Butterfingers - Breakfast At Fatboy's

YOURZ

Simply put, Butterfingers are Australia's answer to The Beastie Boys meets The Bloodhound Gang.  They are irreverent, funny, crass and clever.  And while some of the humour is defiantly below the belt, it is performed in such a way that you can't help but smile.  And the very colloquial references endear this band to me even more.

I laughed out loud when I first heard Everytime and hoped the band wouldn't prove to be a one-hit wonder or, even worse, a novelty act of some sort.  With the release of Breakfast At Fatboys, they proved neither was the case.  Nor were they a one trick pony, as this début proved, crossing into punk, big beat, dub and straight up indie rock.  And always delivered with lyrics that stick in your head, the sort you catch yourself singing in the most inappropriate of places.

Produced by Australia's Magoo, who has produced some of Australia's best bands over the years, ...Fatboys was followed up by The Deeper You Dig, which included the wonderful Figjam (Fuck I'm Good, Just Ask Me).  Equally as much fun, this album proved to be even more popular than their first, landing them an APRA Award for most played urban song.  An indefinite hiatus has followed but I don't think this is the last we'll be hearing of Butterfingers.  And a good thing too. 

VERDICT: TURN IT UP Yo Mama's on the top of my things to do list...

MINE

These guys are in that (for me) hip-hop nirvana of rock and pop and rap all thrown together and blended up with the cheekiest lyrics you can imagine.  One of my prized posessions is a Butterfingers t-shirt that proved too small for my husband's recently-enlarged figure (due to pumping iron, not eating doughnuts).  It's a Yo' Mama picture and has occasionally elicited queries from interested bystanders.  Kind of difficult to explain in polite company.

And while I do love that song and I Love Work (it's sarcastic!) it's Everytime that really floats my boat.  I'd call it the ultimate loser song - everytime this guy does something, something bad happens to him.  I've only seen them once, supporting Grinspoon, but they were amazing.  While they do have the sort of lyrics and sound that appeals to a bunch of teenagers (yes, they include fart references) I'm not so much of an old codger that I'd fail to appreciate their humour.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP (a chicken's not a vegetable!)

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

In our collection, we also have: The Deeper You Dig

The Roots - Game Theory

YOURZ

Of all the bands my foray into the world of hip hop introduced me to, The Roots are, without a doubt, my most favourite.  (Having said this, I've always been a big fan of both The Beastie Boys and Run DMC). 

This collective includes not only some of the best songwriters and MCs in the business but also some of the best musicians (if you've not seen David Chappelle's Block Party, which feature most of The Roots as the house band, then I highly recommend it as not only is it funny but the music is superb).  Jimmy Fallon picked them to be his house band, a decision I was mighty pissed about when I heard this because it meant The Roots had to cancel a forthcoming tour of Australia and I would have finally got to see them live.

This particular album also has one of my all time favourite songs, Here I Come.  While not as political as some of their other tracks, this one has such an infectious groove, it is hard not to want to try to dance like I'm really fly.  (Incidentally, I'm not).  But then this album is chock full of great songs; Clock With No Hands, In The Music, Long Time, False Media...  In fact, I could name every track on this album because there isn't a dud one.

I think I made a big statement in the recent review of Fun DMC by People Under The Stairs when I said I thought theirs was what real hip hop was about.  But the fact is the articulation, both musically and lyrically, The Roots have accomplished over the years, is what hip hop should be about; relevant, smart, confident and intelligent.  It's unfortunate the genre, for the most part anyway, is everything but this.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP and teach the kids what it really is all about

MINE

It's not very cheerful, is it?  Ah relax YourZ - just pulling your leg.  I get it, it's really great hip-hop, actually reminds me of the Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy.  Politically aware, eclectic, well structured.

Hmmm, but when will I actually feel like listening to it?  Maybe if I'm bored with my pop sensibilities and want something a bit meatier.  The problem with that is my job.  REVEAL: I'm a journalist and spend my days dealing with the hard realities of politics, crime, natural disasters et al.  Is it any wonder I feel like some Kylie in the car on the way home?

VERDICT:TURN IT DOWN (but I'll play it when I'm on holidays, honestly)

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

In our collection, we also have: Rising Down, Phrenology  and  The Tipping Point