written by Chris Familton Over-population in the male singer songwriter realm of americana and folk is a constant risk and there are many pretenders who attempt to step up to the standard set by the likes of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Jason Molina, Phosphorescent and more recently J. Tillman. Damien Jurado is another who is treading the same forest path and has been for fifteen years … Continue reading REVIEW: Damien Jurado | Saint Bartlett
Written by Chris Familton Continuing the recent trend of American bands looking back to 60s and 70s pop for inspiration, The Morning Benders have released an album that avoids the garage-rock side of the tracks and instead focuses on pop melodies in the vein of The Beach Boys alongside orchestral elements and the ability to find a hook and focus on it rather than burying … Continue reading REVIEW: THE MORNING BENDERS | BIG ECHO
written by Chris Familton What can be one man’s alternative rock is another’s weirdo noise and The Melvins have intentionally teased both parties now for more than 25 years. The Bride Screamed Murder is their 20th studio album and continues their mission to satiate and frustrate. Their previous release, Nude With Boots, was a fairly straight affair in the context of The Melvins and for … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Melvins | The Bride Screamed Murder
Written by Chris Familton Before Shapeshifter, fellow Kiwis Electric Wire Hustle Soundsystem did their best to win over the audience with their electro soul tracks. You sense their full band show would engage more as they struggled to gain and maintain the attention of the growing crowd with their soulful house and electronic grooves. DJs Jonny Faith and Monkfly warmed the crowd between acts with … Continue reading REVIEW: Shapeshifter @ Metro Theatre, Sydney 13/06/10
written by Chris Familton Fifteen is the debut album from Melbourne guitar/drums duo Super Wild Horses. No doubt you will have already heard them on the Bonds commercial that also features Ella Stiles from Songs jumping around. Fifteen’s strength is the way it has been minimally produced with no instrumental or structural excess and avoids descending into blues robbery like so many other two piece … Continue reading REVIEW: SUPER WILD HORSES | Fifteen
written by Chris Familton There was something exciting about attending a celebration of noise, drone and experimental music at the Opera House, a venue that normally hosts music and theatre of a more classical and structured form. Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson are to be congratulated for their Vivid Festival curatorial selections and the variety of music they have included across the event. On arrival … Continue reading REVIEW: NOISE NIGHT @ Opera House, Sydney 31/05/10
written by Chris Familton In support, The Black Ryder did a great job filling the cavernous venue with their droning psych rock. Featuring tracks from Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride, the band have developed into a great sounding live band. Aimee Nash was sultry and at times menacing while Scott Von Ryper worked his guitar pedals industriously. The swelling crowd were more receptive than … Continue reading REVIEW: The Cult @ Big Top, Luna Park, Sydney (06/05/10)
written by Chris Familton Band of Horses return with their second album of soaring, americana tinged rock and this time round they’ve continued to write widescreen songs but tempered them with some restraint and less of the grandiose hooks that made songs like Is There A Ghost so compelling on their previous album. Previously trading somewhere between Kings Of Leon and My Morning Jacket, Ben … Continue reading REVIEW: BAND OF HORSES | Infinite Arms
written by Chris Familton The Bats returned to Sydney for the 2nd time in two years, a treat for fans of their low key strum and jangle that has sees them ambling towards their thirtieth year with their reputation and continued creativity intact. This time they upgraded from the Hopetoun to the more club-like OAF and attracted a larger crowd as a result. Sydney’s The … Continue reading REVIEW: THE BATS @ OAF, Sydney 23/04/10
written by Chris Familton Perth’s Tame Impala have been widely tipped for great things since they first appeared in 2008 with their self-titled EP. Luckily, they haven’t rushed into their debut album but instead allowed their music to evolve and mature through countless live shows which have given them a stronger sense of direction and a wider sound to draw from. Innerspeaker is the culmination … Continue reading REVIEW: TAME IMPALA | Innerspeaker
A pot-luck gathering with the first family of Minneapolis written by Razza G On a cold Sunday night in Sydney it’s an effort to leave the house, and that effort can set you to muttering “This better be worth it.” Or, as the woman standing next to me says, “Tough crowd to warm up.” That unenviable task falls to Professor Groove and the Booty Affair, … Continue reading REVIEW: Ricky Peterson & The Peterson Brothers with Sheila E. @ The Basement, Sydney (23/05/10)
written by Chris Familton Jeremy Jay is a Californian who plays music more suited to the East Coast or the UK. He has an undeniable knack for creating hummable melodies and a cool way with minimal instrumentation that has enough velocity to keep your head nodding along. His latest release, Splash, is a lighter affair than previous albums and surfs an effortless wave between Television, … Continue reading REVIEW: JEREMY JAY | Splash
Doubtful Sounds 