5 July 2013 (Day 186) – Catch Up Listening

For the second Friday in a row, I sat at my kitchen table and worked whilst waiting for my central heating unit to be repaired.  Naturally, this didn’t occur until around 2 pm but at least it was successful and I can now write in something approaching heated comfort. 

I’d set myself a set of work tasks that didn’t require much in the way of full concentration and so it was a good day for catching up on some recent additions to my collection, starting with another bona fide Australian rock legend originally from New Zealand;

(# 503) Spencer P. Jones & The Nothing Butts – Self Titled (2012)

Spencer P. Jones has a mighty pedigree having been a member of The Johnny’s, the Beasts Of Bourbon and a couple of Paul Kelly’s bands among others.  He has also released a number of solo albums over the last decade but nothing approaching the anticipation that surrounds this one.  The drummer in the Nothing Butts is James Baker, previously also of the Beasts Of Bourbon and also early Scientists and Hoodoo Gurus.  On guitars and bass is Gareth Liddiard and Fiona Kitschin from The Drones.  As you can imagine, between them they make quite a gritty yet melodic racket on songs that lyrically run the gambit of human emotions.   Jones’s and Liddiard’s guitars dominate proceedings on each track especially on the suitably titled Freak Out and the epic closer When Friends Turn.

(# 504) King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard – 12 Bar Bruise (2012)

As the title of this album sort of implies, King Gizzard, produces dirty but highly effective 80s style alternative rock along the line of early period Beasts Of Bourbon or, even more appropriately, the inspired insanity of  Sixfthick.  Certainly, the title track here is compulsory listening for anyone who ever wanted to hear what the Beasts would sound like with a female vocalist.  Garage Liddiard is clearly homage to The Drones Gareth Liddiard of sorts interspersed with busts of demented harmonica playing.  High Hopes Low introduces a hint of country to their overall chaos and the hilarious closer Footy Footy is a wild punk thrash.  It’s not for the faint hearted but it is loads of fun.

(# 505) The Drones – I See Seaweed (2013)

Given I’ve named checked Gareth Liddiard in the previous two albums, its only fair that I should play the latest album by his band.  The Drones are arguably Australia’s most vital band; they create an inspired cacophony to accompany Liddiard’s long narratives that demand repeated listening and this is going to require a few more plays before I’ve completely digested it.  As it is there is more than enough material here to keep one thinking should the band take another 4 years or so to bring out their next release; Nine Eyes is supposedly about Google Street View, The Grey Leader similarly about leaders such as Tony Abbott, Laika about the dog the Russians shot into space and Why Write A Letter That You’ll Never Send? appears to have the holocaust industry in Liddiard’s sights.

(# 506) Tim Rogers – Rogers Plays Rogerstein (2012)

You Am I’s front man and lynchpin Tim Rogers has released a number of albums under his own name to supplement the band’s work.  This album is supposedly has him performing songs co-written by an American he meet called Shel Rogerstein, although many of the lyrics, notably Part Time Dad, appear to be addressing elements of his own life.  For the most part, the songs are delivered in the same easy going gait that characterised You Am I’s Deliverance album.   I Love You Just As You Are Now Change, bucks the trend musically thanks to what sounds like a fuzz bass and the closing number, Let’s Be Dreadful, sounds like a long lost Kinks number. 

(# 507) Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits (2012)

This is a solid album produced by a group that includes former members of Spoon, The Handsome Furs and The New Bomb Turks.  I’m only familiar with the latter and so can’t really judge as to these influences.  But for the most part, the songs remind me of The Killers (especially on What Gets You Alone) crossed with elements from quirky acts such as Sparks and They Might Be Giants.  (Check out The Salton Sea with its Sparks like construction.)  Of great interest to these ears is the presence of a cover version of The Boys Next Door’s Shivers which is fairly respectful of the original.

(# 508) Teenage Fanclub – Songs From Northern Britain (1997)

I was initially disappointed by this album when it was originally released.  These days, I know this was because it had the misfortune of being the follow up album to that great trio of albums, Bandwagonesque, Thirteen and Grand Prix.  Whilst it is not as good as those three albums, there are considerable number of tracks that would more than hold their own on the tracklisting of any of those. Start Again. I Don’t Want Control Of You, I Don’t Care and, especially, the irresistibly catchy Take The Long Way Round and the superb Mount Everest are all prime examples of the band’s way with jangly guitars and strong songwriting.