Oh Messy Life #7: My review of Charli xcx’s sixth studio album BRAT
Plus Robert likes Ratboys, Rae in Vancouver (again), a reminder to read my Alison interview, and a Proper Chune courtesy Daft Punk
Welcome to Oh Messy Life, the column that goes Spring breakersssssssssssss
I don’t remember much from that night.
I remember the cab and the half-full pack of Camel cigarettes I found buried in the seat and that I pocketed them as my cousin Dan paid the driver and that, as I exited the car, I could feel the day’s heat radiating off the sidewalk as I stepped through the blue night and into the club.
And it was 2009 and MSTRKRFT was playing a Lollapalooza After Party and I was sunburnt from standing outside at Grant Park all day watching the bands, and I was drunk off American beer and standing inside this dark, loud club, and I was very, very lonely, and I kissed a girl as the lights flashed but it only made me feel worse.
Until suddenly I was sitting in a cab on the way back to the hotel, and the street lights were blurry and I was thinking how nice it is to be young and to find a free pack of cigarettes and when I eventually got back to Alberta I think I maybe smoked one with Troy and I probably even gave him the rest of the pack because we were still friends at that point and I hadn’t lost my shit.
Charli xcx’s brat feels exactly like that only it’s more cunty so it’s not.
8.5/10
Oh Messy Life
- “Whole Lotta Love”: Speaking of the Windy City, it seems Led Zepplin frontman Robert Plant is a fan of Ratboys (and by extension Chris Walla). Is it possible their respective Human Pursuits interviews moved the needle? Probably not… Unless!!!
- My copy of Joe Perri’s Suddenly & Somehow Brighter has finally arrived, and the images are even more stunning IRL. There are still some copies available via Pomegranate Press. Throw in one of their publishing house tees for good measure.
- And it seems SWAGAPINO legend Raeland Mendoza is never beating the Vancouver man allegations. Though he lives in Edmonton, he was back in B.C. last weekend for a special activation. He writes:
I found myself back in town this past week for a few meetings and to support Erykah, my better half, with a shop event on the Saturday. An “Activation” if you will. Local Japanese denim and menswear purveyor Private and Co. linked up with neighbourhood staple Pizza Coming Soon for a summer shop day party — and yours truly was bartending. The best part of events like this is that you never really know who’s going to show up. Everyone from neighbourhood OG’s to new school personalities like Baldy, artist and longtime friend SUBDIDI, fellow local nightlife pro’s B_Drive were in attendance. Fit pics and dap ups all around.
Proper Chune
- I’m too lazy to check if it’s an actual interpolation, but Charli’s cadence on “Guess” (one of BRAT’s many bangers) reminds me a LOT of Daft Punk’s “Technologic.”
