OK, first up is ‘Colossus‘.

“I am my father’s son, his shadow weighs a ton”.

What a lyric that is.

I just love how raw this song is, like so many of IDLES’ tracks are.

Aproximately 4 minutes in the song appears to stop, and then comes back on for a minute or so.

Next up.

“Never Fight A Man With A Perm‘

This is an absolute song and a half this.

Once again, it’s so raw.

I don’t even know what to write at the moment but this is part of doing these SOCs I suppose.

So I’ll just let this song wash over me.

To me it’s about how men need to find a way of letting emotions out somehow, but in a safe way.

Or at least that’s what I’ve taken from the song.

I mean on a more literal level it appears to be about men getting into fights, or having confrontations.

I think it’s about men letting things out, and how unfortunately things like football is a way of seeking confrontation for some men, that’s my bit that (I don’t necessarily think the song is about football per se)

You could say it’s a cautionary tale, or this song is trying to send a message out for men to avoid getting into needless and aggressive situations.

I don’t know, I’ve just added to what I originally wrote anyway.

This is very raw and experimental, even for me!

And if they can let out emotions in a channeled way from time to time, it’ll have a positive effect on society in general.

Next up.

‘I’m Scum‘

For me, this is such a modern song in so many ways, and it’s partly written ironically I think (or from a different perspective).

Or it may not be ironic, I don’t know!

‘I don’t care about the next James Bond, he kills for country, queen and God’.

For me, this line is about being fed up of the same old stuff in some parts of the British media (or some channels, I won’t mention ITV, oops already did).

It’s 2023, there’s lot of people who don’t see patriotism or religion in the same way as people in the past.

It’s not to say you can’t have beliefs of some sort, but I think these lyrics are a way of challenging old views and a way of rebelling against some ‘traditions’ if you like.

But that is my view, or my interpretation of those particular lyrics.

I absolutely don’t have all the answers, I try to respect people’s views and I try to understand where people are coming from.

That is not always easy, as I’m passionate about numerous issues but there we are!

I mean if you find James Bond films entertaining then fair enough, suppose not everything has to mean something, and we can be entertained.

These lyrics were obviously written a little while back, so some references may not be quite as relevant as we are now in 2023.

But the lyrics on this album are very significant as far as I’m concerned.

Yeah, this is proving to be tricky but I’ll keep at it.

‘Danny Nedelko‘

This is a big response to Brexit I think.

Or at least for me it is.

It’s basically a love letter to immigration (apparently).

‘He’s made of you, he’s made of me, unity!’.

I think is one of my favourite lines in that song.

I know it means a lot to me as a way of fighting back against the right wings views that exist in the UK.

‘Love Song’

‘I wrote a love song’

‘Cause you’re so loveable’

‘I carried a watermelon’

‘I wanna be vulnerable’.

Where to start here.

As always, songs can be interpreted in different ways or have different meanings.

I can only write how I’m hearing it I suppose.

I think it’s like a way of embracing being vulnerable as a man and how amazing it can be.

‘June‘

This song (3:35), well, I’m looking at the lyrics on Spotify for a minute.

There’s actually not that many lyrics in this song, but perhaps that’s the point right there.

It’s got a confessional vibe to it.

‘Samaritans‘

I generally think this song has some of the best and most important lyrics in recent years.

Without wanting to sound to over the top about it.

Obviously this is about being a man and the pressures of ‘being a man’ can bring.

‘This is why you never see your father cry’.

I think so much of this goes way back.

Generations of men were brought up to be a certain way.

‘The mask, a mask of masculinity, is a mask that is wearing me, the mask, the mask, the mask’.

‘I’m a real boy and I cry, I love myself and I want to try.’

Love those lyrics.

‘Television‘

‘If someone talked to you the way you do to you I’d put their teeth through, love yourself’.

I think this is about being a man but also it’s about being a person.

So many people have insecurities, it’s part of being human.

I think these lyrics refer to some negative thoughts that people may have running through their minds.

Basically to me it’s about celebrating being who you are.

That line I quoted there sounds so aggressive but yet so sweet at the same time.

I think that’s the paradox of IDLES, their songs are so raw and yet so tender (lyrics wise).

‘Great’

To me, this seems to be a response to Brexit.

I know I’ve felt so frustrated with Brexit and what’s came with it.

Practically and psychologically speaking.

I love listening to this so I can feel a sense of unity, to hear someone who thinks similarly is brilliant.

‘Gram Rock‘

2:28 is the length of that song, it leads into ‘Cry To Me’.

‘Well, here I am boy, cry to me’.

Such a short line that, but brilliant.

No prizes for guessing that is about men and mental health, and loneliness.

‘Rottweiler‘

‘There’s a vulture at my breakfast table’

There’s a lot of repetition here.

Rottweiler is repeated half a dozen times or so, it keeps the song flowing.

I think it’s about having demons and how they keep emerging.

I don’t know for sure, but that’s the vibe I’m getting.

There’s not many lyrics later on in this song, it goes off one, loving it.

So raw.

I think they were letting a lot (of anger) out doing this one (I don’t know, I’m not IDLES)

And that’s that album listen along concluded, this is really raw but I did it.

I’ll edit it now.

See how it looks 30/40 minutes on or so (maybe more 50 minutes, what is time when you’re in the zone).