MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP
Wake Up, Shut Up, Work (Solitaire Solution)
Scratchy guitar riffs, ska-laced punk, funky basslines, a vibrant saxophone and an unmistakably wide London-accented delivery: Wake Up, Shut Up, Work, the second album by Millie Manders And The Shutup, is a thrilling blend of genres and subcultures.
Wake Up, Shut Up, Work is populated by winners like Rebound, an upbeat frolic through the world of dating: here, like every song on the album, the punchiness and fervour of Manders herself reign supreme. Threadbare, meanwhile, features a singalong riff which enhances the frontwoman’s deft vocal delivery, not unlike peak popularity-era Kate Nash.
Blunt, irreverent, witty, and refreshingly candid, Wake Up, Shut Up, Work cumulatively delves into the complexities of mental health and women’s rights, creating a contemporary story which stands alongside the high-octane sound. Neither ska nor punk, in a purist sense, Millie Manders And The Shutup are true modern cross-genre specialists.
words DAVID JAMES
