The Scottish duo’s eighth album, which blends breezy, danceable synth-rock with misanthropic lyrics, provides our global community with a perfect pre-apocalyptic soundtrack.
After a first run from 1995 until the late aughts, the mischievous Scottish pair Arab Strap began a second life as a group in 2016, and they are currently in their middle age. Since the band’s early, late-night, and sensual albums, particularly their darkly shimmering run from 1996’s The Week Never Starts Round Here to 2003’s Monday at the Hug & Pint, the cultural scene has undoubtedly changed online.
Many of the songs on the cheekily named I’m totally fine with it ????don’t give a fuck anymore ???? focus on the very-2024 social media onslaught of the senses, according to a press statement from main songwriter Aidan Moffat: “It’s about being dependent on the never-ending barrage of absurdity and nonsense that I find online—constantly negative news, false information, conspiracy theories, abuse, threats, etc.—while knowing that I need to be out there making meaningful, in-person connections with people. However, I find it impossible to stop scrolling since I’ve been trained to look for and absorb information all the time, which adds to the pain and makes me a part of the issue. The horrifying and incredibly relevant writings of Marshall McLuhan from the 1960s also had an impact on the title, which is full with emojis.
Arab Strap – I’m totally fine with it ????don’t give a fuck anymore ???? Tracklist
- Allatonceness
- Bliss
- Sociometer Blues
- Hide Your Fires
- Summer Season
- Molehills
- Strawberry Moon
- You’re Not There
- Haven’t You Heard
- Safe & Well
- Dreg Queen
- Turn Off the Light
