Seriously, stop whatever you’re doing and pay attention. Cheap Perfume, with their new record Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask., aren’t messing around. It’s a manifesto wrapped up in some seriously loud, abrasive riffs, and shouted with zero apologies. If you’re tired of timid music and think punk rock should actually mean something, then this album is essential listening. They’ve come to deliver a full-throttle sonic kick, and honestly, they’re completely done taking anyone’s nonsense. What Cheap Perfume pulls off here is genuinely awesome. They take the full-throttle rage of the riot grrrl classics, mix it with that focused, sharp edge of political punk, and smash it together with pure, uninhibited feminist fury, resulting in a sound that’s smart as hell but still catchy enough to break your neck to. It is basically an uninhibited call for anti-capitalist revolution, delivered through songs about protest, surviving a messy breakup, and even just needing to party. This mix of the personal and the political is such an excellent mix that works perfectly throughout the entire album. They rail hard against America’s nonsense and systemic oppression while keeping their signature aggressive-yet-melodic sound totally intact. Yeah, it’s protest music, but you can definitely dance (or maybe just mosh) to it, even if you’ve got a lump in your throat from the truth of the lyrics.
The vocals are the main event, no question. It’s a furious, aggressive, female-fronted performance that just won’t quit. These are powerful shouts, and they’re delivering their message with zero filter, zero compromise. The vocalist projects this central, furious conviction that just cuts right through the noise. You can tell every syllable is earned because they carry the full weight of the political and social commentary that underpins the whole project. The energy is pure, providing the album with all the intense, necessary haste it needs. The riffs are raw, aggressive, abrasive, and perfectly embody that spirit of rebellion without a single drop of polish. The guitarist smartly navigates the space between straight-up three-chord punk rock and the gritty, fuzzed-out chaos of garage rock. That constant movement, where a simple, hard-hitting punk section immediately slams into a grittier, more texture-driven garage part, keeps the sound totally dynamic and unpredictable. And here’s where the smart songwriting comes in, the band makes sure to throw in additional guitar themes, melodies, and harmonies. These bits of structure and clarity are important. They keep the aggressive rawness from ever getting monotonous, making sure that every song is hook-heavy and memorable beneath all the delicious fury. The bass provides warmth and keeps everything tethered. Amidst all that raw, high-energy guitar sound, the basslines are consistently warm-sounding. That warmth grounds the record, giving the abrasive fury a necessary physical depth. These lines are intricate, supportive, and full of groove. They make sure that the foundation is unshakeable and effective. That warm, consistent low-end makes the album feel so satisfyingly full and heavy, perfectly counterbalancing the high-end snarl. The drummer manages the massive structural and emotional shifts. The performance ranges smoothly from moderate rhythmic patterns, which often anchor the more measured, thoughtful verses, to faster, more energetic beats that kick in hard for the uninhibited party songs and straight punk sprints. This control and versatility are everything for a record that covers so much ground, from political essays to personal heartbreak. The drumming is powerful, steady, and packed with dynamic shifts, breaks, and fills that constantly enhance the groove. The drummer ensures those transitions between political heat and melodic anthems are executed flawlessly, keeping the energy absolutely maxed out.
Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask. is so much more than a collection of tracks. It’s an essential document from a band that knows exactly how to fuse noise with narrative. Cheap Perfume has delivered a fully formed, uninhibited attack on the status quo, using every tool in the melodic punk arsenal, from aggressive female shouts to raw, dynamic riffs, to convey a meaningful, uncompromising message. It’s an album for anyone who believes that music should have fire, conviction, and, let’s be real, a great chorus. Cheap Perfume has crafted an essential record for the modern era. It’s a catchy, powerfully executed, and revolutionary in spirit. If you need your punk rock loud, honest, and utterly purposeful, this is where you need to be. Head to Snappy Little Numbers for more information about ordering.
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