August 19, 2007
City Riots - Self Titled EP
Adelaide based rockers City Riots caused a stir supporting Cobra Starship and The Academy Is… on their nation-wide tour 2 weeks ago. Ricky Kradolfer (Vocals, Guitars), Dan Kradolfer (Drums) John De Michele (Bass, Vocals) and Matt Stadler (Organ, Synth) have gone from being a small band who were lucky to play three shows a year to now supporting internationally recognised bands. This demonstrates not only that City Riots are not only in demand by other musos, but also increasingly, music fans too. With a sound that you would be hard pressed to accurately compare to anything else around these days, these four are bound to leave an impression long after they have left the stage.
Their 5 song self titled EP does not disappoint. Starting with the song My Favourite T-Shirt (which they commonly end their sets with) gives you a good idea of what this EP will be like. Strong bass lines and relentless drumbeats support the vocals, guitar and organ/synth without being obtrusive and overpowering. Here For The Weekend gives you a good taste of all the instruments used to make City Riots' sound without having obnoxious solos every minute, which is a definite relief. In Your Head and Signals Collide demonstrate a softer side of the rock taste that the two opening tracks didn’t have. Grace (Almost There) is a ballad in the truest sense of the word. In my opinion, these last three track show the dexterity of Ricky's vocals like the first two songs didn't. This EP as a whole reveals their ability to write perfect music to suit the vocal style, something that seems to be missing from so many bands these days.
When put together, these five songs make one of the most impressive local EP’s I have had the pleasure of listening to. And with a performance that’s so full of energy to back up the music (the only downside being that if you are an amateur photographer with and amateur photographers you'll be hard pressed to get a picture where a hand/head/instrument/whole person isn't blurred or totally unrecognisable), I’m sure that we will be seeing City Riots a lot more. To listen to their music on their myspace, click here.
Ed's note: This article might also appear on fasterlouder.com.au, and it is with the Author's permission.
Posted by verity at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2007
The Distraction
The Distraction happen to be one of my personal favorite bands. They're a little known unsigned band from the town of Poughkeepsie, New York (made famous by the band Strata, whom The Distraction have opened for). I have been privileged enough to see them twice.
The first time was when I saw them open for Kill Hannah and Strata, and the second time was the following weekend, at a little bar in the town of New Paltz, New York. Both shows were absolutely fantastic. They are full of energy on and off stage.
They have a very unique sound, and as well as a unique look. The singer, Will Tendy, has hair that reminds me of The Cure's Robert Smith. He has a wonderful alluring voice, and is one amazing guitarist. Sarah Goldstone is the band's keyboardist, and she is quite talented. The band's bassist, Mike Galipanni is very entertaining to watch, as well as a phenomenal bassist. The band's drummer, Joe Becker, is great at what he does. I hadn't heard the band prior to seeing them open for Kill Hannah, but I was hooked after the first song. They have a very dancey, energetic feel to them.
My favorite song has to be "Digital Clipping". It's a wonderful song to sing along and dance too. But coming in at a close second is their newest track, "Clean Sweep". They only have seven songs recorded as of now, but all of them are fantastic. "Catastrophe" has a great beat, and Will's voice sounds wonderful. I have said it many times to my friends, and I will say it again here, if they get noticed by the right people, The Distraction will be huge. Trust me.
To listen to The Distraction go to their myspace account here.
Posted by aubrey at 02:48 PM | Comments (0)
August 11, 2007
AFI - Decemberunderground
Decemberunderground is the latest album release from alternative rock band AFI. A fitting title considering they disappeared off the radar for three years to make it. From their East Bay Hardcore punk rock roots, the band has transformed from angry teens screaming “I wanna get a Mohawk but my mum wont let me get one” to wise-beyond-their-years 30-somethings singing about detachment and seclusion, gone through line-up changes and seem to have been mislabelled as everything from metal to goth to emo along the way. AFI returned, being pushed into a category that doesn’t fit them, into a scene that has tried to clone them, to a fan-base that worships them and they have taken it all in their stride, as they usually do. If any fans were concerned about them sounding watered-down and strung out like their prototypes, they definitely had nothing to worry about.
The opening track, “Prelude 12/21” establishes a serene feeling when it starts, followed soon by the soft vocals, finalising the scene. But AFI create no time for contentment, shocking you back to life with the next “Kill Caustic”. It revisits the AFI of the past, but with superior lyrics and extra care for the vocal chords by front man Davey Havok. This track is sure to be a favourite live by band and audience alike. Hunter Burgan then kicks off the first single, “Miss Murder”, with its distinctive bass line and they are now treading new territory by starting the song with a chorus. “Summer Shudder” starts the ballad train on this album, followed by “The Interview”, the first of the two true ballads on this release. “The Interview” is ended by a vocal harmony between Havok and guitarist Jade Puget that rivals any other the two have previously performed.
There are tracks like “The Killing Lights”, which do not actually seem to fit the album, and tracks such as “37mm”, which may be hinting toward a direction AFI could take in the future. This album demonstrates just how much these men have matured over the past three years, with more technically challenging drumming from Adam Carson than we have previously seen, Havok writing more elusive and somehow more meaningful lyrics than he has done so in the past; Hunter proving that a talented bassist knows when to hold back and when to give it his all and Jade providing more reasons for us all to believe that they will be around for a few more years.
All in all, this album is one that should be taken as a whole, seeing as there are a few tracks that would never survive when taken away from those that surround it. But I have found this to be the only downfall of Decemberunderground. AFI have produced yet another album that is set to amaze fans and confuse non-believers. You either love them or hate them; but once again they have proven that no matter how hard others may try, they can never do it like AFI.
Posted by funnelbc at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)
February 04, 2007
Webzen: Folk & Anti-Folk
*blows in category*
*dust flies out*
Been a while since I posted in playlist. High time I actually used it. Oh no! I'm breaking the 4th wall! :(
I've been listening to a lot of folk records lately. Mostly because of a little act called the mountain goats. And it's high time I did a roundup of the cream of the folk crop. So you can locate and listen to some good music. Why folk though? I dunno, but i'm pretty sure nobody can do decent bloody minded optimism as well as your folk band. Also, and this is a recent discovery, but apparently anti-folk is a thing - which is pretty much folk with a bit of punk sensibility injected. It's a good thing.
Oh, and I'm going to post Amazon links to my Amazon store. So far I've made $1.74 on my Amazon store, so I'm well on my way to a country house and a cool car.
Okay So bands worth checking out:
The Mountain Goats
These guys got me interested in acoustic guitar music again, and they also made me feel a whole lot better when going through a really shitty time. Typical features are intelligent angst ridden lyrics, filled with quiet hope, optimism and sometimes, killer hooky riffs. Amazing and transcendent live, I cannot strongly enough recommend The Mountain Goats. For my money, the spiritual successor to Jeff Buckley, what John Darnielle lacks in ethereal waif singing makes up in heart and style. Just sublime.
Album recommendations:
The Sunset Tree
Kimya Dawson
Well, this is what anti-folk is apparently about. I could care less, sometimes these new genre names rub me up the wrong way. Kimya Dawson is a supremely talented singer/songwriter. For further evidence, I recommend My Mom off the Remember That I Love You record. I will wait while you go check that out. Convinced? I am. I cannot stop playing Remember That I Love You and really is amazing. What gets me is the mix for the soft of her voice contrasted with darker & sub-cultural references with little regard for standard song convention. I like that it reflects cultural artifacts that have been otherwise ignored, like Kimya's references to videogames such as the largely overlooked Gamecube title Supermonkeyball Deluxe.
Album recommendation:
Leo Kottke
Many years ago, I was given a tape recording of Leo Kottke's 6 & 12 String Guitar Album. I had heard nothing like it before, and it still makes me immensely happy to listen to Leo Kottke's amazing music. He is nothing short of a genius on Guitar. His skill on 12 string guitar is almost legendary, and when you find a guitar nerd who knows about his work, you should see their face light up. Amazingly gifted, and a prolific back catalogue of work means there is an incredible depth of music for new fans to get into.
Album recommendations:
6- and 12-String Guitar
Iron & Wine
I must admit Iron & Wine was recommended to me a long time ago, and I've only just started to get into it, and it's been an unexpected joy. It's quieter and more mournful than your average folk bear artist, but really wonderfully and darkly constructed. Famous recently for his cover of Such Great Heights by The Postal Cover on the Garden State soundtrack, Iron & Wine are getting a lot more attention recently. The Rooster Moans on The 2002 album Creek Drank the Cradle is possibly my favourite track, even though it's a little more stylistically departed from the rest of the songs on that album. Lovely stuff.
Album recommendations:
The Creek Drank the Cradle
The Frames
I've no idea whether this actually properly classifies as folk, but it's my birthday (it's not actually) and I'll miss-classify music if I want to. Paired back, downtempo, and beautifully evocative is the best way I can describe the work of The Frames. I got very heavily into For The Birds and I haven't investigated their other music. That I think may have been a mistake, and I intend to check out their back catalogue next time I head down to the music shop. Lay Me Down off For the Birds is absolutely compulsory listening.
Album recommendation:
Well that's just a few bands and records that I've come to genuinely love recently. I hope that this has been an interesting read, and if you think that this section worked well for you, drop a comment here or on the forums and I will do more like it.
Posted by funnelbc at 03:02 PM | Comments (1)
August 12, 2006
Lara Stephen - Up In The Air
For the last week I have been listening to Lara Stephen's new album, Up In The Air, almost constantly. Maybe it's the Winter blues, but this album absolutely matches my mood at the moment. Up In The Air is a melloncollie album, it mixes a variety of styles and the whole album can't be put into one single basket. The closest I can get to pinning this one down is finely crafted noir folk guitar.
What underpins the album's slightly wandering musical style is Lara's amazing voice. She has a beautiful low croon that makes each track work. I'm picky with my female vocalists, but Lara's voice is just lovely - but don't take my word for it. Here's a rundown on a couple of the standout tracks. Lara has kindly made them available for mp3 download on her site.
Hello is the second track on the album, and is most likely going to be what gets the most radio airplay on the album. It's a nice song and I like it - but I think the album has better tracks, like The Lucky One.
Download - Lara Stephen - Hello
Speaking of, The Lucky One is a beautiful soft jazz croon. The production values on the entire record are excellent, but this track really stands out. The recording of the trumpet is evocative, and an excellent counterpoint to Lara's voice. The whole track just works so well. Absolutely velvet smooth.
Download - Lara Stephen - The Lucky One
Up In The Air is perfect Winter listening, it's full of soft spoken folksy tunes without being twee. It's well balanced and beautifully recorded. Lara Stephen has an amazing voice, and you could do much worse than grabbing a copy of this when it's released on the 14th of this August. If you get a chance definitely check out this album.
Recommended.
Website Lara Stephen.com
You can buy tracks online here: Martian Music.com
Posted by funnelbc at 09:33 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2005
wolfmother lp
I've been up so many goddamn nights in a row working late recently it seems I spend much more time infront of the computer working than I spend living a real life. One reason I haven't minded working like an absolute dog recently is Wolfmother. Their debut album rocks the 70's metal style so much.
Once apon a time when I took myself too seriously I probably wouldn't of let myself enjoy this album because it references earlier music so faithfully that I would dismissed it as gimmick rock. Ala. the darkness. But then I learnt to relax and rock the hell out. This album is colossal, and every rock fan should have it. The sound is thunderous, the bass line is simple and intense, vocals and weedy and ozzy inspired and it's absolutely spot on. The organ sounds on Mind's eye are eye watering. Miss out on this at your peril, its damned fine.
Who gives a shit if its ironic or post-rock or what the hell, disengage your critical faculties and enjoy this for what it is, absolutely amazing rock.
I give it 5 busted speaker grilles out of 5.
Posted by funnelbc at 09:28 AM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2005
hello, australian musicians.
Hey kids, just a reminder, that if you are interested in getting your music written about and covered here, just bung me an email on info at ausmusician dot com and I'd be more than happy to have a listen to ya stuff and point folks in your general direction if you have a website.
Cheers!
Posted by funnelbc at 11:03 PM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2004
winston giles orchestra - soundtracks for sunrise
How appropriate that I should meet Winston from the Winston Giles Orchestra sitting in the sunshine drinking wine. So much sunshine and so much wine... I'm surprised that I was even able to speak in any form of coherence at all - maybe Winston was just giving me a CD to fend me off. I think this is well within the acceptable list of things that I can be fended off with. That and large wads of rolled up fifty dollar notes, preferably of a size large enough to choke a cow with.
At any rate, Winston very kindly supplied onetonne with a copy his new album Soundtracks for Sunrise. I had a listen to the promo EP and managed to cobble together a few sentences here.
Read this review and you could WIN a copy of Soundtracks for Sunrise!
So in my initial piece about the promo EP I raised the point that I was a bit concerned about the music’s similarity to that of Lemon Jelly's work - which isn't really a complaint so much as an observation. I'm happy to say that the entire album lays that concern to rest. It's good stuff and it wanders musically but it's a nice collection of psychedelic groove tunes. The looping acoustic guitar on a lot of the tracks adds a nice texture and organic-ness to a quite electronic sounding record.
A lot of the album has some really nice stereo effects - it's really hard to do that rotating cabinet stereo sound nicely, but I think that a little song is really nice example of this. It's a really dense lush sound with lots of other sounds hidden inside the mix. I love that there’s so a wide variety of instrumentation on this album, there’s horns and guitar sitting quite happily next to really densely filtered electronic tomfoolery. It's an overwhelmingly sunny record, and if you don't like the more upbeat and groove orientated stuff you might not like it so much, but if you do, you'll probably think all your Christmases have come at once.
There's a lot to like about Soundtracks for Sunrise, and Golden was a real highlight for me - it features crazy reverse samples and really deep sounding reverb. I kept on wanting the understated arpeggiated synth guitar to really break through into the main mix - and as soon as it did it turns into something else. I really want to see the track Revenge with a film clip with 1970's style James Bond style action - It's that kind of track. I mean that in a nice way. It's hard to write about this kind of album as it wanders all over the musical spectrum. It ends on such an upbeat ecstatic note you end up wanting to play it all over again.
You can preview/listen to the tracks on the website, but it's the sort of music which really benefits from decent quality speakers - the preview tracks don't do it much justice. It's a small wonder Soundtracks for Sunrise is getting some airplay - it's an excellent album and well worth tracking down. I like it a lot and I think you will too.
Send onetonnemusic an email with the subject "Winston Giles comp" in the heading and we'll randomly pick out a winner in the next week or so!
Winston Giles Orchestra -Soundtracks for Sunrise
File Under: Surreal positive beats.
Website:Winstongilesorchestra.com
Track Listing
1. We Wait for Sunrise
2. Welcome to the Hotel
3. A Little Song
4. Revenge
5. Mercy for the Wicked
6. Morning Shine
7. All Come Together
8. Golden
9. The Banished Matadors
10. The Hostess
Posted by funnelbc at 09:47 AM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2004
red eyes - high place
A mate of mine handed me a copy of this, and said give it a listen. "It's a locab dub and reggae outfit, you should check em out, they're mental" And ye verily he was right these guys are mental. I simply cannot wait to hear more of their stuff, its abosolutely solid. The High Place single features the songs High Place, Babylon Falling, Ultra Magnetic and two remixes of Ultra Magnetic and High Place. This is a really polished and outstanding effort. Apparently they're a 10 piece outfit and have been building up a cult following in Melbourne town. Which could mean anything when translated from press release speak, but after listening to them, I'm sold. It's got a nice hot groove, and excellent vocals. It's not cookie cutter dub either, and the remix tracks bring it up to a late night dnb style mix.
This is truly excellent music to groove to. The quality of the recording is spot on, and the mix is excellent. If you cannot stand the spring rain, this is definately the thing to improve your mood. It's improved my already. Spark one up and catch these guys anytime you can.
Track Listing
The Red Eyes -
1. High Place
2. Babylon Falling
3. Ultra Magnetic
4. Ultra Magnetic (Deep Fried Dub)
5. High Place (Towers of Babel Mix)
Posted by funnelbc at 08:58 AM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2004
the winston giles orchestra - promo ep
Firstly, I'd like to apologize to the Winston Giles Orchestra for leaving their CD in the bottom of my backpack collecting skunge and general bottom of backpack muck. Luckily it cleaned up a treat. (Or that the very least, well enough so that the cd still works.)
Yeah, so if you get a copy that's as vintage as this example, you're cool and there's no need to keep smoking and wearing your fancy von dutch hat backwards.
This is a very slick sounding record actually. Quite professional sounding mix, with a good variety of tunes. I really want to get a copy of "Soundtracks for Sunrise" so I can check out more of the sounds. Musicially it wanders, but premdominantly it features excellent samples and live sounding intrumental recordings beside more electronic ambient beats. I really cannot fault these tracks, beside having very polished production values - almost to a point if you get what I mean...
Maybe because musically the first track "We wait for sunrise" shares a strong similarity to lemon jelly's body of work, i'm a bit unsure of how to rate this. Theres that same whimsical building and progression of the tune, having a listen to the streaming version of the full album online, a few songs share this layered acoustic guitar sound. I'm not sure how I feel about it musically, as that sound is pretty well nailed by Lemon Jelly. But once again a sampler cd like this takes their music out of context. Most of my concerns are put to rest by Mercy for the Wicked which has a really nice combination of fatter synth sounds and very tidy drum (samples or playing?) sounds. It finishes up with The Banished Matadors, which is a flamenco inspired number. Very solid, psychedelic electronic awaits if you grab yourself a copy of this, or even better the full album, Soundtracks for Sunrise.
Winston Giles Orchestra Promo EP
File Under: Surreal beats.
Website:Winstongilesorchestra.com
Track Listing
1. We wait for sunrise
2. Mercy for the wicked
3. The banished matadors
Posted by funnelbc at 08:31 PM | Comments (1)
October 28, 2004
decoder ring - somersault
If ever a soundtrack was to fit a movie more perfectly, or stand so well in it’s own right, then I’d like to know about it. This is sublime wandering – it echoes welling tears and just plain beauty. Gushing aside, Somersault the album is an incredible achievement.
Somersault details the events of a young girl and her (please hold your cringing till later) and her awakening sexuality. But more so it tells a character story, and feels much more like real life on screen than most movies. It’s simultaneously evocative and unsettling, especially as the film develops. And so too, is the album. Vibraphones and simple rhythms build into complex arrangements and the album evolves into a reflection of the movie – but is not limited to a footnote of the film, it stands on it’s own two feet and shines.
Decoder ring have a hallmark of clanging sounds and more abstract wanderings – but this as an album, perhaps due to it’s nature as a soundtrack has a solid cohesion. The title track Somersault features excellent vocals by a singer known as Lenka. Sonically, it has a feeling that is evocative and deep, it’s not light listening, but it’s still accessible. Recorded in the country on a farm outside Kiama it has a strong sense of place and relationship to the country and feeling of isolation. It’s expressed beautifully. Rough Sex features harmonic distortion not unlike that which we have come to expect from outfits like The Dirty Three.
Lenka makes appearances in several tracks through the album lending an ethereal touch, but also giving the album a more cohesive sound as a whole. While I dread the fact that an album such as this is cannot be left alone, I would be interested to see some of these tracks remixed in a slightly more driving electronic mix – perhaps a little like the endless Beth Orton remixes. But not shit. No really.
I want to go to sleep to this album, not because it’s bad, but because it takes you to that place almost immediately, and gives you a bizarre feeling of elation that has been missing for me in my music listening recently. It could just be a case of the right music at the right time in my life, (If you must know I was very fond of some pretty sad gear in the early nineties. None of which I choose to reveal at this point in time.) but it encapsulates a mood in such a definite way that it takes you to that place and despite yourself, you are happy to luxuriate in it.
Even within the constraints of the album itself, it travels widely in style, and the chordy circa ‘00 Air stylings of Higher Higher sit well alongside Alpine Way, a laid back acoustic affair.
Perhaps a little slower than many albums, but a masterpiece to listen to. If you’re a goth kiddie, you’re going to adore this album, and if you’re not you’re going to go out and look for purple hair dye and black wallpaper samples. It’s a very sexy album, and you should seek out the opportunity to own it. It is one of the best albums that I’ve had the pleasure to listen to for a long time.
This album is excellent and I highly recommend you give it a good solid listen.
Track Listing:
01-Heidi's Theme
02-Somersault
03-Snowflake
04-Rough Sex
05-Carillion
06-Music Box
07-More Than Scarlet
08-The Siesta Inn
09-You're Hot
10-Higher Higher
11-Alpine Way
12-Naked Snow
13-Electrocution (Hydro Mix)
14-Heidi's Theme (Reprise)
15-Somersault (Score)
Posted by funnelbc at 07:05 AM | Comments (0)
art of fighting - second story
It's taken me a couple of weeks, but I think I can finally say that this album is at least as good as - if not better than - their last one, Wires . And that's saying a lot, considering how much I love Wires :)
by Nich
First track, Along the Run , is probably the easiest to get into. It's insistent, yet keeps to itself. Simple, yet still has depth. Where Trouble Lived , in a similar way to I Don't Keep a Record (off Wires), is predominantly the female bassist's vocals - and her voice really does suit the music: quiet, personal, copmelling.
Sing Song is another fairly easy track to get into - unusually upbeat and fast paced, for the band, but still unabashedly AOF. The final track, Heart Transaltion , provides a nice and steadily-laid-back closer for the album, in true AOF style - quietly building to a limax, then slowly letting you go, wishing for more.
I really do reccommend you give the album a go. Even if only because the song titles make great IRC kick/ban messages (eg Busted, Broken, Forgotten ;)
Oh, and if you've never heard Art of Fighting before... well.. CDDB thinks they're 'lo fi', tho' I think that's rather inaccurate. They just have a very laid back sound. Bass, drums, two guitars, and vocals, but a very simple approach. I guess 'subdued' may be one of the better descriptions. Unequivocally complex, without needing to be in-your-face.
Their music works well as both background music, and 'foreground' music. If anyone saw Gomez tour a few months back, AOF were their tour-mates. They received an ARIA in 2001 for Wires, their debut album.
Posted by funnelbc at 07:04 AM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2004
the mark of cain - this is this
This isn’t exactly a brand spanking new release, but I had it in my pile of CDs to listen to and give away and being quite fond of earlier Mark of Cain I was interested to see what this latest studio release was like. Known for their intense riffage and rough vocal styles sounding unlike just about anything else on the local scene The Mark of Cain has etched out a style which nobody else really touches.
This is not the next logical progression from their earlier work, it’s very much in the same style of previous TMOC work and doesn’t depart greatly from that. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, we’ve all had a band we really dug release a follow up album that we didn’t really like, so if you are convinced that this is the pinnacle of Aussie rock then you’ll more than likely dig on this anyway regardless of what I say.
This album doesn’t really have the same kind of standout tracks such as interloper and LMA which was a big hit for TMOC on their Ill at ease record. The album moves quite nicely though, doesn’t drag at all across the 12 tracks and is pretty easy listening for anyone who doesn’t mind a bit of slightly harder rock. It’s genuine and enjoyable, it doesn’t really feel like they were particularly trying to score a big hit with this record – it just moves along. This could be a bad thing, but in this case it seems to work okay. I would of liked to see a bit more variety – but tracks like ‘Sleep’ really connected well for me and served as a nice counterpoint for the rest of the album.
Standout tracks include ‘Let Chaos Rule Supreme’ I dig the clean guitar opening and the distortion rhythm and drums makes for a rather fine track – possibly even my pick of the album – I’d get down and boogie my head off if I heard them play this one live. If you didn’t already get the references in the earlier albums there’s a lot of references to the second world war – its not that TMOC are all about Aussie war related stuff but they often touch on it – in a respectful but I think, anti war kind of way. Lone pine certainly makes references you’d have trouble missing -
“We dragged our boots over no mans land and held our sway when lead did swing…”
“…Nothing ahead nothing forward but the naked and dead”
I think this could be easily misconstrued as popping a hard topic into a song and calling it thought provoking as an easy out – I don’t think that’s the case, it’s a quite heartfelt tribute I think.
This album had a few surprises for me, I think it’s well worth a listen, and I’d love to see this guys update their website and play a few gigs sometime in the near future. I could say some bollocks including the words “seminal” and “pub band” – but that would be crap of me – when I started getting into their tunes I couldn’t get into the pub, and used to get down to their tracks on my massive old tape walkman on the way to school – they are infact, a mighty fine local outfit and I’m impressed by this album.
Mark of Cain – This is this…
Web: http://www.tmoc.com.au
Review cd supplied by: http://www.amrap.org
Rooart #74321847672
Released: 2002
Posted by funnelbc at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)
jimi hocking - give jimi some love!
This album’s a bit of a creeper. Even to the blues lover it takes a listen or two to get into. You’re probably not going to like this unless you dig blues or have a bit of a rockabilly blues bone in your body. Me, I dig the blues, but even so it took me a couple of listens to get into this album. Some albums are like that. This is definitely one of them. It also wanders a little bit into the jazz electric guitar side of things, which may or may not be a good thing depending on what blows your hair back.
Jimi Hocking is certainly an excellent blues guitarist but the first tracks just seemed a bit middle of the road. There’s a bit of self effacing humour on Skinny White Boy that makes a point of how white-bread Jimi is and that he loves to play the blues. I really think that the first few tracks of this album are very nicely recorded but all in all they’re ultimately unsatisfying.
Things start to turn around with Look at the Damage (Free the Children). The hollow top electric guitar is abandoned for acoustic and a much more stripped back performance. It may just be my personal taste in blues, but I think this is a far superior track to the first four. The second half has a stack of very listenable tracks, Mr Nobody is a more sultry groove, Collar Up features a blazing guitar widdle intro with distorted vocals making a reappearance too. Good Boy features soaring Stevie Ray Vaughn style lead guitar. Romance in Aisle 2 is a nice little track too, with some nice ABC radio style presenter samples, just a fun track that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
This is a nice album, but really only suitable for the blues enthusiast – it's pretty light in nature and it's a not a super serious listen. Best track for my money would be Good Boy or Look At the Damage (Free the Children) (Why won’t anyone think of the children?!)
Jimi Hocking – Give Jimi Some Love
File Under: Nerdy white boy blues
Released: 2002
Label: Black Market Music
Track Listing:
Everybody’s Clown
Skinny White Boy
No Particular Place to Go
Blues at My House
Look at the Damage (Free the Children)
Mr Nobody
Collar Up
Credit Card Blues
Good Boy
Romance In Aisle 2
Boxing Gloves
Posted by funnelbc at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)
jeff lang - everything is still
Leaning towards the emotional side of acoustic folk guitar is Jeff Lang – we’ll be taking a look at his current studio album – Everything is Still. He’s just put out a live album called – No Point in Slowing Down, which I’ll take a look at hopefully sometime soon. But right now, let’s take a look at the album Everything is Still. If you are of the acoustic folk mould then chances are you’ll love this album. It has strong shadows of a traditional blues influence, but doesn’t wander so far in that direction as to make it inaccessible for people who aren’t into that scene.
Orignally Posted On May 23, 2004 by Funnel
What really hooks you in with this album is the mixture of very high quality guitar playing and lyrics you actually want to get into. The virtuosic guitar playing ebbs and flows to allow for Jeff to work in his songs. Often acoustic players of this calibre don’t sing folk – they tend to get drawn off into other genres but this guy just makes me want to pick up the guitar and sing songs about my lost dog. That was a compliment of sorts, even though it didn’t really sound like it. Jeff’s got all the soul and feeling of a blues player but with the lyrical sensibility of a poet you’d actually want to listen to.
This album has plenty of standout tracks on it, if you want to have a quick listen, check out London, and Trainwreck 49 and the title track Everything Is Still. There’s a great deal of variety in this album and it appeals immediately. There’s a depth in the guitar work and lyrics which will make you come back to this one again and again. This is music to listen to when you need a bit of real emotion and something decent to move you up to a higher plane. Highly Recommended.
Jeff Lang – Everything Is Still
File Under: Folk Acoustic / Blues
Released: 2001
Label: Black Market Music
Track Listing:
1. Big Feeling
2. Can't Raise My Head
3. London
4. The Point
5. Everything Is Still
6. No Good Answers
7. Gina
8. Trainwreck 49
9. Release
10. Between The Lines
11. Some Memories Never Die
Posted by funnelbc at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)
downsyde - land of the giants
Downsyde are perhaps the best Australian hip hop out there, the closest comparison being The herd. But with the release of 'Land Of The Giants', Downsyde quite simply blew the competition out of the water.
Orignally posted On Aug 27, 2003 by DJFROGi
Once I gave this album a listen, I was overjoyed to find a rap crew that actually represent the predominent views of Australian society, as a couple of years ago there was no other alternative, all the hip hop being produced in the US and all.
The opening track, Undefined, skillfully mixes old school jazz style instruments and tune with a phat beat, and of course, Downsyde's best trait, skillfull lyrics. Gone are the days of mindless rap, these guys rap with their minds, and more to the point, their unashamed Aussie minds.
Mainstream society is in the crosshairs, with the group constantly taking apart social structures, class distinctions and other flaws of our society, all of which Optimus, Dazastah and Dyna-Mikes (the groups MCs) skillfully blend into a harmony of vocals.
Put simply, it blew me away. These guys are easily the best Oz hip hop around, owing to the fact they stay true to the Aussie people. Chuck some funky samples in, and some skillful DJ-ing in, and you have a group that looks set to make their mark on the international hip-hop scene.
Tracks:
Undefined,
Bittersweet,
Gifted Life,
El Questro,
Land of the Giants Pt 1,
Did not you know,
Robust,
Hot Days Cold Nights,
Keep It Alive,
Kingswood Country,
Neva Enough.
Posted by funnelbc at 11:09 PM | Comments (0)
brian fraser - finger pickin blues
The first time I listened to this album I was left slightly mystified - the first track dot com is all about having a website.. which is odd for a blues artist! I thought Mr Fraser was taking the piss. But after checking the fridge, it appears the yellow gold is still safe, and my caltraps in the kitchen hall were not needed...
Posted On Jul 18, 2003 by funnel
"Gotta have a website if you wanna become a dot com... yeah!"
Its actually quite amusing in that respect, the slightly awkward use of nerd gramma makes it even more amusing. But after the initial hilarity and hijinks settled down, I quickly realized this is a great little blues album.
It's often difficult to find Aussie blues that sound as effortless and technically spot on - this album is quite amazing in that respect. Brian is an accomplished guitarist, the album has a great tapping rythm and pace to it that that makes it an enjoyable album to listen to. In most of the tracks except when Brian covers "The Ship Song" by Nick Cave, and Writers Curse and Halfway There its just him and the guitar, percussion performed by Brian on the stomp box - nice.
This really is fun album, standout tracks like "every game" and "halfway there" have a driving accoustic sound that just resonates a lighter approach to roots music. Its a good mixture of light and dark, but as blues albums goes, even with Brian's gravel voice this album certainly sits on the lighter side of the scale as an album. Its not as genre specific as some other blues albums, being pretty accessible to anyone who is willing to listen to it more than once to get a quick gist of the flow of the album.
I really dig this album, and if you even have just a passing interest in blues or roots, I wholeheartedly reccomend it - if you are deep into the scene, then you probably already have a copy.
Brian Fraser - Finger Pickin' Blues - 2003
Web: http://www.brianfraser.com
Distributed By: Black Market Music
Review CD Supplied by: Amrap Supporting Australian Music Airplay.
Posted by funnelbc at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)
dung - who flung
This album is funny. It’s got all the elements of juvenile toilet humour, the name Dung, and the title Who Flung. The track titles 20 pot screamer, sort it out, If I’m going to hell (I’m taking you with me) all pretty much reflect that attitude. And make no mistake that’s pretty much what you can expect from this album. It’s ballsy pub rock, and it’s not ashamed to admit it.
If you take a careful look at the back cover, a stick figure of kerri-anne sports the standard stick figure cock and ball. Very classy dung. Of course being released in 2001 it predates a lot of bands that really started to ride the wave of lo-fi punk flavoured rock. That genre has been around since 1970 but this just happens to be a particularly fine example of a genre experiencing a big resurgence. People sick of bands with a dj out the back will dig right into the meat and potato rock sound that’s on this album. It’s nothing but guitars, distortion, drums and bass and a bit more distortion.
There’s actually quite a decent variety of sounds on this album, its all leaning towards the harder pub rock sound, but the album isn’t ‘samey’ like a lot of dirty rock is. There is so appallingly gratuitous guitar solo work on tracks like bee sting, but this album was released long before the darkness made 80’s guitar widdle acceptable. Besides, that’s an unfair comparison; the darkness sound is basic carbon copy of earlier sound, where this is at least musically progressive. Not THAT progressive, but still very much worth a listen.
Vocals are not dissimilar to the Tism vocal sound at full yell. I just don’t think that the Dung boys really give too much of a crap – but then again this album has clearly been professionally recorded and mastered and a difficult mix is quite even and well mixed to emphasize parts of the music as the songs dictate. It’s a bit sneaky like that, it’s quite a polished album in terms of the mix, but still retains a good sized chunkiness that’s reminiscent of pub performance.
Check it out if you like your music dirty and smelly. Stand out tracks for me is Me Volkswagen Iz Kaput or Sort It Out. Sort it Out has one of the funniest starts to a song I think I’ve ever heard…
Dung – Who Flung
File Under: Your grotty beer soaked pub rock placemat..
Label: Shock
Released: 2002
Track Listing:
20 Pot Screamer
Bee Sting
You Lookie Like
Dump On Me
If I’m Going to Hell (I’m taking you as well)
Follow Me Home
5.30 AM
Me Volkswagen Iz Kaput
Miss Me When I’m Dead
Sort It Out
Stick the Pig
Posted by funnelbc at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
September 27, 2004
matt corcoran - so low blues
If you like your blues stripped back, dirty and down the bottom of a well, then you may well get right into Matt Corcoran’s So Low Blues. It’s primitive, dirty, and pretty damn okay. Percussive rhythm is the backdrop to each track, whether it be the staccato strumming patterns or the raw vocals, it has a good solid angry blues undertone that relates closely to a modern rock outfit.
Originally Posted On May 23, 2004 by Funnel
This is a distinctly darker blues album, with a harder distorted guitar sound to it. Lyrically, this is reflected in violent and uncompromising lyrics. The third track Lil’ Blue Dog is the epitome of this sound. He slams the slide down on the strings and his voice echoes the percussive tone of the piece.
What I like about this album is its rawness. The song’s aren’t incredibly technical or by the same measure, the not contrived. There’s a strong element of music for the sake of it on this album. If I was to pick a band in Rock that’s doing a similar thing in their genre, I would have to say The Strokes use the same kind of simple back to basics style. While this could lead to fairly generic sounding blues, (or indeed rock) it really withstands plenty of listening sessions. I’ve been through this album more than a few times and it continues to grow on me. It’s also similar sounding to a R.L Burnside recording in this respect. If you like your blues a bit harder with a bit more of a rock/punk sensibility you should check out this album.
Matt Corcoran – So Low Blues
File Under: Hard Blues
Released: 2002
Track Listing:
I’m a Stranger
Lil Blue Dog
Send Me Your Pillow
Jiggy Jig
Pizza Man
Barked All Night Long (Lil Black Dog)
Jackie
Hoochie Coochie Man
Hush Hush
Snuggaluffagas
Harpoon
Hobo Blues
Ain’t That Much
You Say You Love Me
Poor Wayfaring Stranger
Matt has a quite extensive website where can check out what he's up to, chat back, all teh usual guff. It's pretty laid back in style, and I reckon is pretty cool. dig it!
Posted by funnelbc at 11:20 PM | Comments (0)
grinspoon - new detention : panic attack
Over the years, Grinspoon have proven themselves to be at the forefront of new and initiative Australian rock, especially after the release of the phat album, New Detention.
Fairly recently, the album was re-released, this time as a limited edition, with a bonus disk Panic Attack coming into play. If you dont own this album, and you call yourself a Patriot..... grrr...
By far the most distinct track is Chemical Heart, which I'm sure by now you'll all have heard. Lost Control and No Reason have also been released as singles, and they constitute the albums high points.
Suprisingly, there are no low points here, with unreleased tracks such as Anyday Anyhow and Boltcutter also shinning through. Their style does however vary alot, but depending on your viewpoint, this can be either a good or a bad point.
Panic Attack add four new songs into the equasion, with the popular INXS cover, Dont Change opening it up. The other three are unreleased, but somewhat interesting tracks.
The case to own this album just became much stronger. There's absolutely no excuse if you dont own this album.
Orignally Posted On Aug 30, 2003 by DJFROGi
Posted by funnelbc at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)