Punks Answer To Relationships

Woody Allen once said that relationships are like a shark, “It has to constantly move forward or it dies.” The Cribs must think the same as well, even if it wasn’t meant toward their career. Three albums in as many years has done nothing to slow their substance but most of the time it lacked development. The same could be said for their social commentary; having obviously learned a few things about life, love, and the chasms of which men and women stand opposite sides of. Fitting then that their third album is not only a brilliant leap toward rebuilding their libido, but also sustaining their street cred as a true rock outfit. The Yorkshire brothers have created their most stylish, expressive and just plain sharp rock with Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever.

Packed with fuzzed out power pop, Men’s Needs is a Nirvana without the upfront darkness and the La’s without the sugar saturation. Filled with just enough wit and angst to avoid mainstream disaster, The Cribs seemingly understand the youth of today, but only needed polish. Enter Franz Ferdinand lead Alex Kapranos to make their Libertine-like booze banter accessible - something glaringly omitted of their past two efforts. The album chronicles the follies of men and women’s connection. This is most apparent in the two dueling title tracks. ‘Men’s Needs’ Ryan Jarmin belts both lyrical male relationship crimes and blurred guitars. The kinder Venus forgiving approach on ‘Women’s Needs’ argues vulnerability amid wrestling feedback. In fact, most of the album plays much like a tribute to those who have stood steadfast awaiting the brothers to come into their own by polishing their amusement into music. So it should be no surprise that the Men’s Needs balances disillusion and obsession so extremely well. From learning how to keep a relationship new in ‘Girls Like Mystery’, the bastard truth that past is never really behind you in ‘Ancient History’, or ‘Be Safe’s’ sage like advice that love can kill you - each juggles hooky riffs that warrant anthem-like acknowledgement. These songs urge you to blow your speakers out.

The stories are nothing to learn from. Like the title of the album, the prose overall fell like a shrug as if to say ‘Whatever.’ If you haven’t gotten the memo yet, men are pigs and women are needy. But it should take a back seat to Men’s Needs musical driving force. It’s slop pop but The Cribs have always done so with style. Much like the shark in the relationship analogy, they too continue to move forward - just at their own pace.

Sean Kendall