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C*******'s Birthday Pick

Declan McKenna - What Do You Think About the Car? [2017]
Alternative | Indie | Folk | Protest
Discogs

C******* wrote:

Protest music can be some dreary shit.

That's a given coming from the nature of why protest occurs - people don't exactly revolt when things are great. Protest music is dark and brooding, focusing on the outwardness weariness and heartbreak with a tempo that reflects this. Naturally, when I describe Declan McKenna's bright folk album as protest music, I get those uncomfortable looks.

C*******- it's a fucking folk album. What are you going on about? - they tell me as they seem to glance over the Arctic Monkeys-eque riffs and upbeat rhythm. In response, I tell them to actually sit down and take a closer listen. I don't blame them - McKenna's debut routinely features the voice of a four-year old McKenna proclaiming that "It's really good, and now I'm going to sing my new album." and upbeat innerdialogue lyrics that could be mistaken for generic folk/pop anthems of being young. Where things split is what McKenna actually sings about. McKenna gracefully handles topics such as the media's coverage on transgender suicide, the preclusion of youth in politics, police brutality, and the shitshow that is FIFA's reign in Brazil.

The stand out tracks such as McKenna's 2015 fuck-you-FIFA-and-Sepp-Blatter breakout hit Brazil and the witty and playful The Kids Don't Wanna Come Home with a youth chorus smartassing McKenna give off a youthful reverence and energy. It's that jolt of energy, wit, and wisdom that carries What Do You Think About the Car? through it's not as powerful tracks. With that said, WDYTAtC truly deserves a listen and might just move you.