ALBUM REVIEW: Ooga Boogas | Ooga Boogas
by Chris Familton Melbourne garage rock renaissance man Mikey Young has his hand in a plethora of projects both as a producer and as guitarist in Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Total Control. Here Ooga Boogas expand on the sound of the last Total Control album by taking a trip into new wave, 70s punk and the type of agitated funk that everyone from Talking … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Ooga Boogas | Ooga Boogas
LIVE REVIEW: Dinosaur Jr, Redd Kross, Royal Headache @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney 16/03/13
by Chris Familton Royal Headache have scored a few international supports but this was the best fit by far as their melodic, hardcore inspired brand of music shares many traits with the night’s headliners. Their sound translated well to a larger stage and venue and the crowd response was enthusiastic. They dispatched each song with their usual taut rush and energy, deciding on the spot … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Dinosaur Jr, Redd Kross, Royal Headache @ The Hi-Fi, Sydney 16/03/13
VIDEO: Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys | Any Day Now
Many thought they’d never amount to anything but Sydney’s Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys have gone and recorded one of the best albums we’ve heard so far this year. Ready For Boredom hits the mark with it’s Television/Replacements take on suburban punk that bristles with dissent while still possessing a streak of bitter melancholia amid the spiraling riffs and pseudo solos, sandpaper vocals and rock solid … Continue reading VIDEO: Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys | Any Day Now
VIDEO: Bad//Dreems | Caroline
We’re loving Caroline, the new single from Bad//Dreems, you should too. It rips, rolls and jangles and with parched vocals killing the chorus. Here is the new video to prove it… Continue reading VIDEO: Bad//Dreems | Caroline
ALBUM REVIEW: John Grant | Pale Green Ghosts
by Chris Familton John Grant first came to prominence as the singer of The Czars around the turn of the century before returning with his highly regarded solo LP Queen of Denmark in 2010. Fans of that record will find some songs here that fit the same template as his solo debut but they may also be surprised by the heavy streak of retro electronica … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: John Grant | Pale Green Ghosts
A Song From Every Album In My Vinyl Collection
One of the joys of visiting someone who has a record collection is flicking through the sleeves, finding gems and long forgotten memories and getting a snapshot of that person through the music they’ve collected either over their lifetime or during a specific time in their life. I’ve been collecting vinyl since I first bought Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell in 1983 and for the most … Continue reading A Song From Every Album In My Vinyl Collection
ALBUM REVIEW: Ducktails | The Flower Lane
by Chris Familton Ducktails is the solo project for Matt Mondanile whose regular music day job is with laid back indie guitar popsters Real Estate. As their profile has grown, so too has the level of attention Ducktails music has received as it has evolved from relatively lo-fi and fragmented beginnings to a fully fledged and comparatively slick form as evidenced by the exceptional new … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Ducktails | The Flower Lane
ALBUM REVIEW: Popstrangers | Antipodes
by Chris Familton The term ‘Flying Nun sound’ gets bandied around a lot but in truth the acts on the New Zealand label’s roster were a diverse bunch. Popstrangers released an early single on the label and have been tagged with Flying Nun references but unlike usual suspects The Bats and The Clean, Popstrangers sit firmly in darker sonic corners where Gordons, JPS Experience and … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Popstrangers | Antipodes
ALBUM REVIEW: Phosphorescent | Muchacho
by Chris Familton Matthew Houck (Phosphorescent) has proven to be something of a prolific and mercurial songwriter since his third album Pride caught people’s attention in 2007 with its stark and heartfelt folk songs. Since then he confessed his love for Willie Nelson before further embracing country music on Here’s To Taking It Easy. Muchacho is a shift from the musical themes of those records, … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Phosphorescent | Muchacho
NEW MUSIC: Purling Hiss | Mercury Retrograde
Purling Hiss have just released their new album Water On Mars via Drag City/Mistletone and we’re hooked on first listen. They’ve refined the noise and boosted all the great elements of psych, pop and garage rock to produce an album that embraces all the greatness of 90s guitar music from Nirvana to Dinosaur Jr to The Lemonheads. The band come out of the same loose … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Purling Hiss | Mercury Retrograde
ALBUM REVIEW: Johnny Marr | The Messenger
by Chris Familton 26 years after departing what many felt were the most important UK band of the 80s Johnny Marr is finally releasing his debut solo album after collaborations with Bernard Sumner, The The, Modest Mouse, The Cribs and others yet The Messenger defiantly signals a return to those original tumbling notes and familiar sparkling chords. The immediate thing that stands out is the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Johnny Marr | The Messenger
INTERVIEW: Popstrangers
by Chris Familton Popstrangers are the latest in a long line of New Zealand bands to emerge with a psychedelic and moody take on pop-tinged post punk. Their debut album Antipodes proves the band aren’t just riding on the hype of a few singles, instead it shows they have a strong idea of the sounds and ideas they want to capture, though Joel Flyger is … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Popstrangers
Doubtful Sounds 