Category: Album Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Restless Noise” – Loser

Loser creates the kind of rock music purists yearn for. It’s rough and ready, with fuzzy guitars, rebellious lyrics, and anthemic choruses that compel you to sing along and stamp your feet. Their first offering, Restless Noise, is a short and sweet EP. But with just five songs, they prove they’re a force to be reckoned with.

Of course, that should come as no surprise to anyone who knows about Loser’s pedigree. They might be a new band, but the members have served their time with Apart From This, Grim Rhythm, The Smith Street Band, and The Bennies. These guys know their shit.

“Phase Me,” one of two singles, kicks the EP off, introducing us to the band’s knack for crafting a killer riff. It’s an easy entry, not quite as aggressive as many of Loser’s songs, an accessible track that primes us for more. The title track goes a little harder, taking us but we’re ready for those hard-hitting drums and F-bombs now. “Vacation” eases the foot off the pedal a little bit, giving us a chance to catch our breath before another aural assault, the EP’s other stellar single, “Loser.” Final track “Some Say” takes us home. The choruses are gentle, but that chorus reminds us of just what these lads are capable of.

The guys from Loser already proved their talents with other bands, but put them together and magic happens. They’re creating the kind of killer alt-rock I haven’t heard since the ‘90s. These five tracks have me wanting more. Restless Noise is out now.

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Atlas Shoulders” – Pierce Brothers

I’ve been waxing lyrical about the Pierce Brothers since 2014, waiting not so patiently for the Melbourne siblings to release their debut album. Those EPs just never felt long enough; I wanted something to really sink my teeth into. My patience has been rewarded with the release of Atlas Shoulders.

As a music fan, it’s only natural to want an album early, but there’s something to be said for Jack and Pat Pierce’s slow and steady approach. They’ve developed as artists, taking the time to get the balance right and create a sound that’s folky, yet bold, yet somehow never overproduced.

The first half of Atlas Shoulders is perfect road trip or BBQ music. A harsher critic might suggest its mellow vibes start to get a little samey, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with laidback music that sounds this good. Songs like “Lovers Trip” and the single “Back End Roads” are so well crafted.

While I enjoyed the first portion of the album, it really picked up for me in the second half. All too often albums start feeling fatigued here, but this is where you’ll find some of Atlas Shoulders’ grittier material. The road trip has been marred by some arguments, the love stories are going sour. Mistakes were made, there are regrets. All that is fodder for some really powerful music. Songs like “Reckless Hearts and Restless Hands” and “Love You Broke” stop you in your tracks and stir your spirit. They wake you up and reinforce the true talent of this sibling duo. By the time you reach “Hold On,” there’s no doubt that the wait for the Pierce Brothers album has been worthwhile. Yes, they can create folky music that sounds good, but stay a little longer and you’ll hear some tracks that do more than delight the ear; they move every part of you.

Atlas Shoulders is in all good music stores today. The Pierce Brothers will play shows around the country to celebrate its release before supporting Rodriguez in February.

9 November 2018 – The Forum, Melbourne
16 November 2018 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
17 November 2018 – The Zoo, Brisbane
9 February 2019 – Sirromet Wines, Mt Cotton (with Rodriguez, Xavier Rudd, Busby Marou, and Alice Skye)
16 February 2019 – Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley (with Rodriguez, Xavier Rudd, Busby Marou, and Alice Skye)
23 February 2019 – Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley (with Rodriguez, Xavier Rudd, Busby Marou, and Alice Skye)

Image used with permission from Warner Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Lab Experiments Vol. 2” – Cookin’ on 3 Burners

Sequels have a bad reputation. They’re often released as a desperate attempt to cash in on the success of the first creative endeavour, yet they typically pale in comparison to the original. For every The Godfather Part II there’s a dozen disasters like Jaws: The Revenge or Speed 2: Cruise Control. So it’s only natural to approach Lab Experiments Vol. 2 with a healthy degree of scepticism. Thankfully Melbourne’s favourite funksters Cookin’ on 3 Burners deliver the goods.

It bursts out of the gates with a joyous explosion of Hammond organ chords with the instrumental single “The Jump Off.” The flip side of that double A-side, “Warning,” comes next, with guest vocalist Kait delivering plenty of sass. “Howler” surprises, a darkly dramatic instrumental which could serve as the soundtrack to your Halloween parties. It’s an unexpected detour, but I appreciate that Cookin’ on 3 Burners keeps us on our toes. “Force of Nature” has such a great Motown groove, with Fallon Williams’ gritty yet soulful lead vocals backed by a choir of gospel angels. Longtime collaborator Kylie Auldist is back with the Burners for the soulful “One of the Ones.” Magic always happens when these guys get together, and this track is no exception. Closing number “Garden of Freedom” is made so much sweeter with the addition of The Meltdown’s cooler than cool frontman Simon Burke.

Cookin’ on 3 Burners have such an incredible sound, which builds on soul and funk traditions and makes them feel so fresh. But it’s those collaborations that really make Lab Experiments Vol. 2 so special. Rubbing shoulders with the right people elevates their sound, ensuring Lab Experiments Vol. 2 is a sequel worth spending your money on.

Lab Experiments Vol. 2 is released today.

Image used with permission from This Much Talent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Ashfield Skyline” – Family Fold

There’s not a lot of flash about Ashfield Skyline, the sophomore album from Family Fold. It’s an album full of the kind of pleasant pop-rock music that most of us don’t pay too much attention to. It sounds nice enough, but without big vocals or edge we let it fade into the background. I must admit, I fell into that trap myself at first. I listened almost all the way through while I was working on other things, enjoying myself but deciding the album didn’t grab me enough to warrant a review. It actually took the final track “Greater Union” to really wake me up and force me to properly listen not just to this number but the rest of the record.

That song is still my favourite, a beautiful ballad with poetic lyrics and some of the most powerful vocals on Ashfield Skyline. But on that first half-listen missed how heartbreaking songs like “Crying in the Carwash” and “Brother’s Name,” about life without Family Fold’s singer-songwriter Paul Andrews’ late brother, are. I missed the humour in tracks like “Saturday Night, No Fever” and “Big Wedding.” I had so much fun listening to “Let Go” that I got up out of my desk chair and had a spontaneous boogie in my home office.

It’s fitting that the image of a heart graces the cover of Ashfield Skyline. These songs might fly under the radar, but together they form an album that has the power to move any listener that really taps into them. Something tells me that matters more to Family Fold than whether or not big media pays attention.

Ashfield Skyline is out now. Family Fold will officially launch the album at The Union Hotel in Newtown on November 25.

Image used with permission from Revolutions Per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Break, Rattle, and Roll” – Matt Joe Gow

In 2016, Matt Joe Gow released Seven Years, the long-awaited follow-up to his debut solo work The Messenger. It was one of my favourite releases for the year, a fantastic slice of classic Americana that I’ve found myself listening to time and time again. That record was seven years in the making. Thankfully it’s taken just two for Matt to bring us another album, Break, Rattle, and Roll. Another blessing, it’s every bit as good as the collection of songs that came before it.

Break, Rattle, and Roll starts so strong, with “Bridge Over Concrete.” It’s the perfect opener for this album, such a feelgood slice of Americana, all jangly guitars and honky-tonk piano. The single “Ride On” continues the up-tempo alt-country vibe.

Matt Joe Gow is so good at making those feel-good road trip songs, but there’s so much more to the music he makes than that. Break, Rattle, and Roll gives us glimpses of his softer side in vulnerable tracks like “Details,” the stripped back “Old Hotel Room,” and the exquisite closing song, “We Got Lost.” These beautiful tracks provide the balance, stirring our heart while helping us enjoy those singalong moments a little more.

The press releases categorise Matt Joe Gow’s music as Americana, but he plays free and loose with the genre. There’s a great old school soul feel about “Ransom.” A reprise of an earlier single “House That Burnt Down” takes blues back to its gospel roots. I went back to the original 2010 release and was so impressed by how much more complex and intricate the new recording is. It feels like one of those great spontaneous jams.

I’ve been listening to Break, Rattle, and Roll for a couple of months now, falling a little more in love with it each time. It’s wonderful to get the jump on other music lovers and listen to something fabulous first, but I’ve also been anticipating its release, the moment I can insist my friends hear it too. It’s that sort of album, the kind of recording that makes you want to sit down with people and share how special it is.

Break, Rattle, and Roll is released on October 5. Matt Joe Gow will play the following shows here and in New Zealand celebrating its release.

4 October 2018 – Skylark Room, Belgrave
6 October 2018 – The Mane Event Festival, Geelong (Midday)
6 October 2018 – Curtin Hotel, Melbourne
7 October 2018 – The Westernport Hotel, San Remo
12 October 2018 – Basement Discs, Melbourne (FREE)
18 October 2018 – The Triffid, Brisbane (FREE)
20 October 2018 – Dog With Tails, Dunedin
21 October 2018 – Starfish Cafe, Dunedin (FREE)
25 October 2018 – Albert’s Post, Auckland
27 October 2018 – Clarence Town River Country Hoedown, Clarence Town
28 October 2018 – Songwriters In The Round, Wenty Leagues, Wentworthville (FREE)
4 November 2018 – Public House, Albury

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“All Your Devotion” – Kav Temperley

If Kav Temperley felt any nerves going solo, they don’t show. His first album without Eskimo Joe, All Your Devotion, is an accomplished work that hits all the right musical and emotional notes.

Kav hasn’t been afraid to take risks here. It’s definitely not a soundalike album that could have come from the Eskimo Joe catalogue. It’s gentler, more delicate, with folkier influences and greater pop leanings. Keeping the instrumentation small really lets us hone in on those lyrics which are so very good. Perhaps it’s the act of creating a solo album that’s let Kav craft songs that come from a very personal place, that don’t need to speak for the band. Perhaps it’s simply the circumstances. An album that comes following the breakdown of a marriage, and even the separation from a band, should be raw and revealing. And it is.

While Kav takes a different direction with All Your Devotion, this may be one of his most accessible works to date. The single, “Pollyanna” is such a strong song that deserves serious airplay. But really I could see most of these songs sitting comfortably on indie and commercial playlists. There are no filler tracks here. Opening track “Queen of My Heart” is a proper love song, delivered with real heart and without a hint of schmaltz. “Surrender” speaks so eloquently about giving yourself over completely to a new relationship. “Please Distract Me,” a plaintive plea to a new lover, might be my favourite song from the album. Although, it has stiff competition from “What Is It Worth,” a beautiful ballad that delivers an emotional sucker punch. The festive “Christmas Lights” seems a little out of place on a September release, but it’s a sweet song nonetheless.

All Your Devotion felt good the moment I listened to it, but with every subsequent spin I think I fall a little more in love with it. I catch a lyric or a melody that I missed, and my appreciation deepens. Make sure you take a listen when it gets a digital and vinyl release today. Hear it live at the following shows.

5 October 2018 – The Milk Factory, Brisbane
6 October 2018 – Villa Noosa Hotel, Sunshine Coast
7 October 2018 – Public Bar @ Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast (FREE)
11 October 2018 – Grace Emily, Adelaide
12 October 2018 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
13 October 2018 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
19 October 2018 – Leadbelly, Sydney
20 October 2018 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
27 October 2018 – Mojos, Fremantle
2 November 2018 – River Hotel, Margaret River
3 November 2018 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“On The Corner Where You Live” – The Paper Kites

The Paper Kites may be one of the most prolific acts in the country. Mere months after the release of On the Train Ride Home, the Melbourne band have dropped a brand new album, On the Corner Where You Live. The band explains this is a sort of companion piece, yet both albums are so different. The first was more delicate and laidback folk, while this collection of midtempo indie-pop gems has a real fire in its belly.

It’s a concept album of sorts, conceived as a series of vignettes telling the stories of people living in a New York City apartment that faced the band’s hotel.

“You could see all these windows lighting up and people getting home from their nights out,” recounted Paper Kites frontman Sam Bentley. “We just sat there and watched them. It was fascinating. It was living art.”

It’s easy to forget the concept though and imagine the band is sharing its own stories, because they’re delivered with such sincerity. But every now and then there’s a track like “Midtown Waitress,” with lyrics addressing such specific circumstances, that reminds you of this album’s inspiration.

On the Corner Where You Live’s opening instrumental’s jazzy saxophone and piano recall film noir, but that gives way to a more ‘80s retro feel with “Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain.” It’s one of the album’s strongest tracks, a powerful track, full of emotion and yearning. It’s a natural predecessor to the single “Deeper Burn,” a song which is similarly passionate and longing.

Christina Lacy takes lead vocals on “Mess We Made,” making me wonder why she hasn’t grabbed the microphone sooner. Perhaps it’s only fitting here though, where we’re meant to hear songs from different perspectives. What a beautiful voice she has, with such nuance to it. The poignant song takes the album to a different place, reminding us of the real struggles of relationships.

“Flashes” is perhaps the closest to a song that could have appeared on On the Train Ride Home. It’s subtle, with little more than an acoustic guitar keeping time and gentle vocals. Sitting almost in the middle of the album, it gives us a moment to catch our breath, the calm eye of an emotional storm.

The back-end of On The Corner Where You Live is a little more subdued than the front. Perhaps we’re winding down after a wild night in the Big Apple. The title track feels like a retro classic, with its reassuring, romantic lyrics and hooks. I can just imagine cranking this one up and hitting the highway. “When It Hurts You” is another stellar song, a dreamy exploration of empathy during the hard times that contrasts so beautifully with the simple, stripped-back piano musings of “Does It Every Cross Your Mind.”

While I’d slip On the Train Ride Home on as background music, On the Corner Where You Live has the sort of songs that have me singing along, tapping my feet, bobbing my head, really engaging. It’s full of hooks and lyrics that cut to the heart. Its tracks might tell stories of other people, but I found a real connection in them.

On the Corner Where You Live is out now.

Image used with permission from On the Map PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Hold Yourself Down” – Dear Willow

Sunshine Coast artist Dear Willow creates music with a folky core and rock edge. In just four tracks, her EP Hold Yourself Down makes a big impression.

Her stunning lyrics are what made the biggest impression on me. They’re laced with emotion, confessional and clever. The songs feel a little like diary entries come to life. Opening track “Hold” is a show of strength, of gaining control of a relationship that’s veering off the rails. Current single “I Was Young” is a powerful rumination on personal growth and the power of coming into your own. “The City” is a delicate observation about the anonymity of urban life. “North of Winter” might be my favourite song on the album, a poetic reflection on a lost love.

As I listened to Dear Willow’s songs, I found myself thinking of singer-songwriters I loved growing up like Jann Arden and Lisa Loeb. Just like those women who captured my heart in those difficult teenage years, what Dear Willow does isn’t flashy or particularly complex. But there’s nothing wrong with music that’s straightforward in delivery when it moves your soul. Nothing wrong with it at all.

Hold Yourself Down is out now. Dear Willow will play a series of shows in her home state to support its release.

20 September 2018 – Tomcat, Brisbane
5 October 2018 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
6 October 2018 – The Spring Soirée, Samford
19 October 2018 – Solbar, Sunshine Coast

Image used with permission from Firestarter Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Death & Taxes” – Gareth Leach

Gareth Leach hails from Echuca, but you wouldn’t know it listening to his new album Death & Taxes. His music feels like it comes from America’s Wild West. It’s country that veers to the left of centre, with a darkness that permeates every track.

The title track, “Death & Taxes,” sets the scene, with his lyrics about rubbing shoulders with the devil and spending time in a bottle. This is outlaw music, gritty, bluesy, deliciously rough and raw. The single “Turn Back Jimmy Creek” is a rollicking ode to the life of a travelling musician.

While the first two songs feel almost like Gareth is playing a role, “Better or Worse?” feels like it comes from a really personal place. Its emotional delivery leaves a big impression. It marks an emotional turning point for the album, with the following tracks like “Drink You Goodnight” and the unsettlingly nostalgic “Wayward Son” strip away the bravado. On the final track, “Raise Up Our Guns,” so much is stripped away that we’re left with just the bare bones, Gareth’s voice and an acoustic guitar. It’s simple but so effective. I enjoyed the album’s early tracks, but the back end is where stuff really gets interesting.

While Gareth’s voice and incredible songs are front and centre, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the extraordinary talents featured on this album. From the fantastic Gretta Ziller on backing vocals to Anthony McCormack on banjo and Shane Reilly on the pedal steel guitar, they help create the distinctive sound that sets this album apart.

At just eight tracks and a run-time of not even half an hour, my only complaint would be that Death & Taxes feels too short. But it’s a case of quality over quantity here folks. There’s something to be said for an artist that leaves you wanting more.

Death & Taxes is out now.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Coming Home” – James Van Cooper

Sydney seems an unlikely breeding ground for Australia’s next alt-country star. In fact, James Van Cooper spent his formative years obsessing over hard rocking hairbands like Motley Crue and LA Guns. However, once he discovered his country-rock leanings, there was no looking back. He made a pilgrimage to Tamworth, where he connected with Aussie country royalty Bill Chambers, before heading for Nashville. His debut album Coming Home shows he’s soaked up some valuable lessons about country and its associated genres while developing a sound all his own.

The single “Passing Through” is the perfect opener for this album, an upbeat slice of country-rock that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I’m a sucker for a country duet, and “Come Home” with Jaime Wyatt hits all the right notes for me. His roughened voice and her purer one contrast and complement one another so beautifully. The playful “Midnight Love” captures a moment in time so perfectly. “Goodbye My Friends” is rollicking good fun. “Lights Don’t Shine” has such a simple melody elevated by some of the album’s best lyrics. “Kew EQ” is probably the album’s simplest track. It’s very stripped back, with just an acoustic guitar accompanying James’ voice. But there’s something lovely about leaving us with that impression, of an artist simply standing on his own, letting his raw talent speak for itself.

Coming Home showcases the gifts of this talented young Aussie. James Van Cooper builds his tunes on a solid foundation of quality songwriting, real guitar prowess, and earthy vocals. He wears his influences on his sleeve, with tracks that play around with bluegrass, Americana, and traditional country. However, he’s bringing something fresh to the table. This album has the kind of crossover appeal you’ll find in works by Phillip Phillips, Jason Isbell, and Ryan Adams.

Coming Home drops today. James Van Cooper will celebrate its release with the following shows, supported by Axle Whitehead.

14 September 2018 – SLYFOX, Enmore (Album Launch)
15 September 2018 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
22 September 2018 – Tamworth Hotel, Tamworth
5 October 2018 – Spotted Mallard, Brunswick
19 October 2018 – The Brass Monkey, Cronulla
27 October 2018 – The Stag & Hunter Hotel, Mayfield

Image used with permission from Rock This Country