written by Chris Familton

Nic Dalton has compiled all the golden moments of Smudge’s career between 1991and 1998 in a twenty-seven track summation of a band that straddled the 90s and epitomised the best and worse of music during that period.

The Lemonheads connection has always been a blessing and a curse for Smudge. Sure it brought attention to their music that they may not have otherwise attracted. It also meant that comparison with Evan Dando’s songs was unfairly laden on the band. Tom Morgan and Dalton became members of The Lemonheads in 91 with Morgan co writing much of the classic It’s A Shame About Ray album. There is therefore a strong whiff of familiarity when hearing some of these non-Lemonheads songs for the first time. There is the ever-present jangly acoustic strum and sing-song super catchy vocal melodies that were hallmarks of both bands. Included are Down About It, The Outdoor Type and Tenderfoot that mark the magical intersection between both bands.

Elsewhere on This Smudge Is True there are a plethora of short blasts of in-jokes like the Henry Rollins baiting Lighten Up Hank and the trio of food related tracks – Focaccia, Babaganouj and Steak & Chips that are all less than 30 seconds long, as well as all the other 2 and 3 minute pop gems that are spread over the hour long compilation.

Taken in one sitting there is a certain amount of blend and bland that creeps in with similar tempos, instruments and vocal styles but when they hit the mark there are some powerful pop moments. Impractical Joke breezes along with just enough electric guitar to give it a strong backbone, Don’t Want To Be Grant McLennan manages to rise above novelty hit status and dials into a quaint and heart warming musical place. Hot Potato shows how many subtle layers they could bring to their sound when great production allowed it and when Alison Galloway steps up to the mic on the slide guitar-led Breadcrumb Trail there is a lovely warmth that washes over the song and reminds one of New Zealand’s The Bats.

Indie in the 90s was a much more innocent time where bands like Smudge weren’t caught up in marketing campaigns and cultivating an image. There’s was a homegrown vibe that came naturally and in these songs you can hear the progression of the Sydney scene from naive songwriting to world wearier times with references to the drugs that impacted the Newtown and Surry Hills musical worlds and romances that lost their shine.

The enthusiasm and verve of Smudge lives on in their songs, even if some sound a tad dated and less engaging 15 years on. Nevertheless, compilations like this are essential as historical documents, endearing soundtracks of a place and time.

This review first appeared on Fasterlouder