Old Man River - Trust

YOURZ

Phew, after the hard-as rush of Mastodon yesterday, Old Man River is like stepping outside a packed, hot, sweaty venue into the air of a cool summer evening. 

Yet another associate of one of our favourites, Luke Steele, Old Man River is the stage and band name for Ohad Rein, a Sydney-based musician who first came to our attention through his association with Nations By The River, who we've previously reviewed here. 

Crossing the line between pop and alt-country, Old Man River aren't trying to rewrite the popular music songbook.  Instead, they're bringing a sensitivity and timelessness to what is often times a tired genre.  It helps that Rein has a effortlessly pleasing voice and the ability to write tracks that stick in this listener's head for days. 

And thanks to some quick thinking by Mine, it looks as though we'll be seeing him live later in the month.  What a lovely way to start what looks to be a very busy few months for us on the live music front. (Mine says: always the way in the southern hemisphere summer, but who's complaining? Gorillaz here we come!!!)

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

Another in our seemingly-endless selection of "beautiful music" - which has prompted me to create a playlist for the iPod.  Sleepy Jackson, M Ward, Nations By The River, Elliot Smith, Martin Craft - who else?  I could go for days just listening to one gorgeous, dreamy pop song after another.  My life would float by in a haze of roses and light.  Soma for the ears.

I wonder how long I'd last before the need for some serious dirty rock emerged.  And will this output sometime in the future make its way on to a "beautiful music" radio station?  Does this mean I'm listening to the equivalent of Simon and Garfunkel?  (YourZ sez: no, this is better in so many ways)  Do I know what I'm talking about?

Whatever I mean, I'm glad we have this CD.  Long live dreamy pop.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://trustomr.com/

Nations By The River - Holes In The Valley

YOURZ

Reportedly formed in a carpark while waiting to see if some lost car keys could be found, Nations By The River combines some of the best independent Australian talent and some of our personal favourite artists, including Luke Steele of Sleepy Jackson and Empire Of The Sun and who now tops the mentions in this blog for any Australian artist, the Kahn brothers from Gelbison and Ohad Rein from Old Man River. Various guests also make appearances, including another personal favourite, Sarah Blasko.

We saw Nations when they supported Gomez a few years ago.  They started their set as wandering minstrels, walking out onto the floor of the Metro Theatre, singing and playing to the stunned punters.  The ensuing set won both Mine and YourZ (truly) over very quickly.  That we got to see them with our favourite English lads only made the gig all the more memorable.

Holes In The Valley was recorded very quickly, over three days, during breaks from busy touring schedules.  But this only adds to the charm and, if anything, the lack of production pretence suits this set of stripped back songs, instead giving it something more akin to a folk record of bygone years.  But this is not pastiche.  This is a celebration of great song writing and is a truly joyous record to hear.

While the careers of the various players have taken twists and turns, Holes In The Valley will always remain a testament to a friendship forged in a common love of pop music.  I just hope the friendship continues in the future.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

So this band came into our collection, as YourZ says, because we saw them supporting Gomez a few years ago.  This is a major departure for me and I do have to thank my husband for it.  You see, in my previous band-watching career, I've rarely arrived to see the support act, usually only making the effort if I knew and liked them.

But YourZ has made me realise, if I like the headline band enough to see them, chances are I'll enjoy the band they've chosen to support them.  And if they're less than impressive, well, the bar's not far away!

I guess this is the last of Luke Steele - given that we've done The Sleepy Jackson and Empire of the Sun... is that it?  Makes me a little sad.  I wonder what he'll do next.  But anyhow, this glorious sound is one I can heartily recommend to anyone who likes their harmonies close, their melodies sweet and uplifting, and a sound that approaches the symphonic. 

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nations_by_the_River

Sarah Blasko - The Overture & The Underscore

YOURZ

The first time I really heard Sarah Blasko was with her work with a great local indie super-group called Nations By The River, whose live show was one of the best local acts I'd seen in a long time. 

I think we went and brought this album on the strength of her performance and because of her wonderfully natuaral voice.  The girl was born to sing to the masses.  But she can also pen a wonderful tune and has a flair for developing intriguing pop gems.  The Overture & The Underscore not only served as a wonderful debut but acted as a benchmark for the indie-pop-folk-tronica (yeah, I know, another bloody category). 

While the more 'mainstream' singles such as Always Worth It and Counting Sheep did well and showed her ability to write a cracking pop song, it was album tracks such as Perfect Now and marvellous opener, All Coming Back, that pointed at a deeper, more considered ability, one that, with hindsight, has become plainly obvious.   

The biggest question to come out of listening to The Overture & The Underscore is why we don't own anything else by her.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

It's so funny looking at the picture of Sarah Blasko on the front of this album, because every time I see her I'm reminded how much she resembles a friend of YourZ's.  But as far as I'm aware, Alex still lives in London and isn't leading a double life as a Sydney singer-songwriter. (YourZ sez: I can confirm this is indeed the case although the resemblance is quite striking).

This is Sarah's debut album and admirably showcases her highly individual voice, which has a slightly raw, breathy fragility while still possessing the strength to draw the listener in.  But despite the gorgeousness of this album, which I have to include in my "removing cranky pants" playlist, it doesn't include my favourite song of hers - a cover.

For those of you who aren't Australian, you may not understand the place legendary pub-rock band Cold Chisel has in our psyche.  Flame Trees is, in my opinion, the best song they ever released, and one night when I was driving home I heard Sarah's version, which was part of the soundtrack for Little Fish, a spectacular Australian film starring Cate Blanchett.  While both versions have their merits, I have to admit I love Sarah's just that little bit more.

Anyway, while this album doesn't have that song on it, it's still a beautiful piece of pop music.  Highly recommended.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://sarahblasko.com/

The Sleepy Jackson - Lovers

YOURZ

I can't remember the first time I heard The Sleepy Jackson, but this album, in particular, has been one of those I go back to time and again.  It is, quite simply, superb.  It's also a testament to Luke Steele and his multi-faceted talents.  As you're about to read, Mine feels exactly the same way about him as I do.

The Sleepy Jackson are another of those bands that not only provide me an emotional attachment to their music but also inspire me to be creative as well.  The frustrating thing is that I'm often listening to this at times and places where I can't just run away and lock myself in my little studio.  I mean, I do have to spend some time socially interacting otherwise I'd be accused of being a recluse.  And I'm just too young and good-looking to wear such a tag.

As a debut album, Lovers stylistic range is a wide as as this great island we call home. There's a little bit of just about everything in it, showcasing Steele's quixotic musical nature, from the alt-country stylings of Old Dirt Farmer through to the indie dance of Tell The Girls.  More tellingly, Lovers sounds particularly Australian without resorting to clichéd devices or using a didgeridoo, while also sounding positively international. I believe in years to come, this album will be hailed as one of the greatest documents of its time.

If you've not heard any Sleepy Jackson before, don't waste any more time reading this.  Click here or here and see for yourself.  I will say it again: it is superb and you won't be disappointed.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

I love Luke Steele and I don't care who knows it.  I previously mentioned his side project Nations by the River in our Gomez review, and I'm hopeful the pointy stick will land on Empire of the Sun sooner or later.  To quote Ben Lee: They play Sleepy Jackson on the radio/ And that's the way I like it.

Luke is another one of those frighteningly-talented musicians (YourZ sez: the only thing frightening about Luke Steel is his penchant for makeup) who can just roll out pop song after pop song, and it makes me so glad he's an Aussie - though he does hail from West Australia, which is like another country to me.  No, REALLY like another country.  OK, how about I put it this way: Perth (the capital of WA) is more than 3,300 kilometres away from Sydney, where I live.  It would take me five to six hours to fly there.  That's less than LA to New York, but still... there's a whole lot of NOTHING in between, unlike the USA, which is supposedly filled with shopping malls and obesity (how they manage to fit all those people in when they're getting fatter every year is beyond me).  The last time I visited Perth I was five years old, and arrived by ship from Singapore.  The only story I know about my time there is that I managed to give my parents the slip and wandered off hand in hand with a nice lady I picked up, chatting freely.  How little we change...

But I digress.  Lovers is a great album, moving from pure pop to alt-country, with nods to the Beatles and the Velvet Underground.  Luke's voice in this incarnation reminds me of the softer songs produced by seminal punks the Saints (from across the other side of Oz) and his voice is a little reminiscent of their lead singer, Chris Bailey. This CD is dangerous to play in the car, as one track makes me want to lie back and close my eyes, not recommended on the freeway.  And I love how the final song - Mourning Rain - ends with the sound of rain.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://thesleepyjackson.com/

In our collection, we also have Personality - One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird

Gomez - In Our Gun

YOURZ


There is a great anonymous quote that goes "music is what feelings sound like."  But I think there is more to it.

Some music is great to listen to and admire.  It gives the listener an emotional snapshot of the writer's feelings at the time.  Some music stirs up the creativity in listener, filling them up until they have to create too.  Some music does both.

For me, Gomez is one such band.  I've seen them live more than any other single band in my life.  In fact, it is almost weird not to see them at least once a year.  Their gigs are always brilliant not only because of the show they put on but because of their fans as they really attract the nicest people (even if I do say so myself).

In Our Gun, more than any other album of theirs, is the one I go back to time and again.  It is nearly perfect (and I love its imperfections too).

Mine and YourZ (truly) were talking recently, playing hypotheticals.  This one was 'if you could be in any band from any time, what band would you be in?'  I unhesitatingly said Gomez before I even thought about it.

Do I really need to say any more?  I'll let Mine do the gushing this time.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

How do I love thee, Gomez?  Let me count the ways.

I love that this is a band I actually introduced YourZ to, though I only had a home made copy of Liquid Skin (on MiniDisc, remember that?) after I'd borrowed it from a friend.

I love that it really doesn't matter which of your albums we put on, we have a groove going right away. Although this one is a corker, no doubt about that, including Shot Shot and Ping One Down (always a crowd favourite at the gigs).

I love that your best-ofs are real party starters, especially Get Myself Arrested.  (Got some friends in a BMW...)

I love that your gigs always feel like it's great party we've wandered into because the crowd is just another bunch of mixed-age mixed-background hipsters out to have some fun.

I love that you always have truly excellent backing acts supporting you, which prompt us to go out and buy their music - most notably Nations By The River featuring the sublime Luke Steele (of whom more, later). That was that great gig I managed to score record company tickets to because I'd forgotten to buy real ones and you were sold out and I was working at the radio station and the programming department was right next to the newsroom and they told me they could help me out...  saved my ass that time and no mistake.

But most of all I just love your music.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information:http://www.gomeztheband.com/

In our collection, we also have: Bring It On, Liquid Skin, Out West, Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline, How We Operate, Split The Difference, A New Tide and Five Men In A Hut (I guess you could say we like them, huh?)