A sense of impending doom is fused into the DNA of the Leeds Lot Yard act that emerged in the early days of the pandemic. Born at a time when it looked like Britain might catch fire and slide into the North Sea without warning, their acerbic, comedic post-punk gave the idea that if this was the end, they should go out laughing. Act Two “Where's My Utopia?” picks up where debut song “The Overload” left off, confronting us with what happens after the world doesn't actually end. The song expands on the seductive optimism of that debut, and says principal songwriter James Smith, recently married and with a young son, has found something to fight for most soulfully.
The album's shining pinnacle is the sung piece 'Blackpool Illuminations'. Compiled as a fake interview with a fictionalized version of himself, James' recollection of a trip to the seaside as a six-year-old segues into a candid monologue about his family. I'm happy with you, you never want life to change. ” It reflects the moving “100% Endurance,” which deftly tugs at his heartstrings as he considers the lineage between his own upbringing and his current responsibilities as a parent. It's lovely to hear a man in a traditional rock band sing sweetly about his son. “We also took you to Blackpool and watched like a hawk as you explored beneath the promenade in those big clunky shoes.” Like his idols of the era. , the Yard Act understands that an infusion of love and compassion provides a contrast and cohesiveness to the album's darker tones, elevating it to more than just a collection of songs.
There are still plenty of places to jump around in sweaty club venues. It takes smarts to sound as stupid as the band does on “We Make Hits.” It's a frenetic mission statement that instills the Yard Act spirit more than ever before. When it oozes, you know you’re a real punk,” James growls over a distorted string and vocal combo. The catchy 'Fizzy Fish' gets him up close and personal with a flow reminiscent of peak Mike Skinner, while 'When The Laughter Stops' featuring Katie J. Pearson is the band's most addictive yet. hook, making it a contender for the biggest bop of 2024. so far. The instrumentation is fun and eclectic, interspersed with chunky breakbeats and samples, with hints of Britpop here and there ('The Undertow' in particular has a distinctive Pulp flair), and elsewhere with reggae and hip-hop. (Gorillaz's Remi Kabaka Jr. is listed as a producer, alongside the band themselves). Extending Yard's act's ability to blend the fun and the thought-provoking in every way, “Where's My Utopia?'' is a musically as well as an intellectual delight, one of the most promising of the day. It's a leap in the right direction from one of the groups.