From
the Clash to
Rancid and
the Transplants, U.K. punk
Rat Boy takes his place in this lineage with the help of veteran frontman of the latter two groups, producer
Tim Armstrong. On
Internationally Unknown, the artist born Jordan Cardy takes huge strides beyond his 2017 debut, capturing a defiant punk essence that is purely visceral and youthful, snotty fun. Cohesive in both sound and method of attack,
Internationally Unknown is the result of this perfect pairing of Cardy and childhood influence
Armstrong. The chemistry between the master and protege is undeniable -- especially on madcap rollickers "Chip on My Shoulder," "I Wanna Skate," and "Silverlake" -- with
Armstrong focusing Cardy's genre-blurring tendencies into a singular vision and Cardy, in turn, reinvigorating
Armstrong's late-'90s, early-2000s energy. Mirroring
the Transplants more than anything (especially on the punk-meets-hip-hop "Don't Hesitate" and the barroom romp "No Peace No Justice"),
Internationally Unknown strips the Brit-pop sheen of
Scum -- along with the associated touches of that album's honorable mentor,
Damon Albarn -- dumping thumbtacks, sweat, and dirt all over. Trading
Albarn for
Armstrong was a shrewd move on Cardy's part, and listeners should appreciate the nostalgic and familiar quality found on these dozen tracks, especially on the standout anti-establishment middle finger "So What." Even relatively subdued moments such as the dubby "Night Creature" and the shiny gem "Follow Your Heart" fit with the overall fun-loving, carefree aesthetic. There's no need to search for deeper meanings or enlightenment on
Internationally Unknown. Instead, Cardy and
Armstrong invite listeners to let go and enjoy the ride, which is an energetic, wild blast. ~ Neil Z. Yeung