It is always great to pinpoint the precise moment in time. And I know the moment I realised this was Luke Haines's greatest album in years (since 2009, if you want the details). It was when that haunting piano line first kicked in during "Minimalist House Burns Down". Either that, or when Luke intoned in that unmistakable sneery half-whisper: 'Swedish jazz... no one gives a shit'.
These days, I am not especially intrigued by double albums, and when I discovered that Luke Haines once again teamed up with Peter Buck for a 17-song LP with that album name and with psychedelic song titles like "The British Army on LSD", "The Skies Are Full Of Insane Machines" and, well, "Psychedelic Sitar Casual", I had every right to be apprehensive. I expected a racket. Worse, I expected a mess. My bad. Because with Luke Haines, whatever the racket, you are always getting the songs.
Seventeen of them, too. The hight-octane beginning is supposed to blow you away, and it will (I recommend headphones). My personal favourite is the propulsive, enormous-sounding "The Skies Are Full Of Insane Machines" that is drenched in Peter Buck's terrific guitar tones and features a stellar anthemic melody from Luke Haines. I am also partial to the single "Won't Even Get Out Of Bed" that has the leisurely tempo in the vein of "Married To A Lazy Lover" - but the effect here is much warmer, less sinister. Each song has something to offer here - both lyrically and instrumentally. 'God is doing the handjob' is one hell of a line, and that guitar break in "Commies Are Coming" is criminally short.
To me, the album reaches its peak with three songs in the middle. "When I Met God" opens with acoustic guitar strumming reminiscent of "Sister Morphine". Then come a giant wave of feedback, a killer vocal melody and lyrics you will not forget. The aforementioned "Minimalist House Burns Down" is just fucking unbelievable. And then "Exit Space (All The Kids Are Super Bummed Out)" is a seven-minute progressive rock freak-out featuring a choir, a saxophone and a monkey laughing. It is a classic, of course. In fact, the only problem with it is that it makes the rest of the album feel like a bit of an afterthought. A shame, because we are still in for six excellent pop songs from Mr. Haines. The sweet and dreamy "Waiting For The UFOs" in particular is a beautiful closer.
Really, if it takes Peter Buck on the guitar to bring out the best in Luke Haines, then so be it. All The Kids Are Super Bummed Out is a sprawling double LP that has something for everyone. Tons of personality, colourful guitar racket, kazoo. And an album of the year if there ever was one.
