Album Review: Just Can't Take It by Astronaut (1999)
Alright, let’s talk about Just Can’t Take It, the criminally underrated debut from UK rockers Astronaut. Released in 1999 under Fierce Panda—a label known for unearthing gems—this album is a scrappy yet heartfelt mashup of Alternative Rock and Indie Rock. It's raw, unfiltered, and feels like it was recorded in someone’s garage at 3 AM after too many cups of coffee. And honestly? That’s what makes it stick.
First off, you gotta hit play on “You Be Mine.” This track hits different—it’s got this swaggering guitar riff that just grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. The vocals are all over the place, like they can’t decide if they wanna be sultry or shouty, but somehow it works. There’s this moment halfway through where everything drops out except for a single guitar line, and then BAM! The drums crash back in like a rogue wave. You don’t forget something like that. It’s messy, sure, but isn’t life kinda messy too?
Then there’s the title track, “Just Can’t Take It.” Man, this one’s a slow burn. At first listen, it might feel like your standard moody rock anthem, but give it time. The lyrics are sharp as hell—lines about feeling trapped in your own head, trying to break free. The chorus explodes with these layered harmonies that sound like desperation bottled up and finally released. I remember blasting this song on repeat during a particularly gloomy week, windows down, rain pouring outside. By the end of it, I wasn’t even sad anymore—I was pumped. Like, "Yeah, I get it now."
What strikes me most about Just Can’t Take It is how real it feels. No shiny production tricks or fake bravado here. It’s just four dudes pouring their guts into ten tracks, hoping someone out there will hear them. Maybe that’s why it slipped under the radar when it came out. But hey, sometimes the best stuff does.
Here’s the kicker though: listening to this album today feels like finding an old mixtape in the bottom of a drawer. It reminds you of a time before algorithms told us what to listen to, when discovering music felt like stumbling upon a secret club. So yeah, Astronaut may not have changed the world with Just Can’t Take It, but they definitely left a fingerprint. And honestly? That’s more than enough.
Oh, and P.S.—if anyone knows what happened to these guys after '99, holla. I need answers.
