What’s Fresh: Common Sense by Viagra Boys
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Viagra Boys’ latest EP, Common Sense, marks a departure, or perhaps a turning point for the Stockholm-based punk rockers. Known for their ridiculous moniker, equally ridiculous lyricism and heavily tattooed frontman, Sebastian Murphy, their latest effort shows that they’re readily willing and able to climb outside the confines of the genre. It manages to exhibit drastically different shifts in pace between its 4 songs without ever sounding gimmicky or contrived.
‘Lick the Bag’ is the closest thing to the style they exhibited on previous album Street Worms – it’s an entirely raucous affair, driven along at a constant pace by discordant chords and Murphy’s husky drawl. Elephantine hoots from their signature trumpet give the impression of the song going wildly out of control before being wrestled back into place by the bandmembers.
‘Blue’ is an unexpected ballad, where Murphy’s vocals take on a completely different affectation as he howls about a long-forgotten lover.
The EP’s 14 minute runtime is more than enough to showcase the exciting new direction they’re taking with their sound – despite its length, its entirely moreish, and a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come.
Matthew Derwin – Music Editor
