Brilliant! Tragic!

Brilliant! Tragic!
Studio album by
Released23 May 2011
RecordedDecember 2010 at Wavelength Studios, Salem, Oregon
GenreIndie rock
Garage rock
Garage punk
LabelDowntown (US)[citation needed]
Cooking Vinyl (Europe)
ProducerFrank Black
Art Brut chronology
Art Brut vs. Satan
(2009)
Brilliant! Tragic!
(2011)
Art Brut Top of the Pops
(2013)
Singles from Brilliant! Tragic!
  1. "Lost Weekend"
    Released: 16 May 2011
  2. "Clever, Clever Jazz"
    Released: 15 August 2011

Brilliant! Tragic! is the fourth studio album by Art Brut, released on 23 May 2011. The album was recorded in Salem, Oregon, and was the second by the band to be produced by Frank Black, best known as the frontman of Pixies. To accompany the album, a comic book version of Brilliant! Tragic! was released at the same time.[1]

The track listing and release details were confirmed in early March 2011.[2]

Art Brut frontman Eddie Argos described Brilliant! Tragic! as his "favourite" Art Brut album, saying that it was definitely their "greatest" album so far.[3] "Bang Bang Rock & Roll did what it said on the tin", Argos explained, "It's A Bit Complicated was a bit complicated. On Art Brut vs. Satan we had to fight Satan. This one follows the same pattern, it is a 'brilliant, tragic', record. If it was a TV show you'd define it as a dramedy."[4]

On the subject matter for the album, Argos said; "This time the album is more about how I think I’m psychic, songs for my funeral, the principality of Sealand and Axl Rose. Weightier topics I think. I’m also sexier now" [5] He also comments on the band's current musical direction, stating that "with the last album we'd just remembered we were a punk band again so it was all four to the floor rock out. This time there are a few songs to let you catch your breath so when we do rock the fuck out again it hits home harder."[6]

  1. ^ "Brilliant! Tragic! The Comic Book". Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Art Brut Release Their New Studio Album". Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  3. ^ "Eddie Argos in conversation". Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Art Brut announce new album, free download and London gigs – ticket details". NME. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Art Brut Release Fourth Album, 'Brilliant! Tragic!' on May 24th". Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Art Brut Release Their New Studio Album". Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.