RAT BOY - Mob Mentality

 

1. Who are RAT BOY? 

RAT BOY is Jordan Cardy from Chelmsford, England. He has been making music since 2012 and Mob Mentality (Oct, 2024) is one of a handful of songs to get a release and video from his third album Suburbia Calling (Oct, 2024). RAT BOY's music started out as a blend of hip hop and indie rock but veered toward Rancid style ska and punk rock since signing to Hell Cat for the second album Internationally Unknown (2019). 

2. What kind of tune is Mob Mentality? 

Mob Mentality is Madness style ska in the verses and a Clashesque chorus. The song wears it's Madness influences on it's sleeves. It is what it says on the tin. 

3. Which bands do RAT BOY sound like? 

Jamie T, The Specials, Madness, Rancid.

 4. Which bands have influenced RAT BOY? 

The Clash, The Streets, Beastie Boys, Rancid, Blur, Kasabian. 

5. What have the press said about Mob Mentality?

"Their chaotic youthful sound captures the sound of debauchery" - When The Horn Blows. 

"Scrappy punk meets Brit-pop" - Epitaph. 

"Leans hard into it's British roots, pulling on the sounds of Britpop, 90's indie and 2 Tone ska" - Atwood Magazine. 

"Mob mentality that's reality, murder she wrote,

Call the policeman when you hear the spray cans,

No where left to go"

RAT BOY - Internationally Unknown

1.    Who is RAT BOY? 

RAT BOY is Jordan Cardy from Chelmsford, England. He has been making music since 2012. Internationally Unknown (Oct’18) is the title track from RAT BOY's second album Internationally Unknown (Jan’19). 


2. What's he got? 

A commercially pleasing song that mixes hip-hop beats and radio-friendly production with faux-angsty punk. And a sticky chorus. Standard issue wank but its done well. 


3. Who does RAT BOY sound like? 

Jamie T (to a t). The Streets or Beastie Boys at a stretch. 


4. What have the copy and paste cunts said?

“Rabble-rousing riot act” – Discover Music. 

“Pure punk with LA sunshine drenched production” – Nest HQ.

“Upbeat and angsty, infectious tune” – It's Not Records.

5. Who is RAT BOY influenced by? 

The Clash, Beatie Boys, The Streets, Blur and Rancid.

6. Why should I give the tune a listen? 

Unknown Internationally is pure pop stupidity with enough of the musical trappings of angry rock (read: punk) that it just might tickle your tail feather. RAT BOY is one of the genuinely most interesting cross-genre artists England has at the moment and his (second going on third) album has some straight up punk credibility. 

7. What other tunes does RAT BOY have worth a listen? 

Revolution is genius. And No Peace No Justice with Tim Armstrong (from Rancid) has got to be done. On principle. It isn't too shabby either. 


8. Any more words? 

Unknown Internationally (the album) was knocked up in a couple of weeks after a bromance between RAT BOY and Tim Armstrong (singer from Rancid). Armstrong produced the album and at different times members of The Interrupters and Rancid lent a hand.

Yungblud - I Love You Will You Marry Me

1.   Who is he?

Yungblud is Dominic Harrison a successful punk/ska/rock/hiphop musician from Doncaster, England. I Love You Will You Marry Me (Sept’17) is from his debut self-titled E.P. Yungblud (Jan’18).

2. What's Yungblud got?

A ska tune that juxtaposes romance with commercial reality.

3. Who does Yungblud sound like?

Jamie T, RAT BOY, and Arctic Monkeys.

4. What is the word from the press? 

“It’s catchy as hell” – Beat.

“An astute lyrical ability that leaves a sting in the tail” – Clash.

“Brutal honesty” – Kill Your Stereo.

5. Who are his influences?

Arctic Monkeys, Eminem, The Clash, Kanye West, and The Beatles.

6. Why should I give I Love You Will You Marry Me a listen?

Because you like a good punk/ska tune. Because you like socially conscious music. Because you wanna know what's blowing up in Britain at the minute.

7. Any more cracking good tunes from Yungblud?

Check out King Charles or Polygraph Eyes. 

8. Any last words?

Nah.

“A version of Romeo & Juliet,

This time with Adidas sneakers and cigarettes”

Turnspit are a melodic punk/rock'n'roll band from Chicago, Illinois, who have been playing together since 2015. Their debut album Desire Paths was released Feb'18. Turnspit sound like The Distillers, 131's, Hot Water Music, and Gaslight Anthem. Human Music is from their debut E.P. I Wonder If They Are Happy (2015) and is heartfelt punk rock.

RAT BOY - Revolution

1.    Who are RAT BOY?

RAT BOY are a popular indie rock/alternative hip hop band fronted by Jordan Cardy. He is from Chelmsford, England and started making noise in 2014. He has made three E.P’s and Revolution (April’17)  is a two track E.P.   

2. What have RAT BOY served up? 

Revolution is snarky rap verses spit out like broken teeth in a bare knuckle fist fight and a massive chorus underpinned by moshpit filling guitar riffs. A belter that is more contagious than a Thai hooker's axe wound.

3. Who do RAT BOY sound like? 

The Beastie Boys, Jamie T, and The Streets.

4. What have the press said about Revolution? 

“A snarling tirade against the dystopian state of young people” – NME.

“Big chorus rap attack” – Indie Central Music.

“Chaotic blend of punk and hip hop” – Let It Happen.

5. Which bands inspired RAT BOY?

RAT BOY’s main influences are The Clash, The Streets, Kendrick Lamar, Morrissey and Kasabian. 

6. Why should I give Revolution a spin? 

Because you like punk mixed with hip hop. Because you like the Beastie Boys. Because you're a sucker for a massive chorus.

7. What are RAT BOY's best songs? 

Sign On, Move and  Fake I.D. are the ones you want. 

8. Any more words?

Revolution was recorded at the Beastie Boys’ studio Oscilloscope in New York. 

“I was alright until they took me off my medication”

28 Days are a punk rock/rap band from Melbourne, Australia. They started up in 1997 and are still going strong. They have four albums on their roll of honor. 28 Days sound like Beastie Boys, Butterfingers and Grinspoon. They are influenced by NOFX, Bad Religion and Blink-182. Rip It Up is the band's highest charting song and came from their number one album Upstyledown (2000). The AU Review said Upstyledown, “cemented 28 Days in the Australian music culture as the voice of an Australian generation.”

“Don’t pack a gun so I don’t do gangster rap,

I kick it over this riff, roll a spliff”

Otherkin - Bad Advice

1. Who are Otherkin? 

Otherkin are a punk band from Dublin, Ireland. They have been the life and soul of the party since 2013 and have two E.P's to their name. Bad Advice (March'17) is a standalone single. 


2. What kind of noise are they touting? 

Bad Advice channel old school punk influences like The Clash, marry it with new century indie like The Strokes, to create a sprightly little foot-tapper. 


3. Who do Otherkin sound like? 

The Strokes, The Vaccines,  and Jamie T.  


4. What have the sycophantic press said about Bad Advice?

“Ferociously energetic” – With Guitars.

“Furious, old-fashioned, punk rock” – Old Mackerel.  

“A ferocious two minute twenty second assault” – Even The Stars.

5. Which bands have inspired Otherkin?

Some of their main influences are The Clash, The Ramones, The Strokes, Weezer and Thee Oh Sees.

6. Why should Iisten to Bad Advice? 

Because it mangles punk, garage and new century indie rock rather well.

7. What are Otherkin's best songs? 

Ay Ay is anthemic; and I Was Born and I Feel It aren't too shabby. 

8. Any more words?

Doc Martens sponsor the group. 

“It was about 20 to 10,

When you took a pinch of my bad advice”

Jamie T is a popular English indie rock/alternative hip hop musician from London, England. He has been hammering out tunes since 2005 and has three albums in the vaults. Jamie T sounds similar to The Clash, RAT BOY and The Kooks. He is influenced by Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan and The Clash. Robin Hood is an album track from Jamie T's third album Trick (2016).  NME called Robin Hood “insanely fun” and said it is “essentially a full-on tribute to his idols Mick Jones and Joe Strummer c. 1980.”J

“Brought up in the backstreets,

Wouldn’t change if he could”