Art Brut are a Berlin-based English indie rock band. They named themselves after French painter Jean Dubuffet’s term for “outsider” art – art by prisoners, loners, the mentally ill, and other marginalized people.
They were lumped by critics into the “Art Wave” scene that also included bands such as The Rakes, Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party.
Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, was released on 30 May 2005, with its follow-up, It’s a Bit Complicated, released on 25 June 2007.
The band released further albums, Art Brut vs Satan in 2009 and Brilliant! Tragic! in 2011; and a fifth album, Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out!“ in 2018. They made a compilation of "greatest hits” and rarities in 2013, titled Top of the Pops.
The band is chiefly known for Eddie Argos‘ enthusiastic spoken word style vocal delivery, and his humorous, often self-reflexive lyrics about music, relationships and other personal interests.
Eddie spends a lot of time on art projects, painting simple, blocky oil paintings based on lines from his songs or other people’s album covers. he has also written a book about his experiences entitled “I Formed a Band”.