Henry Clay People, “Twenty-Five for Life” review

Henry Clay People, Twenty-Five for Life review by DZ

This album makes me want to dance apeshit around my living room in my ACDC boxers and mismatched argyle socks while drinking my fifth Schlitz before 10am on a Monday morning when I’m supposed to be at work. Chocked full of mangled guitar, singalong anthem vamping, melodic guitar-rock craft, angular arrangements and driving chaos, and with lyrics like: “we went to school cuz we do what we’re told / and we found some jobs to pay off our loans / and we lost our jobs so let your parents know / that you’ll be moving home” Twenty-Five for the Rest of our Lives sounds like the frantic soundtrack to a panicked cling-to-youth phase as the 30’s rush headlong towards you when actually you know deep inside that you are already fucking there and nothing actually came up roses. Part caffeine-soused Pixies, part The Fall (sans the art-punk opaqueness) and 100% energy, the music skirts the edge of pop melodica just enough to rock the pants off the shrewdest of grandmothers and charm the enchanted heart of the most wide-eyed kid. The sound is visceral and uncompromising and you can taste every juicy detail while still rocking out. Look at the freakin’ cover – it’s a silly dude with a cape on the top of building with his arms up like he’s gonna try to fucking fly. Fuck yeah.