We’re starting to read press and online responses to The Pros and Cons of Eating Out . . .

The first review that we received was a resounding five out of five in Artrocker magazine:

“It’s like taking Noah and the Whale, mistreating them in a grotty cellar for four years and forcing them to listen to nothing other than white noise and screaming cats.  As a result, each song on the record smacks of carnage, chaos and evil genius… a twisted masterpiece of confusing tempos, mammoth choruses and venomous lyrics that combine in haste to drag you down into the darkest corners of life.”

The Leeds Guide swiftly followed suit with a four out of five assessment:

“It’s the sound of a lonely soul set on fire by a baying mob of heretics. It’s the sound of grubby fingers on an antique piano. It’s the sound of grittiness, gak and the fear. It’s a good sound though, provided you have the stomach for such squiffy salubriousness.”

Elsewhere in the mainstream press, the reviewer for Uncut magazine seemed unconvinced, labelling the album “plodding polka punk” and dismissing Mr Crook as “just a naughty boy”.  We had to chuckle at that… cue lots of  “He’s not the Messiah” jokes.  (We’ll show you a rejected album cover idea one day – he very nearly was!)

NME didn’t seem to know what to make of things, bemoaning the fact that by not fitting into any particular ‘scene’, Mr Crook is always “the lone wolf at the back of the pack”.  We loved the description of  “enraged musings on the human condition delivered with Crook’s inimitable spitting tongue” but were somewhat mystified by the conclusion that the album is “introverted bedroom listening”.

Grassroots online reviewers seemed less concerned by subtleties of genre.  Punk Rock Ist Nicht Tot gave it four out of five:

“… aimed at the dark underbelly of the human psyche, sometimes romantic and ocasionally introspective but always sharp as a tack, musically it veers wildly from soft ballad to violently chaotic, sometimes in the same song… a remarkably cohesive album and the different styles and influences within only serve to make it a more captivating and breathtaking listen.”

Over at Garsdale Spartak, Chris Lilly focuses on the band’s musicianship:

“there’s pots and pans and hubcaps being bashed everywhere, and chaos and noise and wild, and then there’s a guitar coming out of the riot that is filigree and bell-like and truly beautiful… They all support and sustain Lupen’s phenomenal song-writing, angsty, visionary, compelling. It isn’t always comfortable in his world, but it’s never dull.”

On Creative Boom*, Andrew Day presents a lengthy and perceptive analysis of the album’s themes:

“A ragged, eloquent album that rages, despairs, lusts and ultimately finds an uneasy solace in the understanding arms of friends, lovers and fellow misfits… more than anything, this is an album born of  a gang mentality sense of community and of a growing sense of artistic maturity.”

We’ve also spotted a couple of album launch gig reviews.  Ben Homewood, writing for The Fly magazine, was impressed by last Friday night at The Flowerpot:

“There is much to admire in Lupen Crook, unconcerned by the industry’s vacuity, they are a throwback to a time before blogs, hype and fashion ruled the roost.  A proper Friday night out.”

Punk Rock Ist Nicht Tot were back for more at the Medway album launch:

“Tonight the more intricate folk aspect of Lupen Crook’s songs takes a back seat in favour of the more energetic punk element for the live experience. That’s not a bad thing though, the set is electric and the band are on fire.”

More to come, we hope!  If you’re one of the online reviewers we sent the album to a few weeks ago, be sure to let us know when you’ve published your thoughts.

* a week or so after this was published, Creative Boom took the decision to delete its regional hubs and so this review is no longer online.  Instead, click the link provided for a screenshot of the review, then right-click / ctrl-click and save to your own computer to be able to read it properly.

This is Part 2 of Lupen Crook’s press release statement regarding the title, themes and artwork for The Pros and Cons of Eating Out.  Part 1 can be found here.

“The point I make with this painting is that – whether or not for some this is pure fantasy, or nightmare, or in fact reality – it is part of our instinctual desire to connect with others.  The anonymous individuals in the picture are all joined.  There is no break in the bonds that hold them together.  Anonymity exists not through fear of being revealed, or to hide who these people are or what they are doing.  It is simply that they have no need for names, dates, status, language – they are free, and they also are as one.  Say what you will, but this is where my journey has taken me to date.  The next chapter of this tale will surely reveal more – perhaps even contradict this ideal or opinion entirely – but that this episode has been lived means that it is living – it is real.

“I am fascinated by connections and contradictions.  Amongst most of the people I’ve met by chance, from the slick city white collars to the street slum wanderers, the nervy indie kids to violently inclined chav gangs, it seems that a feeling of disconnection paradoxically connects them all together.  Even though they have often pitted themselves against each other, it is as though we have all been separately downtrodden by the ‘tricks’ that have been played upon us by industries and authorities.  It is here that I have discovered my inspiration, where I have managed to make my own connections, if only on one to one basis. The consequences of my impulsive misadventures have revealed both treasures and terrors about this place we live in, the person I am and the effect of my actions on those around me.  I have documented these as honestly as possible.

“As a songwriter, as a band, as a Family, these twin concepts of honesty and truth – however subjective – are important to us, regardless of where they lead us.  This is simply because, for us, creativity must have no boundaries.  For any idea to be given its full due, it must be allowed to roam free and discover itself naturally.  As a songwriter I have taken myself on a voyage of discovery and misadventure.  I have willingly allowed ‘the moment’ and my natural impulse – however frowned upon it may be – to envelop me entirely. With these experiences in mind, this assessment of The Pros and Cons of Eating Out has been formed.”

The Pros and Cons of Eating Out is released on Monday.

A brief reminder, should any be necessary, that we have two album launch gigs coming up in London and Medway this weekend.  If you’re in London, get yourself down/up to The Flowerpot (halfway between Kentish Town and Camden tubes) for 9pm on Friday.  This is a free gig and there are no support acts, so be there early to avoid missing out.

On Saturday night we head back down to The Medway Towns for a Crooked Family evening of Fight Folk at the Beacon Court Tavern in Gillingham.  More details in a previous blog post here.  We immodestly think it’s a fantastic line-up and hope you agree… don’t miss the support acts!  The album (and other merch) will be available on both nights.

In other news, we’re receiving positive feedback about the album, which is great to see.  Box sets were dispatched yesterday and we’re up-to-date on all other online orders.  Tour dates for November and December are filling out nicely (check the sidebar).  We’re also working on the next single release, Dorothy Deserves, due early December.

No rest for the Crooked, but we’re enjoying every minute.  See you soON?  x

PS – thanks to everyone who’s supported Jenny.  Keep those votes coming!