ALBUM REVIEW: Ugly Truth / Beautiful Lies – Cliterati

The old saying ‘Art imitates life’ seems to be becoming even more widely applicable in today’s trying times of political strife and increased tensions between left and right. With political commentary and punk pairing as perfectly as wine and cheese, who better to give their two cents on the state of the United States than Oregon hardcore punk outfit CLITERATI. Ugly Truth / Beautiful Lies is a fifteen track dissection of the ever-increasing socio-political rift currently tearing the USA apart, yet despite the bleak subject matter, CLITERATI still manage to inject the album with their own brand of humour and set it to a ruthlessly aggressive soundtrack.

Right from the start of the album, the band waste no time in tackling a myriad of hot button issues such as trans rights, immigration policy, foreign policy, and the state of domestic politics. Naturally given the nature of the subject matter and the extent of which these issues divide, this is very much an album that will split opinions purely based on the which way the listener leans politically – in a sense mirroring the socio-political climate we find ourselves in today. If you consider yourself liberal, this is for you, and if you don’t, hopefully the album will give you a fresh perspective and challenge your ideals.

With a run time of just over half an hour, the fifteen track album provides ferocity in short bursts but firmly keeps the intensity at the maximum all the way through. The raw emotion that comes forth when tackling issues close to home takes the atmosphere on Ugly Truths / Beautiful Lies to the next level and wraps the whole record another layer of authenticity. When talking about Latinx Taken, their first single from the album and the band’s statement piece on immigration, vocalist Ami Lawless said “My mom would have been considered illegal/undocumented. I’ll never understand that reference [illegal] to other human beings.”

Over the entirety of Ugly Truths / Beautiful Lies, CLITERATI fill the role of vox populi in a world where no one listens, a world where only those who shout loudest are heard. However, strip away the politics and what remains is a really solid hardcore punk record which is sure to pique the interest of fans of the genre. Musically the record has everything you’d want from a hardcore punk band: vicious energy, fierce instrumentation, and lyrically powerful.

When going into Ugly Truths / Beautiful Lies prepare yourself for an overtly political experience. This is not an album to listen to for a bit of R&R after a long, hard day, it’s not for relaxation, it’s a call to arms, a scathing commentary on the world around us. Whether you’re a self-styled politico, knee-deep in the issues of today, a political outsider with no strong opinions, a fan of hardcore punk, or any combination of the above: CLITERATI are for you.

Rating: 7/10

Ugly Truth / Beautiful Lies is set for release August 30th via Tankcrimes.

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