Citizen RatDon’t Wanna Be An American (Single)

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again, Citizen Rat is here to fill the Soho-sized hole in your grunge-loving heart.

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With their latest single, Don’t Wanna Be An American, they’ve championed the 90s-soaked sound. And they’ve also proven how capable they are of writing thought-provoking lyrics.

It’s the dispirited musings that really define this track. The simple, dreary soundscape plays the supporting role. When we interviewed vocalist Dartanyon Hutchison, he explained the track was built from the bones of a piece his dad created decades ago. And lyrically, it was influenced by the romanticisation of American politics and ideals. For the most part, the track falls on the more mellow, indie side of the grunge scale, but its lyrics bring the heaviness and punk spirit through. That’s not to say it doesn’t still have its moments though.

Citizen Rat is a band intent on bettering themselves with every release.

The back end, with its raspy screams and agonised repetition of the words, don’t wanna be an American, is DWBAA at its most potent. Citizen Rat is a band intent on bettering themselves with every release. In their short time together, they’ve shown they have a lot to offer the music world. And with the jazz, country, punk, funk and grunge moments they’ve promised on their upcoming record, Looking Down From Up Below, they’re sure to set the bar even higher. Give them a little more time, and they’ll be leaders of the scene rat race.

STICK THIS NEXT TO: Violent Soho, The Chats, Private Function