ALBUM REVIEW: Scream If You Wanna Go Faster – Loose Articles

At long last, one of the UK’s hottest up and coming acts are finally releasing their much-anticipated debut album. After releasing their debut EP Chaos back in 2022, Mancunian outfit LOOSE ARTICLES have gone from strength to strength to bring them to the impending arrival of Scream If You Wanna Go Faster. The world at the moment is very much their oyster, especially with them being fresh off the back of a support slot opening up for FOO FIGHTERS on their recent stadium tour, and Scream If You Wanna Go Faster is an excellent debut album that feels like a breath of fresh air.

Opening the album proper is Mr. Manager, a song that all listeners are likely to have been able to relate to at some point in their lives as it deals with being stuck in a dead-end job. The track itself is great. Opening up with a cool 80s sounding synth beat and an ominous bassline mixed in with that classic snarky Manchester attitude really sets the tone for what’s to come for the remainder of the record. Are You A Welder follows and takes things up a notch by adding a bit of pace with a great driving riff that wouldn’t feel out of place on an old ARCTIC MONKEYS record – you know, from when they used to be good. The chorus itself is great and will make for a great call and response moment when experienced in a live environment and continues to have that classic Mancunian feel to it as singer/bassist Natalie Wardle growls her way through the track.

Want takes the album in a slightly different direction. It’s the shortest track on the record, clocking in at just over two minutes. It gets to the point quickly and has a feeling of those 2010s indie sounds that have become so prominent over the years. However, they shake it up a bit with Wardle’s spoken word/singing style once again bringing her signature style in a way that keeps the record itself sounding fresh without the songs falling into the trap of sounding the same. Unpaid Intern is a great little number and proves to be one of the best songs on the record. It’s got a great driving drum beat that takes control of the song and guides it through to the end and you can’t help but move to it. Once again the lyrics are great and become one hell of an earworm – once you hear this song it’ll be all you can think of after listening.

I’ve Nearly Made It has an oozing sound to it and a bassline that wouldn’t feel out of place in a song that would feature in a James Bond film. It’s the slowest track on the record but the bass reels you in as the lyrics talk about the issues of having to juggle the lifestyle of being in a band with working full-time and tackling how you have to make decisions that will benefit each career. LOOSE ARTICLES are able to keep the momentum going with each song; I’d Rather Have A Beer is a fun fast-paced romp that has an almost western sounding twang to that evolves into a dirty yet exquisite sounding riff that compliments the sarcastic nature of the lyrics – it’s sure to be a mosh pit-inducing song when seen live and serves as a definite highlight.

Pinball John and It’s Art are a fun pairing before the album’s finale Guitars, Cars, Knickers And Bras, which provides a slow ending to the album but is also a fun way to bring things to a close as LOOSE ARTICLES start things off slowly before starting to speed things up as you reach your journey’s end. It’s a fun way to close out the record but the album’s short run time leaves you wanting so much more.

Scream If You Wanna Go Faster is a great debut. It’s a slick offering of punk and you can almost feel the frustration LOOSE ARTICLES have on show through each song. They’re a band that will easily go from strength to strength and leave you eagerly anticipating whatever comes next. Don’t miss out on these; 2024 has been a delightful year for punk music and LOOSE ARTICLES joining the fray has made it all the better because they’re here and mean business. This album is essential for the summer soundtrack of anyone with taste.

Rating: 9/10

Scream If You Wanna Go Faster is set for release on July 26th via Alcopop! Records.

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