Yard Act – “Fixer Upper”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6 

Pairs Well With… Black Country, New Road, Blur, Dry Cleaning

Yard Act is a post-punk exegesis of sarcastic societal observations. Lead singer James Smith’s speak-singing barrage of memorable if unlikeable characters and cutting political cynicism is compelling in its snarky, cheeky brilliance. The band’s wiry guitars, drum and bass looping, and electronic flourishes made the listen fun. Their 2020 single, “Fixer Upper” is a great introduction to the band. The song is structured as a stream of consciousness introduction by the narrator who can’t stop humble-bragging about his Rover, that this is his second (fixer-upper) home before trashing his contractors and various Eastern European countries, all without letting his new neighbor get a word in edgewise. Other standouts include: “Rich” (more rants, boasts, and insecurity from a newly wealthy person) and “Tall Poppies” (the life arc of a handsome football prodigy who never left his village). Moreover, despite the big U.K. buzz over this band, Yard Act is more than willing take a break from skewering capitalism, climate change, racism, income inequality, and media disinformation, to make fun of themselves. The opening song, “The Overload” remarks that the band should "kick that dick-head singer out” and that they "shouldn't get political."  Smith replies tongue-in-cheek that “if you don't challenge me on anything, you'll actually find that I'm very nice." But nice isn’t the point here, the punk energy, skillful production, and incisive lyrics are. (David Zlotnick)