Desaparecidos // Payola
It's been 13 years since Desaparecidos released its last record, but the Conor Oberst-fronted punk rock group hasn't mellowed in the years since Read Music/Speak Spanish
Desaparecidos
Payola
Epitaph
4/5
It's been 13 years since Desaparecidos released its last record, but the Conor Oberst-fronted punk rock group hasn't mellowed in the years since Read Music/Speak Spanish. Not that Oberst hasn't been busy since then, putting out music as Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk, and under his own name, but Payola finds the songwriter in a particularly fiery state of mind. Right from opener "The Left is Right," Oberst lets his thoughts be known, singing about people chaining themselves to ATMs and musing "If one must die to save the 99, maybe it's justified." There's little subtlety to be found on Payola, as Oberst and company instead rely on a rip-roaring ride of guitars and grievances. It makes for an adrenaline rush of a listen, a fast, fun ride that will leave you gritting your teeth and pumping your fist (as long as Oberst's views don't put you off, of course). – Alex Bieler
