Get Awkward
XL/Ecstatic Peace
3/18/2008
As expected, Get Awkward roars out of the gate with the same intensity as their self-titled debut… unfortunately, that's where the comparisons seem to end. Gone is the raw, uncouth grittiness of just two years ago, replaced by over-produced, unoriginal teen-scowl rock. While Jemima Abegg still shrieks like a woman on fire, the subject matter becomes stale after a few tracks. The incessant whining and often cringe-worthy rants about losing a boyfriend, disliking a rival girl or all-night parties could be cute or even an interesting twist on an old idea, if Abegg wasn't so damn convincing. Instead of a slightly ironic twist on teen angst, the album comes off as legitimate teen angst, with lyrics pulled directly from a high-school girl's poetry notebook.
Not everything about the album is wrong, while it may rely a little too heavily on influences (if you're aching to get thrown in jail, take a shot every time that you hear Black Flag or Black Sabbath), Get Awkward manages to feel relatively original. Be Your Own Pet have written the soundtrack to a terrific mid-80's B-movie, unfortunately it's 2008. The songs are catchy, relatively enjoyable and most likely better when performed live, and therein lies the problem with the album. Seeing the band live is an amazing experience, hearing them through headphones leaves listeners largely unfulfilled. While it may not be as good as their debut, Get Awkward has its strong points and shouldn't be completely dismissed. Perhaps the band, and Abeeg in particular, should be viewed as Hannah Montana's evil twin.
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