Baddies 'Do The Job' (Medical) Released 28/09/09

Personality is something which has been curiously forgotten in the music industry of late. Bands tend to be kept on tight reins by their PR and if they do speak out of turn or slip up you can generally rely on their PR to fix it. That’s why when a band likes Baddies come along with a quirky nature and a shit eating grin as far as the greater London area you’re obliged to sit up and take note.

With the help of distribution deals and some online press they’ve shunned the traditional sign to label, release album formula and decided not to curb their personality in the process.  ‘Do the Job’ is the first tangible result of their decisions and judging by it, the lads would be well informed to stay on their current path.

‘Do the Job’ is a simple but effective album of indie punk rock tracks. It’s got Muse’s eccentricity but with none of the complex and sometimes ineffective bravado.  Take the first single off the album ‘Battleships’ – a 2 minute stop-start statement of intent which jags through the traditional single formula. Frontman Mike Webster is shouting his vocals one minute before the backing vocals do their best Thomas the Tank Engine impression the next. But fear not this isn’t a kid’s tale – it’s a ballsy **** you to all those generic singles flooding the market.

‘Pisces’ is a true highlight with a Danny Rowton’s grubby bassline adding a punk edge and Mike’s sharp delivery merely adding to the already frantic pace. But just when you think it’s predictable they bash out a dancefloor filling chorus. This is a common theme throughout with tracks like the retro sounding ‘Colin’ and the annoyingly catchy ‘Open One Eye’ breaking down your expectations. Indeed the latter shows their knack for having a laugh as well with lyrics like “yeah we know you’re on fire, but there’s a hosepipe ban.”

They save the best for last though. ‘Paint this City’ adds more depth and is perfectly placed for its sense of finality. It’s a less instantaneous track but is by a distance the most satisfying.

The only problem for ‘Do the Job’ is the one-paced nature but working to your strengths on a debut album is hardly a cardinal sin now is it? Just sit back, don’t think too hard and let Baddies stamp their personality all over you.