Category: Album Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Three Oh Three” – Oly Sherman

Oly Sherman captured my heart with the release of his single “Bones” in May. Now with the release of his debut EP Three Oh Three, I’ve fallen even harder for the music of this Sydney-based singer-songwriter. Take a listen and I’m sure you will too.

It might not be love at first note though, but some of the best relationships take time to develop. “Reykjavik” is an interesting choice for an opening track. It’s a beautiful, atmospheric instrumental, but it doesn’t have the melodic hooks to really draw the listener in. Persevere with this release though, because Three Oh Three really kicks in with the next track, “Noir (No Love Any More),” a gorgeous melancholy piece of pop rock that wears its heart on its sleeve.

Oly isn’t an artist who’s afraid to bear his soul. There’s such longing in “House on the Hill,” which only amplifies with every plaintive expression of the song’s title. “Pain-Free Melody” captures the loss and defiance that so often comes with a break-up so beautifully. I love its jazzy feel. It might just be my favourite on this EP.

After so much sadness, “Bones,” is such sweet relief, an upbeat optimistic pop-rock number that sweeps you up and takes you to a much more positive place. Title track “Three Oh Three” continues the good vibes, ensuring we finish with a smile on our faces. These two final songs really feel like companion pieces, the kind of tracks you’d turn up on the stereo if you were setting out on a road trip and leaving the real world behind for a while.

Oly will play a string of shows around his hometown to celebrate Three Oh Three’s release. Sydneysiders, check him out at one of the following events.

6 September 2019 – The Lansdowne, Sydney (Supporting Slum Sociable)
7 September 2019 – Golden Age Cinema, Sydney (Supporting Liquid Time)
12 September 2019 – Lord Gladstone, Sydney
27 September 2019 – Coogee Bay, Coogee
5 October 2019 – Yulli’s Brews, Alexandria
16 October 2019 – Lazybones, Sydney
26 October 2019 – Low 302, Sydney
6 November 2019 – Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Long Way From Hill Street” – Mercury Sun

Mercury Sun burst onto the music scene in 2013. After releasing a pair of celebrated EPs, the Brisbane indie rock act are finally ready to drop their first full-length album, Long Way From Hill Street, and after giving it a listen I know fans will think it’s worth the wait. This is a good honest rock record that wears its heart on its sleeve. All the right ingredients are here, from powerful vocals to hooky guitar riffs.

The title gives you an inkling what you are in for. This is such a nostalgic album, both lyrically and sonically. It’s no coincidence the band opens the album with “Come of Age,” a song which addresses the transition from angsty teen to adult in control. There are similar themes of looking back and moving forward on the next track, “Just Like Hollywood.” The line “Day by day my youth is growing old on me” really resonates. In “Stumbling,” Mercury Sun looks at revisiting a relationship, in the next track “All My Friends” the band recalls their visions for the future through the lens of youth.

Most songs from Long Way From Hill Street don’t just cover similar thematic ground. They have a similar anthemic rock quality feel to them. Perhaps a more critical listener might call them samey, but I think Mercury Sun has simply found its voice. It does make the gentle closer, aptly titled “Hill Street,” seem a little place, even if looks back fondly on the past like so many of this album’s tracks do. However, this song also hints at a band that might just have a little more range than this album suggests.

For now though, I’m pretty happy to relive my youth and rock out with this one. Brisbane locals can do it in person when Mercury Sun launch Long Way From Hill Street at Tomcat on its release date, September 6. The band will also play Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers on September 21.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Drinking Alone” – Jack Runaway

If Kings of Leon and Paulo Nutini had a lovechild, he might sound something like Jack Runaway. Drinking Alone is the Western Australian act’s debut EP, but it’s delivered with all the confidence of seasoned pros.

At just five tracks, the band makes sure there are no fillers here. We already got a taste of Jack Runaway with the singles “Ready to Know You” and “Never Know,” and they’ve wasted no time releasing another single, “Dijonnaise” in tandem with this EP. Any one of the songs on Drinking Alone could be a single though. Each one has a cool, sexy self-assuredness about it, a real rockstar vibe that simmers just below the surface.

I don’t think it’s any coincidence “Ready to Know You” is the EP’s opener. It’s the song that made me fall for Jack Runaway. Hearing it again reminds me just how much I dig the band and primes me for what will come next. “Moonblocks” is such a natural second track, with the easy groove of its verses and the anthemic chorus. There’s a freedom to it that makes me want to pack up my car and drive somewhere, anywhere. “Never Know” and “Dijonnaise” are straight-up rock tracks, with fuzzy guitars and unbridled choruses. The title track has a real pathos about it, so it’s a curious choice for a closer. However, Jack Runaway aren’t an act that likes to play by the rules. Perhaps ending on a downer was a strategic decision though, as it compels the listener to hit play once again.

Like the best EPs, Drinking Alone is a collection of songs that leaves us wanting more. It’s out now. See Jack Runaway play Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle on August 31.

Image used with permission from Firestarter Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking” – The Barren Spinsters

When you slip on an album by a Canberra band called The Barren Spinsters with a name like Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking, you have an inkling you’re in for a good time. But I didn’t quite expect the bluesy collection of songs set to delight my senses this week. I’ve been immersing myself in this album but the last week, and I’m not quite ready to come up for air.

These guys have such a great retro sound. I love the soulful backing vocals and driving drums in the explosive lead track “Hey Ruth,” a song which fondly remembers a former employee who dated TISM’s manager. The single “West of the Happiness” escaped my attention on its release but it’s so much fun with witty lyrics and a cool country-blues-rock flavour. “Step Down” feels like a classic cowboy ditty, but its words give it a subversive modern bent that’s irresistible. “Just the Way You Are” also flips our expectations in the best, bluesiest way possible.

Speaking of lyrics, these guys have a way with words. With a biting sense of humour and a strong sense of rebellion, make sure you play the album a few times to catch every turn of phrase. It’s so easy to get caught up in cool guitar licks and harmonicas, but those lyrics are undeniably clever.

Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking caught my attention early but didn’t let up, with standout songs right throughout. It’s the sort of album I’d play my dad to convince him people are still making good music. It’s got such an accessible sound underpinned by classic influences, from swamp rock to country to good old-fashioned blues. But it’s no mere carbon copy of what’s come before. There’s a delicious edge to their sound that makes The Barren Spinsters much more than a retro throwback.

Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking is out now. The Barren Spinsters are currently touring the album all around the country. Catch them at the following venues.

24 August 2019 – Capital Brewing Co., Canberra
8 September 2019 – Jamison Oval, Reclink Club, Canberra
4-6 October 2019 – Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra
5 October 2019 – The Imperial Hotel, Eumundi
18-20 October 2019 – Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, Kangaroo Valley
16 November 2019 – Healsville Music Festival, Healsville
22-24 November 2019 – Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliffe

Image used with permission from The Right Profile

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Find a Way” – Dana Gehrman

Brisbane’s Dana Gehrman creates the sort of music we don’t hear enough of these days. She has a cool bluesy sound that veers into rock, country, soul, and Americana. It’s perfectly punctuated with Hammond organs and slide and pedal steel guitars. And then there is that voice, so commanding with a sultry ease you instantly warm to. I hadn’t heard of her before listening to her debut album Find a Way, which is out today, but I’m an instant fan.

The album’s opener “Hands Tied” is the perfect introduction to her sound. It goes down so easily, but there’s a definite edge to the message. “24 Karat Rocker” could easily have come from Tom Petty’s catalogue. It’s perfect road trip music, with a vintage 70s sound that evokes rich nostalgia.
The album is mostly a party full of solid blues-rock numbers, but Dana shows her sensitive side in the title track “Find a Way.” It’s the album’s most poignant moment, a romantic track that shows she’s not all sass and strength. It’s not too long before she shakes off that vulnerability and is back grooving with us again though. Deep swampy cuts like “Howling Wolves” and “Grasshopper Creek” will please blues purists. A reprise of “Remedy” seems a little tacked on, especially after the powerful “Rogue Train (Rattle on By),” but it’s a good reminder than Dana’s music is really all about having fun.

Dana Gehrman feels like Australia’s answer to Sheryl Crow, an immense talent with an ability to effortlessly cross genres. Find a Way is an impressive debut from this superb Queenslander. She’ll bring its songs to music lovers at the following shows.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

26-28 July 2019 – Echuca Blues Festival, Echuca
10 August 2019 – Phase 4 Records instore, Brisbane
17 August 2019 – Imperial Hotel, Eumundi
6 September 2019 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Gifted in Gold” – Dan Vogl

Winter weather is here, but Melbourne’s Dan Vogl has brightened my day with his debut EP, Gifted in Gold.

It might be his first offering, but Dan’s music has an appealing polish about it. While acclaimed Joel Quatermain has no doubt worked his magic, Dan’s own skill at creating ear-pleasing indie-pop can’t be overstated. His songs are so irresistibly catchy, with singalong choruses and toe-tapping beats. Vocally he reminds me of Gavin Degraw and Eric Hutchinson; there’s a compelling warmth to his delivery that matches the feel-good music perfectly. His songwriting is also top-notch, whether he’s being romantic in “Carousel” or “Poppy,” the songs that book-end this EP, or lamenting the daily grind the title track.

Gifted in Gold goes down easily. It’s the sort of EP you enjoy from the get go and want to listen to again as soon as it’s over. It’s the perfect introduction to Dan Vogl’s work and enticing glimpse into his potential. Dan will celebrate its release with an intimate show at The Penny Black on August 30.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Now I’m Ready to Start” – Sinclaire

Just a few weeks ago I was waxing lyrical about Sinclaire’s single “It’s Not Enough,” eagerly anticipating their EP. This Sydney band set the bar so high with that release. Could I possibly love the EP as much? The answer is a resounding hell yes.

Frankly, Now I’m Ready to Start has been what’s kept me sane over the last few days of work. I can’t remember the last time I took a day off and burn-out has well and truly set in. But this EP has lifted me up with its incredible songs.

According to front man Michael Cross, the songs draw from his own “mistakes, insecurities, and negative personality traits.” Those big issues provide the perfect fodder for songs that really connect with the listener. There’s a darkness to the lyrics, but Sinclaire wraps them up in such feelgood packages, with retro synths and driving drumbeats encouraging you to get up and dance your way out of the gloom. I can hear influences of The National, Phoenix, and our own Gang of Youths in the music. Yet the deeply personal nature of these songs ensures they retain their own identity.

Now I’m Ready to Start has just five songs, just enough to ensure each one is outstanding. Just enough to leave us wanting more. Sinclaire will officially launch Now I’m Ready to Start with two launch shows next month. Catch them at Greaser in Brisbane on August 1 and The Chippo Hotel in Sydney on August 3.

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Gracefield Avenue” – Fields

She might be based in Perth now, but Fields’ music beats with an Irish heart. There’s a little Celtic yodel in her vocals and an intensity in the acoustic guitars anchoring half the tracks that takes me to Ireland. It’s no accident that her new EP is called Gracefield Avenue, after the Dublin street she grew up on. That title track is a beautiful nostalgic snapshot of youth which builds to a stirring stomp-along climax. It sets the scene for an EP that doesn’t shy away from sharing the artist’s story.

“Promises” is heart-breakingly raw as Fields’ reminisces about a relationship gone wrong. Her vocals are always on point, but they’re so strong here. You can hear her pain with every note.

I got to know “Neverland” when it was released as a single last year. I’m so glad this unique song has earned a place here. The EP provides a fantastic opportunity to revisit this unique song, which moves from a haunting delicate ditty to a frenetic acoustic-guitar that sweeps the listener up in its romance.

“Like That” showcases Fields at her most exposed, both musically and lyrically. With a sparse piano accompaniment and a small choir of angelic backing vocalists for support, her story of feeling love for someone, but not the romantic kind, is so affecting.

I’ve always appreciated Fields’ ethereal vocals, but with this release she’s shown some serious song writing chops. It’s an intimate, emotionally powerful EP that takes just four songs to make a real impression. See Fields showcasing songs from Gracefield Avenue at the following gigs here and abroad.

29 June 2019 – Stop the Violence, Sunflowers for Cara fundraiser, Burlington Hotel, Bunbury
3 August 2019 – The Workman’s Club, Dublin

Image used with permission from Firestarter Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“In Bloom” – Maggie Slater

Sometimes an album connects with you from the first note, firing off the neurons in your brain that make you immediately fall fast. Others take a little longer. When I hit play on In Bloom, the debut EP from Maggie Slater, I thought it was lovely stuff. Nice and folky, the sort of pleasant music that would provide a good background for my morning work. But I didn’t get those neurons firing. Not right away.

Then I heard “Ballerina,” a poignant song about not feeling good enough in a relationship, about being lifted up by others and discovering your self-worth. It changed everything. I got it, and suddenly Maggie Slater’s music moved from the background into focus.

“Ballerina” is a standout song, but the whole of EP is really something special. It paints a moving portrait of a woman coming to terms with herself and her relationships with other people. It’s unflinchingly intimate, with lyrics that often feel like diary confessions, from the playful “Time Warp” and “Dog” to heavier moments in “Ballerina” and “I Want You.” “Grow” is the perfect closer, a track which encapsulates the EP’s theme of evolving and being “in bloom.”

Maggie Slater’s music suggests that so many of us, she’s still figuring it out. However, that’s precisely why it resonated so deeply with me. It’s very easy to appreciate her music on a surface level; she sings like a bird and her folk-pop-rock sound is very accessible. However, she’s also proved herself to be a master storyteller with a knack for crafting lyrics that really speak to the heart. In Bloom is a beautiful debut from this exciting singer-songwriter from Far North Queensland.

In Bloom is available on all your favourite digital platforms now. Catch her at the Neck of the Woods Music Festival in Townsville on June 29 and 30.

Image used with permission from Hot Off the Press

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Lonely Leaves” – PLTS

I love writing a music blog, but sometimes it’s a struggle. Sometimes you just want to listen to the album that’s currently revving you rather than sorting through the press releases and delving into the unknown. And sometimes you find a recording like Lonely Leaves, a release that’s so good that it makes you forget all about that thing you thought you wanted to listen to for the umpteenth time.

I’ve played Lonely Leaves for the last couple of days straight without putting my fingers to the keyboard. Why? Because once I did I’d have to move on, start sorting through the press releases and delving into the unknown again. Now this is the album that’s currently revving me.

Byron Bay band PLTS call Lonely Leaves an EP, but at seven tracks it feels more like a mini album. The songs explore feelings of nostalgia. Heartbreak and longing bookends the EP with “Without You” and the title track. But PLTS also know how to lift you up. “Young Ones” is an anthemic stadium rock banger about our youth. “A Play About the Ocean” soars. The frenetic energy in “August” perfectly captures a moment in time. The sombre “Silhouettes” is even more poignant coming after such an explosive track.

I’m waxing lyrical over these songs because there are no fillers. I’m hitting repeat constantly because there are no fillers. This is incredible stuff, accessible from the first listen but just a little more special with every subsequent play.

Lonely Leaves is out now. After recently supporting Dear Seattle, PLTS will headline their first shows in a year with a performance at Brisbane’s Black Bear Lodge on June 1 and another gig at Sydney’s OAF Gallery Bar on June 13.

Image used with permission from Macro Music