WHO ARE THEY? Actually, they’re a him: British indie singer-songwriter David Brewis, who may be better known as a member of Field Music, the long-running, Mercury Prize-nominated pop-rock duo that co-stars his brother Peter.
WHAT IS THIS? His third School of Language album and — as its numerical title might suggest to the more politically minded listeners in the crowd — a darkly witty and wonderfully weird concept album about the current U.S. president.
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE? Funkier than its subject could ever be, thanks to grooves, licks and a general vibe lovingly influenced by the likes of The Meters, James Brown, Talking Heads and Prince. But it’s also spot-on lyrically, thanks to incidents, themes and quotes ripped from the headlines, cribbed from Hillary Clinton, borrowed from assorted swamp dwellers and nicked from the colluder-in-chief himself — all delivered via Brewis’s tenderly soulful tones and soaring falsetto.
WHAT WOULD BE A BETTER TITLE FOR THIS ALBUM? Orange Is the New Funk.
HOW SHOULD I LISTEN TO IT? As an entertaining antidote to the relentless onslaught of Tweets, tariffs, scandals and sheer stupidity currently clogging up the entire media landscape.
WHAT 10 WORDS DESCRIBE IT? Historical, hysterical, inspired, freaky, funky, slinky, groovy, brilliant, arch, lush.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SONGS? Unlike the man of the hour, every cut is a personable winner — from I’ve Got the Numbers and A Beautiful Wall to Lock Her Up and The Best People. But Rex deserves a nod for its laugh-out-loud refrain: “I didn’t say he was a moron / No, no / I said he was a FUCKING moron!”
WHAT WILL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY? That really depends on their politics. Govern yourself accordingly.
HOW OFTEN WILL I LISTEN TO THIS? Every time you need some relief from the horror — so several times a day, potentially.
IF THIS ALBUM WERE A TV SHOW, WHAT SHOW WOULD IT BE? A late-night talk show.
SHOULD I BUY, STREAM OR STEAL IT? Some of the proceeds to go pro-choice organizations, so vote early and often.
