Turns out Arctic Monkeys weren’t the first British indie band to generate a healthy buzz on the Internet long before they had a proper record out. Art Brut unleashed “Bang Bang Rock and Roll” about this time last year, but they’d already been making the rounds on the music blogs for nearly a year prior with their brilliantly self-referential single “Formed a Band.”

From the git-go, it was clear this was a band that didn’t take itself too seriously. Their performances were sloppy and amateurish. Their lyrics were glibly tossed-off (“Look at us / We formed a band!”). Not exactly the qualities that make you think, “Hey, these guys are going to be huge!”

And, well, they’re not huge. But they’re making a career—for now, anyway—out of the whole music thing. Luckily for Art Brut, it’s easy to compensate for technical shortcomings with gobs of enthusiasm.

“Good Weeekend” is a fine example of that. Released originally as a bootleg in ’04, it was also included (like “Formed a Band") on the “Bang Bang Rock and Roll” CD. It’s like crossing those compact early Wire guitar riffs with danceable late ’60 beat-pop. It’s simple. It’s kinda silly. It’s insanely fun.

By the way, Art Brut are playing tonight in Orlando at The Social. There’s still time if you hop in your car … right now.

A track by Art Brut, courtesy of Fierce Panda Records:

Art Brut: “Good Weekend” from “Bang Bang Rock and Roll” [mp3]