Track Listing

1. We Were Aborted
2. Cheat On Me
3. We Share The Same Skies
4. The City Of Bugs
5. Hari Kari
6. Last Year's Snow
7. Emasculate Me
8. Ignore The Ignorant
9. Save Your Secrets
10. Nothing
11. Victim Of Mass Production
12. Stick To Yr Guns

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #326 in Music
• Released on: 2009-09-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

CD Description
The fourth studio album from a band once called "the biggest cult band in the world" is the first featuring ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who was recently confirmed as a full time member of The Cribs. Produced by prolific producer Nick Launay (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, Supergrass), Ignore The Ignorant is likely to cement the band's mainstream crossover that began with 2007's 'Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever'.

Customer Reviews

Oi, grandad!
It was hard to supress a 'huh?' at news of Johnny Marr joining The Cribs. Firstly, I was under the impression he'd not long ago shacked up with Modest Mouse, but I guess that's what's known as an 'open relationship'. Second, it just looks weird, leaving The Cribs resembling one of those dinosaur rock bands with one original member who hasn't succumbed to drug abuse or other general mishap. Most importantly, surely capturing the mojo of one of Britain's all time great bands isn't as simple as parachuting in their guitarist?

Well, yes and no. Marr clearly remains a songwriting force to be reckoned with; his input here is distinct, and has resulted in a great set of songs. The punk sound that dominated previous Cribs' outings is tempered here somewhat, and as a result the thrilling, seat of the pants rush of Men's Needs, where the songs sounded like they might collapse at any moment, has been exchanged for a more carefully crafted, disciplined approach. Even the songs that clearly follow the existing 'Cribs template' like Nothing and We Were Aborted are more polished. This does highlight the melodies in a more deliberate, matter of fact way, and there's no real clutter here. Marr's jangle sits well with the Jarman's grungy riffage, complimenting rather than dominating it.

Unsurprisingly, a lot of what's here sounds like The Smiths, from the arpeggiated sweep of We Share the Same Skies to the 'Panic' like jig of Ignore the Ignorant. Of course, inviting these sort of comparisons can be less than flattering. I've always thought the Jarmans' competent lyricists, but when you're accustomed to hearing Morrissey's unmatchably dextrous wit riding Marr's rickenbacker, the Jarmans can't help but seem a little less impressive, as if Daniel Radcliffe were to stand a little too close to Robert Pattinson on the red carpet.

Overall though, you have to commend The Cribs for managing such a distinctly different, yet still largely excellent record. They've obviously set out to make a change and succeeded on their own terms, where many of their post-punk peers' 're-inventions' seem undistinguishable to the naked ear (yes I'm talking to you Franz Ferdinand).

Victims of mass production?
I just want to counteract any arguments that follow this idea of 'Ignore the Ignorant' not being 'Cribs' enough; that the album is not like their sharp, shouty predecessing albums. This may be true, but IT'S A GOOD THING! Bands need to evolve and I think the addition of Johnny Marr has helped them do just that. The four of them have created a richer sound in this album, and still kept that frustrated Cribs touch with songs like 'We Were Aborted'. The passion is very much still there; 'Cheat On Me' has some brilliant vocals and lovely guitar, as has 'We Share The Same Skies'. They've experimented, sneaking in what sounds like a Stone Roses influence in 'City of Bugs', with a bit of The Editors in there too. Sure, there may be one of two songs some would consider 'weaker' than the others, but one band cannot produce four albums in which every song is as quirky, violent and urgent as, say, 'Our Bovine Public'.
To conclude, the band have EVOLVED, and in a fantastic way, I'd say. Lovely album.

Disappointing.
This is a terrible album. It might be OK if you don't own any of the other three previous Cribs Albums, but if you do it is painfully obvious how similar all of these songs are to what has gone before. With the exception of "Save Your Secrets" The Cribs seem happy to replicate the exact chord structure, Oh OH Ohohs and in some places complete melody lines of former work. I was actually one of the few Cribs fans who was looking forward to Johnny Marr writing on this album - as I naively augured that he would he would help develop the more unconventional, Sonic Youthy element of their sound (which is where they seemed to be heading in the last album) but, with the addition of Marr, what has actually been produced is a more bland Cribs with the edges evened off, and in their place some shimmery guitar work from Marr twiddling away in the background. And Not only has he not added to the mix but with his showier style, he makes Ryan Jarman's guitar playing sound quite crappy in comparison, and his presence seems to leaden the whole album and drain it of energy. I WILL admit that it is definitely a much more smooth and polished Cribs album than previous efforts, but hearing a smooth and polished Cribs album makes you realise just how much sounding rough was contributing to their appeal. What a disappointment.