Someone once accused
AC/DC
of making the same album over and over again for over 40 years, while also pointing out that it's a really GOOD album. One could say something similar about their fellow Australians
Dune Rats
-- stylistically and thematically, their first four albums (2014's
, 2017's
The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit
, 2020's
Hurry Up and Wait
, and 2022's
Real Rare Whale
) were essentially interchangeable, loaded with sloppy but enthusiastic punk rock fortified with cheerfully lowbrow humor and frequent references to drugs and sex.
' commitment to concept has made them stars in Australia and earned them a healthy following elsewhere, but they appear to have realized not every band can get away with their level of recycling, and 2024's
If It Sucks, Turn It Up
is where they boldly attempt to add some new flavors to their formula. The first two tracks -- the title song and "Be Like You" -- are standard-issue
and executed with their typical degree of skill and enthusiasm. Then comes "Solar Eyes," which sounds like an actual pop tune, with acoustic guitars, sweet harmonies, and a more measured tempo, and "Cheapskate" could almost pass for a dance track in dim light, with its funky percussion breaks and bursts of rap-influenced staccato vocals. "Main Beach" sounds more new wave than punk, with its quiet-loud-quiet structures and processed vocals, and the closer, "Beer, Bongs, and Bullshit," deals with their classic themes but with a gentler attack that sounds remarkably like a heartfelt celebration of friendship. Put it all together, and you get an LP that sounds like
have made a genuine effort to grow creatively without having to mature. The lyrics are still the thoughts of post-teen dirtbags who don't have much on their minds other than getting baked and laughing at one another, though "Main Beach," "High Roller Selling Dope," and "Rich Kid Rehab" suggest their level of partying might catch up with them somewhere down the line.
tears through its ten songs in 29 minutes, wisely thinking that if fans don't like the change-of-pace tracks, they won't have to wait too long before returning to the band's normal programming.
' attempts to kinda sorta reinvent themselves aren't always a roaring success, but none of them are abject failures either.
reveals they can change if they need to, though they are probably most comfortable just being their snotty, weed-addled selves. ~ Mark Deming