MINE
Sometimes frenzied and always entertaining, Regurgitator are one of those bands who hovered just outside my orbit. Oh sure, I'd turn them up when they came on the radio, but they didn't quite make it into my hot little hand when I ventured into a music shop.
And that doesn't really surprise me when I listen to this album. For me, it has its moments... but that's where I stop. The change of pace and style throughout the album feels to me like a lack of cohesiveness. And I don't really know enough about the band to comment about why that might be.
VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN
YOURZ
Coming out in 1996, Tu Plang was a breath of fresh air to an industry overwhelmed by post-grunge bands, wanna be indie popsters and *shudder* Savage Garden. Their magpie-like eclecticism was brave, daring and a little bit naughty too.
Opening with a sharp, self-deprecating dig at the music industry in the form of I Sucked A Lot Of Cock To Get Where I Am (and the laugh but gag but laugh line of I keep on rinsing again and again), the 'Gurge swing between indie-pop gems, frenetic electronica, savvy hip hop and even a stab at surf music instrumentals with 348 Hz, all with equal aplomb. Fittingly, it won both Alternative Album of the Year and Best Debut at the Australian Recording Industry Awards (ARIA) that year.
Importantly, it showed a fickle industry that there was plenty of room for bands to explore the boundaries of contemporary music and gain a strong fan base at the same time. And while record companies struggled then (even as they do now) to try and pigeon-hole music for the sake of demographics, bands like this consistently prove them wrong by saying fuck categorisation and fuck demographics.
For all the years Regurgitator has been around, all the hits they've had and all the albums they've released, this remains my favourite by far. In my mind, not only was it one of the best releases of the 90s but one of the best Australian releases ever.
VERDICT: TURN IT UP
For more information: http://regurgitator.net/
I like their old stuff better than their new stuff. This album and "Unit" are often in the sale bins here.
ReplyDeleteI don't see this one so much, but I certainly see Unit. Hope you had a great Christmas and are heading for an equally good New Year.
ReplyDeleteYourZ