Album review: Dune Rats – If It Sucks, Turn It Up

Five albums deep, Dune Rats have still not started taking life seriously. Really, though, why would they? Ever since they started 13 years ago, the Aussie surf-punks have had charm and humour coming out of their eyes, and their singular sense of character has always made them memorable. Were you ever likely to forget a refrain like, ‘Dalai llama / Big banana / Marijuana’?

This time around, they’ve squeezed even more mileage out of their sense of humour without it wearing thin, but they’ve stretched themselves musically too – and it punches hard.

Dune Rats preface their fifth outing with a joking warning – 'Have you heard their new stuff? It SUUUCKS!' – before stomping and shouting through a virulent title-track laced with Auto-Tune and meta commentary ('Nothing like some yeah yeahs and some na nas!'). The skittish Be Like You is just as much of a banger, but it’s Solar Eyes that introduces some more nuance into this punk party of a record. A surprisingly textured mix of acoustic strumming, whistles and dreamy vocals, there’s something classy about its almost absent-minded sunniness as they sing about 'staring at the sun until your eyes go wide'.

Undoubtedly, there are points in this record where you’ll chuckle yourself. Rich Kid Rehab is a prime candidate, sounding like it’s been blown up into something as ridiculous as the notion of a clinic for middle class brats. What’s just as unmistakable, however, is their sense of heart. Closing track Beers, Bongs And Bullshit does have a comical touch but its real meaning unfurls slowly, evolving into something beyond being drunk, stoned and chatting shit. At it’s core, it’s an endearing celebration of friendship and life’s small joys.

Contrary to Dune Rats’ self-deprecating quip, this record doesn’t suck at all, but turn it up anyway.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: The Chats, Hockey Dad, Snake Eyes

If It Sucks, Turn It Up is released on August 2 via Ratbag/BMG