Testeagles - Non Comprehendus

YOURZ

This album has been a favourite of YourZ (truly) since it first came out.  I remember seeing Testeagles some time before Non-Comprehendus, their only full length album to date, was released in 2000.  They impressed the hell outta me with a sweat-drenched performance that was part rock and part hip hop.  Although there were a number of bands around combining the two, I hadn't seen any live.  Their show was the first I remember that combined both traditional instrumentation and samples, backing tracks and bits of electronica so effectively.  Of course, now this is de rigueur for many bands.

This debut featured a number of singles, namely Turn That Shit Up, Underdog and Like No Other.  From an outside perspective, it could be their sound was appropriated from bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn, but Testeagles took themselves far less seriously than their American counterparts.  But at the same time, they also have a sound akin to hard rock Aussie acts like Grinspoon.  Where ever their sound came from, it never fails to invigorate and motivate.

After being dropped by their label for undisclosed reasons, Testeagles have not released anything since this album, instead choosing to play the odd live show and national support or fesitval.  It is a shame as there is a definite gap in the Australian market place for such a band to fill.  And even though it has been a very long time between recordings, it would be really nice to hear something new from the band.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP, yeah, turn that shit up!

MINE

OK, now I'm really confused.  I've been breathing a sigh of relief whenever the pointy stick passed this band by, because I had an idea they were another one of those American shouty-boy rawk bands that YourZ takes delight in annoying me with (YourZ sez: I take no delight in it, my love, but if you want me to, I can).

Instead, they're from Adelaide.  South Australia.  And they sound like they're from Sarf Lundun.  Like Prodigy, innit?  OK, there are some straight rock tracks that I skipped over, but I was truly getting down to that fine line where rock and electronica meet.  Stunning work, boys.  See you on the dance floor.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/testeagles

Lo Fidelity Allstars - Don't Be Afraid Of Love

MINE

When I queried YourZ about the non-emergence of this CD from our collection at any time in my recollection, he maintained it was bought some years ago as a "party" album.  And I guess I have Katalyst to blame for its shy hiding away, given that Dusted has been our go-to party album for some time.  (YourZ sez: there hasn't been a decent contender for the title for a long time).

Or at least that's what I thought at first.  This CD opens up with some damn fine kickin' dance tunes.  Big beat-y and reminiscent of the Prodigy, then a touch of hip-hop followed by some sweet sweet pop - but alas there appears to be a much too high ratio of chill to dance in the second half of the album.  And one more small criticism - dance tracks with loooong draaawn oooout intros annoy the hell out of me.  Probably a hangover from my radio days, but I just want the music to start RIGHT NOW.

I liked Somebody Needs You a whole lot, but I reckon we just pick'n'choose the tracks we really like and then...

VERDICT: THROW IT OUT

YOURZ

Yeah, I don't really remember why I brought this album.  And Mine has pretty much summed it up with her review. 

To be honest, I think it might have been one of those albums recommended to me by a friend who worked in a record shop.  I don't usually take anyone's recommendations at face value, particularly from sales people.  I do know better but can't promise it won't happen again.

VERDICT: THROW IT OUT

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/lofiallstars

Basement Jaxx - Kish Kash

YOURZ

Basement Jaxx is responsible for one of the creepiest, freakist music videos I've ever seen for the song Where's Your Head At from the album Rooty.  If you've not seen this, check it out here.  Its guaranteed to make you squirm.  Up until this track, I'd not really paid them much attention.  Mine, however, was a confirmed fan of their smart dance music.

Kish Kash, their third album, changed my view of them.  The single Good Luck, featuring the voice of Lisa Kekaula from The Bellrays, is an awesome slice of edgy soul/dance wrapped around a fantastic string arrangement and a huge beat.  The song makes me want to dance which is rare indeed.  And Lisa's voice is superb.

The album also features guest appearances from Meshell Ndegeocello, Dizzee Rascal, former N'Sync star JC Chasez and Siouxsie Sioux (from Siouxsie & The Banshees).  As much as I don't want to say it, the track Plug It In, featuring the former boyband member, is actually a great piece, coming off sounding every bit as good as anything fellow N'Sync Justin Timberlake has ever done.

Siouxsie Sioux's appearance on the track Cish Cash lends a punk authenticity to the grimy, driving beat, bringing her punk aesthetic firmly into the digital age and proving old punks don't mellow, they just give less of a shit.  But the real stars of Kish Kash are the Jaxx themselves, who weave a tight blend of melody and thumping beats together to create infinitely listenable, intelligent music.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

The Jaxx.  Big Day Out, twice.  First in 2000 (when I went with a very young boy I was using for, um, entertainment and who annoyed me no end by being impatient when the Jaxx took forever to get sorted and started) and then again in 2002.  That time I sat next to a friend-of-a-friend who I'd never spent a lot of time talking to and had a really great conversation.  Lost both of them when I went off to the dance stage.  Married him later that year.

The Jaxx are terrific to see live, which can't be said of all dance acts, but has to be a prerequisite for the really great ones, like Prodigy and Chemical Brothers and Groove Armada.  Kish Kash, coming as it did in 2003 and after my marriage, hasn't spent as much time on the CD player as it's worth.  What it needs to do, is to go onto the gymPod and get a real workout.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.basementjaxx.net/

In our collection we also have Remedy and Rooty

Groove Terminator - Road Kill

MINE

More Big Beat!  And this time I'd say it's good - but not great.  There are similarities to the sounds of Fatboy Slim and Prodigy, and given the release date of 2000, I'm thinking more than a little of the jumping-on-a-bandwagon sound.

It makes me yearn for my Prodigy Presents: CD (that came home as a case with no CD inside from some party or other) but I'm quite happy to show this album the door.  I only really like Here Comes Another One and One More Time anyway.

Side note: I like One More Time because it features the chorus to Let The Sunshine In from the musical Hair.  I was part of the chorus for that musical in an amateur production in Canberra when I was 19, along with one or two other people who may read this blog from time to time...

VERDICT: THROW IT OUT

YOURZ

Road Kill from Groove Terminator came out some time after Fatboy Slim's mega-seller, You've Come A Long Way, Baby.  For all intents and purposes, GT could be looked at as the antipodean version of Norman 'Fatboy' Cook except Simon 'Groove Terminator' Lewicki hasn't had the huge success, hits or continued career that Norman has.

As I've said before, I'm partial to Big Beat but most of this, really, should probably be correctly called 'Mediocre Beat', because it's cliched and an obvious cash in on the popularity of the Big Beat sound at the time.

VERDICT: THROW IT OUT

For more information: http://www.gtworld.com.au/

This Is Big Beat

MINE

When I discovered the kind of dance music I loved had a name, I was impressed.  And went out immediately and bought this compilation.  Which has its moments, but still isn't really the definitive distillation of the best of Big Beat.

There are some great songs on it - including the Prodigy's Poison and Magic Carpet Ride by Mighty Dub Katz.  A lot of the tracks are instrumentals and while Howie B's Switch is an excellent example of this, many get a bit boring after a while.

But I have fun just listening to the ones I love and skipping along when I get bored.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

YOURZ

Sometimes, the distance between Mine and YourZ (truly) seems positively universal.  And sometimes our nearness seems microscopic.  I see this as one of the benefits of social dichotomies such as ours.  We're very individual but meet up at the most surprising junctures too.

I think our collective love (if two can be a collective) of Big Beat is more of a surprise to Mine because I'm not much of a dancer, at least not these days (the reasons are many and varied but not worth going into here).  In fact, my love of this music has more to do with its structure and production than anything else as I'm a frustrated drummer from way back.

This Is Big Beat moves through the genre playing some absolutely killer beats.  While generally it's an excellent collection of brilliant tunes, like Mine says, skipping over the few boring ones is an absolute necessity.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_beat

The Beastie Boys - The Sounds Of Science

YOURZ

Ah, the Beastie Boys...  What can I say about this trio without sounding too sycophantic? I suppose I could say listening and getting into this band was my first foray into what was then the new world of rap and/or hip hop (the definition is still elusive to me - if anyone can give me a good one, I'd be mighty pleased).

I suppose I could also say they inspired me to look beyond my guitar rock leanings to a whole world of great music.  I suppose I could also say they helped inhibit, and then rid me of the idea that good music should be made by real instruments and not with turntables and samples.

They did all those things.  But primarily, for me, they opened doors for me to become involved.  As a musician, my past is littered with memories of bad bands, average bands and one or two really good bands.  But the best band I was ever in was a hip hop band, as a guitarist/writer/producer because it allowed me to explore all the styles of music I love without inhibition, something no other band enabled me to do.  I love The Beastie Boys for this.

The Sounds of Science is the best starter kit for anyone who doesn't know this band.  For the fan, it's brilliant to have so many of the Beasties best songs gathered in one place.  It's a bit like seeing them live, where they mix it up between a straightup hip hop show (3 MCS and 1 DJ) to their live band mode.  Personally, I never tire of hearing songs like Sabotage, Sure Shot, Root Down or Hey Ladies.  Yeah, there's a good dose of misogynism and schoolboy humour, but they're also guaranteed to Shake Your Rump.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP, B-Boy



MINE

Mmmph.  Ergh. *sigh*.  My reaction on finding out I had to listen to not one, but TWO Beastie Boys CDs.  Because while I quite like them, the thought of getting all the way through this promised me a headache.  My brain's wired for music, and a lot of what rap artists do is just yell at you.  For hours.

That said, there are a bunch of tunes I love on this best-of collection. And there's no doubt I enjoyed the band live when I saw them with YourZ in 2005 at a festival where we also caught the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and the Chemical Brothers.  The Fatboy Slim remix of Body Movin' is a favourite - and I'm sure we all have to Fight for Your Right. 

There are others, but for me the joy of a Beasties song is when it's dropped into the mix by a consummate DJ.  If you don't believe me, check out The Dirtchamber Sessions released by the Prodigy.  Damn, must buy that one again.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP, no TURN IT DOWN, no OH I DON'T KNOW

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

In our collection, we also have Licensed To Ill, Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and To The 5 Boroughs