Welfare Jazz
by Viagra Boys
  • Record Label: Year0001
  • Release Date: Jan 8, 2021
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 29
  3. Negative: 1 out of 29
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  1. myfirstnameist
    Jan 22, 2021
    8
    The second full-length album of the Post Punk Swedish band Viagra Boys’ “Welfare Jazz" is such a delight. This LP is full of eclectic sounds from its punchy drums, vibey instrumentation with a mix of saxophone, electronic, lo-fi beats, guitars, piano and aggressive vocals of Sebastian Murphy. The LP has a strong start with “Ain’t Nice” this track has an in your face beat and vocals withThe second full-length album of the Post Punk Swedish band Viagra Boys’ “Welfare Jazz" is such a delight. This LP is full of eclectic sounds from its punchy drums, vibey instrumentation with a mix of saxophone, electronic, lo-fi beats, guitars, piano and aggressive vocals of Sebastian Murphy. The LP has a strong start with “Ain’t Nice” this track has an in your face beat and vocals with grungy and thick bass on the background. This album also contains various interludes with dreamy saxophones and a splash of spoken words in tracks like "Coldplay" and "6 Shooter"
    The band incorporates dark humor and satire in their lyrics. The following tracks like "Toad", "Creatures", "I Feel Alive", and "Girls & Boys" celebrate the themes of being an underdog surviving the hypocrisy of our society and messed up world.

    The album also tackles break up and how to earn back one’s love in the song “Into the Sun” followed by my favorite track in this LP “Creatures” which has a groovy sound mix with new wave beats and a vibe reminiscent of David Byrne of Talking Heads.

    This album also has variety of humor where the band is always giving homage to dogs in the spoken words of tracks like “This Old Dog”, “Best in Show Ii” and the very upbeat “Secret Canine Agent”. This theme also spilled over to track 12 “To the Country” which is a pleasant surprise about falling in love and moving out to a country with their dogs and living a simple life. The closing track of this LP is a cover of John Prime's "In Spite of Ourselves" with Amy Taylor from the Australian punk band Amyl and the Sniffers which is a strong finish to the album tackling the happy ending of falling in love with a punk/country kick in it.

    I enjoyed listening to this rich, eclectic, artsy and entertaining post-punk album of Viagra boys giving a personal 8/10 rating.    … Expand
  2. mdlee
    Jan 8, 2021
    9
    an experience within itself, in your face clarity mixed with distorted honesty and emotion
  3. clem666
    Feb 17, 2021
    6
    Benefiting from one of the best beginnings with 'Ain't Nice', the main tone of the album is given. We directly get to the first interlude 'Cold Play' to finally enter the matter. The overall tone is quite agressive thanks to Murphy's rough voice and shouting. I found mixing was poor because we hear his voice way too much compared to the instruments. I guess it is just an artistic directionBenefiting from one of the best beginnings with 'Ain't Nice', the main tone of the album is given. We directly get to the first interlude 'Cold Play' to finally enter the matter. The overall tone is quite agressive thanks to Murphy's rough voice and shouting. I found mixing was poor because we hear his voice way too much compared to the instruments. I guess it is just an artistic direction the band chose that I can't understand. Despite Murphy's ability to work on his vocal touch by making it vary all along the project his presence quickly become invasive and over-represented.

    However I enjoyed the jazz touches at some point as their presence also gives an explanation to the title of the project. Saxophone is great and interestingly used. Interludes are sometimes deep and beautiful (like the poem declaration in 'This Old Dog') and sometimes totally meaningless and useless. The band sprinkled 'Welfare Jazz' with jokes and humoristic traits that totally miss their point according to me. Thankfully, inviting Amy Taylor on the last track was a good idea because there was some really good that came out of this alliance.

    Some tracks sound really experimental (and I don't have anything against it) but this is what makes the album a mess. No a huge mess because there is hopefully a lot to save but nothing more than a sadly forgettable rock project.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Mojo
    Jan 20, 2021
    60
    Welfare Jazz finds them dropping through the gears and settling on a sound that often resembles the frazzled nocturnal grooves magicked up during Josh Homme's Desert Sessions. [Mar 2021, p.90]
  2. Pitchfork
    Jan 12, 2021
    72
    Viagra Boys have a gift for making listeners wrestle with choices that might be deal breakers if the music weren’t all so ludicrously entertaining.
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  3. Sputnikmusic
    Jan 12, 2021
    70
    Some experiments don’t add much to the listening experience, but don’t detract either. The story telling is very up front, yet the confidence and attitude never passes into obnoxious, parody of oneself territory. As a result, Welfare Jazz remains a tight effort that hopefully acts as a transition to a richer sonic canvas.
    Read full review
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