Cartoon Darkness
Amy Taylor has no interest in making her point politely. "Jerkin'" opens Cartoon Darkness with insults and enough force to make the album's position clear: Amyl And The Sniffers will decide who they are, thanks. It is an abrasive entrance, but the Australian band's third album has more going on than a prolonged argument.
The band gives Taylor exactly the support she needs. Guitars scrape and kick, the rhythm section stays close behind, and producer Nick Launay leaves plenty of rough edges in place. The songs sound like they could get out of hand without actually falling apart. At just over half an hour, the record also knows the value of getting to the point.
"Chewing Gum" is where that approach becomes especially inviting. The tune is clear enough to catch immediately, while the performance keeps a restless energy underneath it. "U Should Not Be Doing That" has a stronger groove, turning the noise from people who think they know better into something you can move to. Taylor's confidence is the hook as much as the music.
There is variety in her delivery, too. The exaggerated voice on "Tiny Bikini" is funny and confrontational, playing with the expectations placed on a woman's body. "Pigs" is much less playful, pushing the band's anger forward with little interest in a graceful landing. Both work because the character in the singing matches the character of the song.
"Big Dreams" shows a more generous side. Its slower pace makes room for people trying to build a life when the chances look poor. Taylor sounds invested in them, and that concern gives the album something more lasting than another well-aimed insult. "Bailing On Me" offers a different sort of vulnerability without asking the band to become tidy or tasteful.
The repeated responses to critics can feel like a lot of attention spent on people who probably deserve less. The broader songs are more interesting, especially when Taylor turns outward with curiosity or sympathy. Still, Cartoon Darkness has personality in every corner. It is rude, catchy, frequently funny and occasionally touching, with a band sharp enough to make all of those qualities fit.
