Since the implosion of London’s King Blues, singer and main songwriter, Itch, has released a new solo EP Manifesto Pt. 1- How To Fucking Rule At Life.
The EP begins with the track “London Is Burning” (yeah, where have I heard that title before?), an angry anthem that simply repeats the same angry words about everything that’s wrong with the world and how ordinary people are being screwed by the decisions of misguided politicians. The song is accompanied by a backbeat that sounds just like any other pop song at the top of the charts with synthesizer blips and bleeps and no real musicianship. Itch screams “London Is Burning” throughout the track and it simply lacks the grit of the songs he gave us in the King Blues days. Personally, when someone does nothing more than scream at me incoherently, the message becomes lost. The song lacks any coherent musical arrangement. “London’s Burning” was done brilliantly by The Clash thirty-five years ago and doesn’t need to be improved on.
The next track, “Spooky Kids” is more of the same. The EP improves by the third track with Truth. Here I see glimpses of the lyrical genius I so admired in Itch’s previous recordings. Truth is another angry anthem but without the yelling so it has a coherent message and offers a solution of not believing everything the politicians are telling you because they try to lull everyone into a false sense of security, saying they’re fighting the terrorists so they can continue with their agenda of oppression and lies. Truth encourages everyone to wake up and pay attention. Those we elect to serve us are really serving their corporate masters.
The final track, “Bruises,” is also a decent track where Itch claims he’s covered in bruises from the abuse mentioned in the previous track, but that he’s going to pick himself up every time and keep fighting.
I like how Itch has continued his political rants and I hope he still inspires youth of today to take part in their democracy instead of being a casual bystander and believing everything their elected leaders tell them to believe. Half this EP is a worthy effort, but I’m not finding the songs as unique or biting as what Itch did with the King Blues. Perhaps Itch still needs time to grow into his role as solo artist and this EP is a worthy effort, but it definitely lacks the brilliance of what he produced with the King Blues.
