Album Review: UkePunk! – I Blame The Parents

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UkePunk!

I Blame The Parents - Self Released

Lancashire, UK punks UkePunk!, not to be confused with Spike Slawson‘s ukulele cover band Uke-Hunt, have now been around for just shy of decade, as their name indicates no guitars are used in the making of their music. Their 2014 debut album, Punk Police, and their subsequent EP, 2018’s From The North, both gained critical acclaim and now UkePunk! have just released their brand new full-length, I Blame The Parents. There is an old adage that states write about what you know, on the surface UkePunk! have embraced this as their material revolves around life in Northern England, but there is much more to them than this if you scratch the surface.

I Blame The Parents kicks off with the album’s title track that attacks blame culture and the woes of modern society, this sets the tone for tone of the whole of the album with it’s tongue in cheek deadpan humour. At first listen it might appear that some of the subject matter might be lost on anyone that lives outside of Lancashire or North West England, but if you listen to the lyrics then then the subjects are universal, it’s just that UkePunk! view them through  a distinctly northern lens. UkePunk! have a distinctly old school punk approach that is delivered with ukulele as opposed to the overdriven six string approach, there are shades of vintage punk rock that run deep in their DNA but there other elements that raises them above the role of novelty ukulele punk band.

UkePunk! embody the sardonic approach of Half Man Half Biscuit, this is crossed with an influence from bands such as The Members and The Clash with the whole package having the feel of a bawdy music hall that’s been transplanted into the modern age. To paraphrase what was written about another famous Northern ukulele player, UkePunk! manage to simultaneously embody Lancashire, the working classes, the people, and the state of the nation. UkePunk! will be celebrating the release of I Blame The Parents with Adventures Of Salvador and Aerial Salad at Ramsbottom Cricket Club on the 10th May.

I Blame The Parents can be purchased and streamed via BandCamp here

UkePunk!‘s website can be found here