From the opening chant of “Hey, Bezos, what’s in the bag? It’s the unpaid wages of the working class!” Colorado punk act Cheap Perfume are unapologetically political throughout Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask. The album—a sparkling collection of 10 fiery originals capped off by one very unlikely but ultimately successful cover song—is out today on Snappy Little Numbers and proves that Cheap Perfume are destined for greatness. After about a decade of growing their reputation in the local Colorado punk scenes, they’re poised to launch into something bigger with this, their third album.
The aforementioned opening comes from the first track “Probably It’s Capitalism” which plays off of the corporate jingles that live rent-free in our heads like “Maybe it’s Maybelline.” Lead vocalist Stephanie Byrne has a shrill, shouting voice, which is in keeping with her feminist ethos of being loud and harsh and taking up space usually reserved for cis men. But then that gets contrasted against the softer melodies that come out of co-vocalist Jane No’s vocals. That contrast is alive in the first song, but also becomes a recurring theme throughout the rest of the album.
After taking shots at capitalism, the record moves immediately into feminist territory with “Start Shit” mocking misogynistic categorizations of “crazy” women. Then “Dead If I Do” takes the feminism up a notch with a fierce anti-rape anthem that has a sinister edge to it.
“Anytown, USA” parodies the concept of suburban splendor and the darker side full of mass shootings, economic inequality, and subtle stifling of freedoms, all hiding behind a veneer of normalcy that keeps the oppressed from rising up. “Woke Mind Virus” parodies a ridiculous term used by conservatives, particularly Elon Musk, making for an antifascist anthem that reminds us that so-called “wokeness” is really about empathy.
“No Men” is a single that the band actually released a few years ago and finally winds up on an album. It mocks the concept that the band hate men (there’s two of them in the band, after all) and draws the important line between hating the patriarchy and hating on men in general.
Not every moment of the album seems to be strictly based on politics, even if that’s a prevalent theme in Cheap Perfume’s music. The frenetic “Okay Party” is a tribute to the highs and lows of being in a band, particularly a touring band. The gorgeously melodic “Desert” seems to be a pretty standard love song and, while stepping outside of their comfort zone a little, it succeeds pretty well. But then “Down to Riot” returns to talk of class war and guillotines as Cheap Perfume get back to their political side.
To finish off the album is something really special, a cover of Andrew W.K.’s “I Get Wet,” which was actually never released as a single by W.K. but was the title track off of his 2001 album. Without getting too gross here, let’s just say that I never understood why a man would get wet, and it seemed like it would make more sense to be sung from a femme perspective. Byrne and No pull off a delightfully energetic rendition of W.K.’s track that, while deceptively simple with few lyrics outside a repetition of the song’s title, makes for a perfect dismount after a perfectly crafted performance on this record.
After years of being the best local opener for touring bands coming through Colorado, maybe it’s time for Cheap Perfume to start being recognized as the force of nature that they are. Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask. doesn’t have a single misstep on it; it’s an absolute joy to listen to from start to finish, and it’s likely to result in the name “Cheap Perfume” becoming more well known in punk scenes outside of Colorado as well. Keep an eye on this band because they’re going places.
Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask. is out today, and you can order it from Snappy Little Numbers. Follow Cheap Perfume on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
