax unload. We just let that banger drop, We won't make do with what we got, 'Cause what we ain't got we will get, No sweat, no sweat, no, no, no sweat, NO SWEAT. Drop, We won't make do with what we got, 'Cause what we ain't got we will get, No sweat, no sweat, no, no, no sweat, no sweat Verse two I'm not the type to generalise, everyone else does though, I'm sick of these hypocritical folk, they're slow mo, Like 'why are you so damn angry?', Everybody's angry, there's not point in being amby pamby you pansy, Everything's dandy, rosie, cushty, I'm a fire door, you want to go? Push me, Rah rah, blah blah, Lardy da da, Par me? Nah I'm raw steak tartare, Funny haha, nah bra don't laugh, Party on Wayne, damn straight Garth, You're a non entity, Change your whole life for me. Tonight's the night you change your life Tonight's the night you change your life, Tonight's the night you change your life, You change your life, You change your life, You change your life, You change your life We just let that banger drop, We won't make do with what we got, 'Cause what we ain't got we will get, No sweat, no sweat, no, no, no sweat, NO SWEAT. Drop, We won't make do with what we got, 'Cause what we ain't got we will get, No sweat, no sweat, no, no, no sweat, no sweat
3.
Hipster 04:07
My girlfriend is a hipster, she's way more rad than me, Imported baccy, blue Rizzla, cheap cider she's gnarly, My girlfriend is a hipster she's got way more tats than me, I know that I'm her Mr but when she gets bored I'm history. I pick up the tab even though it's tight, If I love a song she's like 'it's alright.', She smokes with her pals drinks beer with mine, She drinks wine then beer but she still feels fine. She's a hipster da da da da da da da daaaa da da da x4 Spends her whole life whole life on a hangover hungover, Then cries in the pillow when the party's over, She's the queen of the scene, We're loves young dream, Until she has a melt down and blames it all on me. My girlfriend is a hipster, she's way more rad than me, Imported baccy, blue Rizzla, cheap cider she's gnarly, My girlfriend is a hipster she's got way more tats than me, I know that I'm her Mr but when she gets bored I'm history. She's a train wreck, she's a car crash, My beautiful accident we love to smash, She fancies Charles Bronson she made me grow a tash, Mascara running down her face she looks like trash She's a hipster da da da da da da da daaaa da da da x4 She's caning all my wages caning all my salary, I'm losing all my pounds like I'm counting calories, I'm a mug I said it drop a tea bag in me, But the girl's so hip she makes me feel ugly, My girlfriend is a hipster, she's way more rad than me, Imported baccy, blue Rizzla, cheap cider she's gnarly, My girlfriend is a hipster she's got way more tats than me, I know that I'm her Mr but when she gets bored I'm history. She's a tornado she's a hurricane, Going around and around and around in my brain, A typhoon, a cyclonic storm that can change, At the drop of a hat she's lightening caged, A landslide, an avalanche covered in pretty snow, A snow man can snow ball if they're pushed hard enough to roll, Word spreads like wild fire, monoxide vengeance, A flood and drought all in the same sentence, She's the volcanic ash that's clouded my chi, I'm Thailand, she's the tsunami, She's holding all the cards, in charge literally, She asks the class a question I'm like 'me, me, me, me, me!' My girlfriend is a hipster, she's way more rad than me, Imported baccy, blue Rizzla, cheap cider she's gnarly, My girlfriend is a hipster she's got way more tats than me, I know that I'm her Mr but when she gets bored I'm history. Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da daaaa da da da da da da da
4.
Drown 04:32
Crying over milk that ain't been spilt's anxiety, Drown, drown, drown, drown, drown, drown for me, When you dry out and you be what they want you to be, Drown, drown, drown, drown drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown, drown for me. War is just one big business and you've sucked so much corporate cock you'd probably vomit jizz, And they've rammed it down your throat since the day you could have ideas, consume until blood drips from your ears, Prejudice propaganda corrupting the young, But it ain't 1930's Germany it's now in The Sun, Front page a toddler washed up on the beach, Flick to page 5 'what's Prince George wearing this week?' There's a few raised eyebrows but they're on fleek, Your make up is intact why would you swim out too deep, Sympathy? Not even nearly, The most factual part of your paper is Dear Deirdre, Trust me I can't be trusted honestly, Honesty is the best policy honestly, Honour me with your own dishonesty, Honestly it breaks up the monotony. Crying over milk that ain't been spilt's anxiety, Drown, drown, drown, drown, drown, drown for me, When you dry out and you be what they want you to be, Drown, drown, drown, drown drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown, drown for me. Untouchable they want to touch what they can't touch, Endure the pain to the embrace the rush, Stand out from the crowd you can hear the hush, If you don't like The Smiths you can't sit with us, And they're banging on about are you in or are you out, Watch another sitcom put another pill in your mouth, The mouth of the south is about to jump up from the couch, Point at the TV and shout 'immigrants out!', Bound to be bound to the crowd, Free thinking ain't aloud, Patriotism got you feeling all English and proud, But what have planted in this oh so holy ground, Nothing! You contaminate with what you spout. Crying over milk that ain't been spilt's anxiety, Drown, drown, drown, drown, drown, drown for me, When you dry out and you be what they want you to be, Drown, drown, drown, drown drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown for me, Drown, drown, drown, drown, drown for me.
5.
They're drinking molotov cocktails and whining when they get a little bit of heartburn, Green ain't your colour but you wear it anyway, All over your body envy's draped. X2 I never got in this game to make money just as well, I ain't got a penny to waste in the wishing well, The people above me I want their help, The people below me are trying to drag me down to help their selves, It's grasshoppers trying to take swings at giants, Everybody wants the top boy's spot it's all science, Everybody's routing for David except for Goliath, Scared of the outcome unsure where to lay their alliance, Well, lay your allegiance with me, I will boost you up give you my air to breathe, I'll suck out your poison give you oxygen like a tree, Whilst you size me up A4 or A3, Flip side we're getting ignored, I'm getting angry twinges, They don't want to let us in? I'll kick that door off the hinges, I will only play nice for song long it ain't gonna last forever I will apply the war paint. They're drinking molotov cocktails and whining when they get a little bit of heartburn, Green ain't your colour but you wear it anyway, All over your body envies draped. X2 Self infliction, if there's no enemy within, Then the enemy on the outside won't be able to get in, So win Rocky win, slap on that grimace grin, You're a no one to someone but you're Adrian's king, They want what you've got but they can't take it bredrin, If you ain't doing something better stop criticising, You point the finger at me but there's three of your own pointing back at you, What you say about me says more about you how's that for truth? Opinions are opinions facts are facts you lack the proof, Charlie Sloth don't invite me I will go and jack the booth, We're D.I.Y punks, do it yourself, Pressing our own albums touring with minimal wealth, We ignore bravado that's where insecurities dwell, Claiming they've got big cahonies When they're hung like an elf, But I get it, sometimes you've got to embrace the dark inside, Maybe Daniel son should have gone and joined Cobra Kai. They're drinking molotov cocktails and whining when they get a little bit of heartburn, Green ain't your colour but you wear it anyway, All over your body envy's draped. X2 I never got in this game to be liked for my words, I antagonise your thoughts so that I can be heard, An awkward situation can be averted but it occurs because I let it, To keep you on your toes until it hurts, So dance for me ballerina slag me off, I'll spark your cigarette after you've drank your Molotov, They want to fuck the beast but after burn the sheets, The day I start listening to you is when they stop listening to me, Treat me like a petulant child but I should warn ya, Nobody puts baby in the fucking corner, I'm a shepard how can you expect me to follow sheep, You can't fit a pint in a shot glass shallow ain't deep. They're drinking molotov cocktails and whining when they get a little bit of heartburn, Green ain't your colour but you wear it anyway, All over your body envy's draped. X2
6.
I'd be scared of me if I were you, you know that no one can do what I do, If I were you I would be terrified, petrified is hard to hide, And we're running on air, Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving there, We're running running because we're terrified, Petrified is hard to hide. I'll make you love me, love me like no other, And you will love me love me like no other, I'll make you get me 'til you get me, get me, Why do you run, am I that big and scary?, I can see my hands all over your waistline, Your heart ba ba ba ba boom like a bassline, I know you don't trust me it will take time, You know I'm not yours and you know you probably ain't mine, This whole generation in running from God knows what, Are you so consumed with everything that you ain't got? Depression has become a sexy disorder, Good foundations need more than just bricks and mortar. I'd be scared of me if I were you, you know that no one can do what I do, If I were you I would be terrified, petrified is hard to hide, And we're running on air, Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving there, We're running running because we're terrified, Petrified is hard to hide. I feel so dirty dirty when I fail, But you won't see me, see me sob and wail that's for me, Laugh now laugh later occasionally shed a tear, Don't waste too much time on pain 'cause we're not long for here, Suck out the poison spit it in a pint glass, Knock it back, no one likes a tight arse, You can't take the money with you even if you die last, There's certain things in death you've got to bypass, So you'll keep running, running until you die, You claim you're the resistance but still you comply, Deception is custom and it's how they choose to live, you only get two first impressions. You look nothing like your profile pic! I'd be scared of me if I were you, you know that no one can do what I do, If I were you I would be terrified, petrified is hard to hide, And we're running on air, Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving there, We're running running because we're terrified, Petrified is hard to hide. You'll never know the words to our songs. And we're running on air, Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving there, We're running running because we're terrified, Petrified is hard to hide, And we're running on air, Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving, keep moving there, We're running running because we're terrified, Petrified is hard to hide.
7.
Party 04:49
We came here to the party, we came to get rowdy, We came here to forget society, From Kraków to Berlin, You'll get your head kicked in, Not from violence but from the good vibes we bring, It's down to you, It's up to you, It's down to you, It's up to you, x2 I don't know if we will ever make it but it's OK it's all good my baby, I don't know if we will ever make it but it's OK it's all good my brother. We might die tonight we might die tomorrow, We might die in 50 years, time is only borrowed, Forget the guilt cut it out it's yours to sever, If we die tonight we're gonna die together, Let pain be pain it's a lesson not to be swerved, If life throws you a curve ball then make it a learning curve, Oh the nerve, turning a negative from a positive, You only get one shot at this so get out live. Hook We came here to the party, we came to get rowdy, We came here to forget society, From Kraków to Berlin, You'll get your head kicked in, Not from violence but from the good vibes we bring, It's down to you, It's up to you, It's down to you, It's up to you, x2 I don't know if we will ever make it but it's OK it's all good my baby, I don't know if we will ever make it but it's OK it's all good my brother. Bounce, let me see you bounce, Let's bounce till the walls fall down in the house, Until the plasters dust and the bricks are rubble, Until everyone's sweat is one sweat puddle, Party till you pass out, out until the next day, 8am get the last crate, We just met you're now my mate, Friends for life we should exchange names, Do what you wanna do do what you don't, A true king never really sits on the throne, Where you from? I don't care, But I'd like to know so I do care, Alcohol masks clarity but this is clear, We'll see each other through this beer, Gay, straight, any colour of the rainbow, Welcome sister, welcome here bro. Bridge I don't know, I just don't know and I will never know, never know but it don't matter, Because the table is set the party's here and you can join 'you can join' this mad hatter, so step! We came here to the party, we came to get rowdy, We came here to forget society, From Kraków to Berlin, You'll get your head kicked in, Not from violence but from the good vibes we bring, It's down to you, It's up to you, It's down to you, It's up to you x2
8.
I'll go to Elmley and she'll go to Holloway and we'll exchange hate mail almost everyday, She's a right psycho but that don't bother me, Even if love birds are jail birds they can still fly free, Elmley to Holloway, Hate mail everyday, She's a right psycho but that don't bother me, If love birds are jail birds they can still fly free. Doomed love, This is doomed love. She'll put me straight if she thinks I'm mugging her, She'll ring my neck like there's a landline to my jugular, I need a tennis ball over the wall she's my smuggler, I need three of them, she will be a juggler, She'll pervert the course of justice, And she'll intimidate any witness, My anthrax envelope sealed with a kiss, You talk nuff dirt with them lips. I'll go to Elmley and she'll go to Holloway and we'll exchange hate mail almost everyday, She's a right psycho but that don't bother me, Even if love birds are jail birds they can still fly free, Elmley to Holloway, Hate mail everyday, She's a right psycho but that don't bother me, If love birds are jail birds they can still fly free. Doomed love, This is doomed love. Verse 2 I'll straight make her a cake with a file in, I'll pipe plastic explosive for icing, Dynamite candles oh how enticing, She needs freedom or she will start rioting, I'll burn all the incriminating evidence, While she pirouettes with ballet elegance, We move as one with such excellerence, We work well with long distance. I'll go to Elmley and she'll go to Holloway and we'll exchange hate mail almost everyday, She's a right psycho but that don't bother me, Even if love birds are jail birds they can still fly free, Elmley to Holloway, Hate mail everyday, She's a right psycho but that don't bother me, If love birds are jail birds they can still fly free.
9.
Backwords 03:34
You've got to turn it around, see things on the flip side, Shadows move if you get the light right, Change now, broaden your spectrum, Change your perception their words dissect them. Turn it around, yeah you gotta turn it around, Yeah you gotta turn it around, Yeah you gotta turn it around, turn it around X2 I'll ask you a question, am I the (don)?, Spell the word don backwards there's your awnser (nod), I'm like vegetable in the (pot), I rise to the (top), I'm a dick yeah but you can't (bonk) without a (knob), (Pat) myself on the back, I won't run like a (tap), I'll hang around like a (bat) and pick up your (tab), Coz I'm a nice guy like that, see I'm not all (bad), I'll have a (gab) give you my (bag) Look 'here have a (dab)', Ok now you know I don't give a (dam) I ain't (mad), You ain't got no (gat) you ain't it, this ain't (tag), Hush your (gums), Stop being so (smug), You're the (gum) on my shoe you absolute (mug), I never met anyone who played sport with baseball (bats), Not everyone who carries knives always (stab), A lot of its front dears trying to be the (stag), But forget government (gats) don't take (part) it's a (trap). Instrumental These (rats) want to attack the (star) boring I'm yawning, What I'm (faced) with is nothing like (decaf) in the morning, You're a (dot) in a dot to dot, All on your (tod), A (boy) acting like a (yob), A (dog) trying be a (God), Boy cried wolf, the lies did flow when the massacre was (on) the shepherd's said (no), It didn't matter what it (was) that he (saw), His lie decided to (swap) livestock for bloody (paws), If you weren't friends with them would you slap your (pals)?, Would you act like a slag if you didn't hang with them (gals)?' Time to re-evaluate time to change the (tide), It's your life you can (edit) as and when you like, On your death bed you could have (lived) as the (devil), Drop the 'D' just (live) forget the (evil), I'm trying move forward but I come across backwards, Once you've said the words you can't take back words. You've got to turn it around, see things on the flip side, Shadows move if you get the light right, Change now, broaden your spectrum, Change your perception their words dissect them. Turn it around yeah you gotta turn it around, Yeah you gotta turn it around, Yeah you gotta turn it around turn it around X2
10.
Villain 03:46
I'd rather be a good guy who acts the villain, Than be a bad guy who plays the saint, I'd rather be a good guy who acts the villain, Than be a bad guy who plays the saint, Because when it all comes tumbling down and it will, And you get figured out, Imagine if you're a better human than what you claimed. Your best mate hates us, Small potatoes, You ain't famous, Unless you got a few haters, I don't touch the pages of the tabloid news papers, Journo scum! Class war perpetrators, Media blackout, there's no demonstrators, Crying crocodile tears the size of salt water alligators, Freedom of speech? Look, orchestrators, Benefits street? The undatables are daters, Hate now, laugh now, bring us down or elevate us, Can I be your puppet, gestapo you made us, Look the bailiffs at your door all up in your anus, Now you know who are the real invaders, I'd rather be a good guy who acts the villain, Than be a bad guy who plays the saint, Because when it all comes tumbling down and it will, And you get figured out, Imagine if you're a better human than what you claimed. The unelectable's elected expect the unexpected, The frog's got hold of the scalpel now you're the one being dissected, Mutiny on the galleon over half the crew's effected, Cut out the gangrene before the rest gets infected, When your team's throwing dirt you better watch your step kid, Are you tripping or are you slipping was the move made or directed? Was it anticipated or manipulated or both, taken or administrated, Fuck your record deal now I feel elated, If I wanna blow up then I'm the one who detonated, Sober, inebriated, head strong or decapitated, We all lose either way divided separated. I'd rather be a good guy who acts the villain, Than be a bad guy who plays the saint, Because when it all comes tumbling down and it will, And you get figured out, Imagine if you're a better human than what you claimed. I'd rather be a good guy who acts the villain, Than be a bad guy who plays the saint, Because when it all comes tumbling down and it will, And you get figured out, Imagine if you're a better human than what you claimed.
11.
(Ugly Duckling) Go and get your daddy's boots, You can follow in his footsteps, one two, Right now you own your youth, Little antifa boy brand new, Singing songs of revolution that were never meant to be, Why would I ask God to save the queen of England when she ain't saving me. You're only as oppressed as you choose to be, The winners write your school books question history, They want you to work fast whilst they dumb you down they need your energy, Caffeine in your coffee fluoride in your Listerine, Queen Elizabeth's crown worth a million pounds, It sits in a cabinet, house the homeless now, The Tories slowly cutting funds to the NHS, Look. it doesn't work privatisation yes, Politicians prey on weak minds look at Brexit, Jumble fact and fiction like letters to a dyslexic, Be honest because everyone's always offended, Go and get your DM's its time all of this ended. Go and get your daddy's boots, You can follow in his footsteps, one two, Right now you own your youth, Little antifa boy brand new, Singing songs of revolution that were never meant to be, Why would I ask God to save the queen of England when she ain't saving me. Go and get your daddy's boots knock 'em dead son, Knock 'em dead son, Knock 'em dead. Go and get your daddy's boots knock 'em dead son, Knock 'em dead son, Knock 'em dead. You only fail if you give up so don't stop trying, If they look at the floor or blink too much they're probably lying, When your first love breaks your heart don't let them see you crying, It don't help you can't sell what they ain't buying, This nation's views have been crafted by clever tabloid tales, Controlled by the rich are your Suns and Daily Fails, Turning middle class Tom against working class Pete, And they're both in agreement any benefit claimant's a cheat, Tell the job seeker the immigrant's stealing his job, While we fight amongst ourselves the rich are free to rob, Money ain't God! You're powerful, Content is beyond rich go kill 'em all! Go and get your daddy's boots, You can follow in his footsteps, one two, Right now you own your youth, Little antifa boy brand new, Singing songs of revolution that were never meant to be, Why would I ask God to save the queen of England when she ain't saving me!
12.
We'll never belong, you can come stand out with us, We ain't right we're wrong, who wants to belong? Who wants to belong? We're the lost ones and we're happy being lost, We ain't right we're wrong, So who wants to belong? Don't you wake me from this dream it's crazy, The boys and girls that used to phase me now just don't, I killed their hold on me good and I buried the body well, Maybe I've got wiser or maybe I've just killed too many brain cells, Either way it's all OK, live for today and we can maximise our stay, fraternise away, Live like a king when you get paid, go get laid come out the shade it's all OK. It's all OK. We'll never belong, you can come stand out with us, We ain't right we're wrong, who wants to belong? Who wants to belong? We're the lost ones and we're happy being lost, We ain't right we're wrong, So who wants to belong? You've got to be odd to be number one, it's a conspiracy theorist's theory until their lies come undone, You're not the best alive there's always someone bigger down the line, The Lord said 'let there be light' and Chuck Norris said 'give it 5'. C'est la vie, my soul's for free, buy it from me, The price is less than dirt cheap, horizontal it ain't steep, You can't have what you can't keep and you can't take this from me, It's irony, it's irony. We'll never belong, you can come stand out with us, We ain't right we're wrong, who wants to belong? Who wants to belong? We're the lost ones and we're happy being lost, We ain't right we're wrong, So who wants to belong? We'll never belong. You think we're stupid then you're the stupid ones, Stupid mums and dads raising stupid sons, The stupidest daughters raising the stupidest kids, The cycle persists until someone resists, And says 'I'm not choking on my own ignorance!' You can outgrow the shoe even if the shoe fits. We ain't done yet, we'll decide when we're dead, Plus we promised we'd stick around for Ginge and Slaphead! We'll never belong, you can come stand out with us, We ain't right we're wrong, who wants to belong? Who wants to belong? We're the lost ones and we're happy being lost, We ain't right we're wrong, So who wants to belong? Who wants to belong? We'll never belong...

about

REVIEWED BY DAN STOTEN, THE PUNK ARCHIVE

I’m not going to mess about with the opening gambit of this review. Blame Culture, the follow-up full length to Dawn of the Dog from Kent’s Riskee And The Ridicule, does not suffer from second album syndrome. It’s a properly special album, and one which has got 2017 off to a musically perfect start.

I think those who’ve seen the band live or heard their stuff before now have always known that they’re something a bit special: they’ve got more than a hint of swagger mixed in with spadefuls of punk rock attitude; but amongst that there’s a level of grit, determination, steel, and simply a genuine nature. And that’s without even considering the music: on a songwriting and lyrical level, the band have always stood out; and their tracks’ catchy nature can’t be ignored.

What they’ve done in Blame Culture is taken all that, and turned it up to not just a hundred, but five hundred. Each of the tracks on this phenomenal record has personality, spirit, and absolute purity.

The album opens with an attention-seeking intro to Nobody Likes Us: that’s something you’ll get used to pretty quickly across Blame Culture. It grabs your attention and keeps it with absolute ease. As the song develops, we get a crystal clear guitar and drumming rhythm, added to banging gang vocal and typically pacy lyricism from enigmatic frontman Scott. The chorus adds elements of street-style punk to the simple, driving backing track. It’s a perfect breathless start to the album, and has more than enough of that Riskee charm and cheekiness to know they’ve not lost their sparkle.

For me, too, there’s a surprising strength to the guitar in the opening track: something which continues across the whole of the album (and makes it stronger for me). The guitar is so, so crisp, and along with the drums has been dialled up in the mix so that it really comes to the forefront. The whole album is brilliantly produced, and really moves the game on for the band. I’m not sure whether I’d expected perhaps something a little less clear and with that endearing, slightly DIY fuzziness you sometimes get on records: either way, this shows Riskee have really stepped up here.

Second track Banger again continues with a marching style verse, before some hoarser vocals kick in and an easy-as-hell to remember chorus jumps from the speakers and throttles you. It’s a simple yet suitably banging track, and one which you can imagine is going to be a live favourite. As ever, Scott’s lyrics are intelligent and brilliantly pitched. The build from about 2:20 is awesome, reaching a crashing crescendo before piling back into that catchy chorus, a real highlight.

Hipster comes third, and is a whirling maelstrom of a punk rock banger with added brass in the background. It’s choppy and quick, spinning listeners around and around with energy and a positivity not often found. There’s an earthiness to the delivery of the guitars too, which is perfectly complemented by the sparkle of the brass.

One of my personal album highlights is next in Drown. It’s a bit of a step away from what Riskee have given us before: it’s a pure and simple punk rock banger. As earlier mentioned, the guitars here are just so bloody crisp, and so gloriously riffy. Scott’s vocal displays new heights of melody and harmony too; while the spat verses seem to elevate the track even further. Add that to intelligent lyrics and the sheer head-bouncing brilliance, and you’ve got what must surely be one of the songs of 2017, just six days in.

The next track, Molotov Cocktails, is probably my favourite on Blame Culture, though. It opens in the most mournful and vulnerable way: it’s genuinely beautiful and gives me goosebumps even on this, my tenth listen through. The way Scott grows into this track, his vocals becoming more and more spat and aggressive as it develops, shows just how much this band wear their hearts on their sleeves. It is the perfect song for any situation: anger, fear, defiance, jubilance. This is such a fucking special song: I can’t wax lyrical about it enough.

Next comes Running On Air, which is altogether more gentle: it’s a bouncy, positive punk rock croon. And you know what? It’s pretty cool: it’s good to see how varied Riskee are; the tempo change at around the forty-second mark is absolutely on point, too. It’s smooth yet varied; melodic yet with some metallic twinges at times. It’s a perfect antidote to the savage emotion on show in Molotov Cocktails.

Party adds that brass back in, and returns to the feel good, marching vibes. There’s some impressive bass work in here, and some nice backing vocal you can’t fail to sing along to. It’s the longest track on Blame Culture, but you wouldn’t know that. It whistles past in a flash as with the rest of the songs here.

Another highlight next for me: Elmley To Holloway. It’s a relatively simple pop-punk banger again; but here with elements of other UK punk scene influences thrown in. There’s a slightly fuzzy feel to the verses; but that new-found clarity in the chorus. On the subject of that chorus: it’s up there with one of the best on the album, with it’s catchiness and tiered delivery.

Scott’s poetry comes to the fore on a couple of tracks and you can’t help but marvel at his talent. Backwords is one such example; and while personally I prefer the speedier and more edgy tracks, I can more than appreciate this song.

The album ends in Villain, Daddy’s Boots and then We’ll Never Belong. For me, the latter is the final highlight of the record: a jubilant ‘fuck you’ to blending in. It’s another slice of pure pop-punk genius, which not only whisks the listener into three-and-a-half incredible minutes, but also tells a story about the band themselves: friendly, open to all and genuine.

As you can tell, I fucking love this album. I knew I’d enjoy it, but I didn’t think it would get under my skin just as much as it has. I seriously think that this is a special piece of music, a special piece of art that the world needs right now. Some of the highlights here aren’t just album highlights: they’re genre highlights, decade highlights. I’m proud to call myself a fan based on this evidence, and am so proud of this band for producing what can only be called a masterpiece.

credits

released January 6, 2017

RISKEE AND THE RIDICULE ARE:

Scott Picking - Vocals, Lyrics
Jimbo Aglony - Electric/Acoustic guitars, Vocals
David Thomas - Bass, Album Artwork
Matt Verrell - Drums, Keyboards, Vocals

Gang shouts by Riskee and the Ridicule.


GUEST MUSICIANS:

Russell Spencer - Trombone
Ben Marion - Saxophone
Kenneth Brown - Trumpet

Recorded and mastered by Oz Craggs at Hidden Track Studios, January/September 2016.

www.hiddentrackstudios.co.uk


Massive thanks to everyone who pledged money to make this album happen, you're all part of this.

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RISKEE & THE RIDICULE England, UK

DIY South East Grime Punk since 2011.

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