A great songwriter can appropriate a single word and say so much without really saying anything at all — just ask Viagra Boys‘ Sebastian Murphy about sports. After the release of the Swedish band’s debut album Street Worms, fans have been patiently waiting to hear what kind of shenanigans the rockers would get into next. Their 2021 sophomore album Welfare Jazz does not disappoint, giving listeners plenty to consider.
Although the album does not have a track as iconic as “Sports,” the album shines thanks to the band’s tongue-in-cheek social commentary, bombastic use of horns, and total refusal to be pigeonholed by a single genre.
One of the most lauded opening tracks of the year will undoubtedly be “Ain’t Nice.” The fuzzy and rumbling bassline paired with Murphy’s hysterical lyrics about hoarding an array of paraphernalia in his girlfriend’s apartment sets the tone for the antics to come. The song features the first appearance of untamed horns that are a recurring motif for the rest of the album’s runtime.
On other tracks, Murphy frequently takes on the persona of a hypermasculine southerner. This act is most prevalent on “Toad,” where he sings in his iconic, bellowing voice, “I’ma keep a-hooting’ and a-hollerin,’ And drinkin’ liquor and gettin’ high, I’m never gonna be the man you want me to be, I’m a rebel till I die.” The band’s frequent use of hyperbole and satire are interesting techniques that allow them to slyly criticize our society.
Country music makes a reappearance in the band’s cover of John Prine’s classic “In Spite Of Ourselves” which features Amy Taylor of Amyl & The Sniffers. Some might call this dark cover blasphemous, but honestly, the original song is very silly. Viagra Boys are known to make a joke or two, so this strange ode fits well considering their humorous reputation.
“Creatures” will be familiar to the post-punk kids with its danceable bassline and electronic sounds. Its lyrics are surprisingly relevant after last week’s GameStop phenomenon. Murphy sings, “We are the creatures, Who steal your copper, We don’t sleep, no, no, we never bother.” In this instance, creatures are the lower working class, who consider themselves underdogs and copper is a stand-in for wealth. Although the album was released before the GameStop frenzy, global wealth inequality is coinciding with the development of class consciousness in many young people — and Viagra Boys have touched on that.
“6 Shooter” is a track that Coltrane would likely find amusing. The track starts in a typical, raucous Viagra Boys fashion and develops into a total cacophony; one-half punk and the other half free-jazz. It’s novel, ambitious, daring, and obnoxious — a great ambassador for the album as a whole. Although the instrumental track is missing Murphy’s drone, it’s one of the best songs on the album.
Viagra Boys’ Welfare Jazz is at times jarring, but it’s a ride worth taking. The musicianship, creativity, and ability to defy every listener’s expectations make Viagra Boys’ sophomore album a memorable one.
Essential Tracks: “Aint Nice,” “Creatures” and “In Spite of Ourselves”
Prerequisites: Nick Cave’s Murder Ballads and The Fall’s This Nation’s Saving Grace