Australian Invasion: Aussie Bands That Deserve More Credit

Believe it or not Australia has a pretty damn good amount of garage/ punk/ noise/ whatever bands brewing in garages and small clubs around the country. Yet for reasons unknown they seem to be over looked by our national y00th broadcaster and "the home of Australia's 'best' new music": Triple J radio.

While I could go on an endless rant about how JJJ is an absolute joke these days, I figured I'd take the higher road and provide some insight into some of my favourite Aussie bands around today that seem to be overlooked by Kingsmill and his cronies.

Also, considering these are local bands, and they probably can find ways to have my kneecaps smashed, I'm not going to provide album links, instead I will be using my shiny new built in media player...

UV RACE - Melbourne

Without a doubt making the biggest groundswell both home and abroad are the UV Race. Consisting of members of other Melbourne bands Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Straightjacket Nation, Dick Diver, the UV Race sound like a lost Velvet Underground album clashing with the raw proto-punk of the Stooges.

They have recently released their full length LP entitled "HOMO" both on Aarght! Records here in Australia and on the legendary In The Red Records  (The Dirtbombs, Thee Oh Sees, Demon's Claws, Black Lips, any good garage band in the last decade) over in the US. The fact that they are on ITR is both a testament to how respected this band is in the US and how RIDICULOUS it is that nobody knows about them here.

I really can't stress how awesome these guys are, if you like mid 70's proto punk a la Velvet Underground, Stooges, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, The Saints, Electic Eels then go out and buy "HOMO" asap!

note: The song I chose in no way defines their "sounds", these guys are pretty diverse, but for some reason I consistently find myself singing this when I wake up with a hangover...

UV Race - Lego Man.mp3


Royal Headache - Sydney

Royal Headache are four dudes from the 'burbs of Sydney who blast out a furry blend of powerpop-infused garage punk, along the same vein as Nobunny or Ramones but with someone who sounds as though he can actually sing. Basically their songs are catchy as fuck and I'm sure they would absolute kill it live, even if the guitar is too loud, the speakers are blown, and the lead singer is too busy pulling aerial maneuvers off the ceiling, this is punk rock, man, not some fucking Jack Johnson concert.

They are also due to be playing at the amazing Gonerfest! festival hosted by Goner records (jay reatard, oblivions, nobunny, etc) in Memphis Tennessee.

Royal Headache now have a Full Length LP on R.I.P Society Records (another awesome aussie label) which, in my opinion, is amazing. Well worth the purchase.

The following two songs are taken from the previously released Royal Headache 7" EP

Royal Headache - Girls

Royal Headache - Eloise


Circle Pit - Sydney

For some reason, these guys get a lot of hate because they're super hip and look like scandinavian junkies from the 80's. Personally, I haven't seen any pictures/videos that make me hate them, besides, their music is fucking awesome. Seriously, for two weirdo's from the scums of Sydney this shit is amazing. Some of their songs are reminiscent of Sonic Youth and early 90's grunge, other songs are slow moving bummer drone 70's style rock. Either way it's all good, and I dig, even if the guitarist once played with a dead bird hanging from his neck...

Their music can be found on R.I.P Society in Oz and on super sweet labels Siltbreeze and Sacred Bones in the US.

Circle Pit - Wave Machine

Circle Pit - Infinity


Bitch Prefect - Adelaide

These three lads from South Australia make music along the same vein of bands from the early Flying Nun days such as The Clean, The Chills, Tall Dwarves and the whole scene that was around in the 80's. But I'll delve more into that in a later post, right now I'm talking about these guys. From what little I've heard of Bitch Prefect, I've liked. It's more in the style of chilled out pop rock music that goes great with a Sunday afternoon drive. I can't say much more about these guys because I don't know much, and they have only released one EP (which you can listen to entirely here), but I'm eager to hear their LP if/when it comes out. Give them a try.

02 Holiday in America.mp3

01 Marilyn Monroe.mp3


Slug Guts - Brisbane

Slug Guts have been around for a while, at least from my memory, they have become somewhat staples of the Brisbane punk scene. They're obviously influenced by The Birthday Party and Nick Cave in general, as well as the legendary X to name a few. They're music is swampy and dirty, with dark rhythmic baselines, sparse guitar and brooding vocals. As you can tell by their band name, as well as their track names such as Hangin' In The Pisser, these guys sing about the seedier side of life, like a one dollar peep show at 3am in Fortitude Valley; rough but it's real.

They're most recent release Howlin' Gang on local label Bedroom Suck is probably their best work yet. It might not be everyone's cup of muddy tea, but I dig it.

Slug Guts - Howlin'

Slug Guts - Hangin' in the Pisser.mp3


This is only a small portion of the good australian bands floating around today, but it's enough to get you started, I might post up some more further down the track.

Irreplaceable: The Replacements - Let It Be

The Replacements were a Hardcore /Post Punk band that was most predominant during the 80's. What makes this band so good/interesting is the diversity of their songs, from slow ballads such as Androgynous (later covered by Joan Jett) to their power-pop cover of KISS's Black Diamond.


The album is also filled with post punk classics that are in the higher tempo vein such as Favorite Thing to the straight up hardcore punk style of We're Coming Out. This album has something for the entire family (not really).

Usually when a band tries to blend in so many styles it generally ends up being too overbearing and disjointed, but due to the amazing musicianship of this band they are able to pull off every style as though it's been there niche for years.

This is one of my most favourite older dig-ups of the past year, I really can't believe I had never listened to them before but then again I think the timing was right with this band.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


DOWNLOAD

MILKY MEDICINE: MILK MUSIC

MILK MUSIC are from what seems like the new best scene in America, (or at least in the NorthWest) Olympia, Washington.

They sound like they belong on SST Records from the 90's with a heavy influence form the likes of Dinosaur Jr, Husker Du, Pavement, etc. The guitar is dirty and distorted, the drums are driving and the bass seems to hold it all together much like Lou Barlow in Dino Jr's You're Living All Over Me (One of my favourite albums of all time).

The similarities to Dinosaur Jr are one of the main reasons I like this band so much, there is something about reverb-laden distortion, twisted squealing solo's and distant vocals that get my head banging and dreaming of distant days with flannel and ripped jeans.

But those days are gone now and all we can do now is hope MILK MUSIC continue to make good music.

Beyond Living LP: DOWNLOAD

They also have a heap of free music over on there Last.fm page

Psychedelic Prescriptions: Wooden Shjips - West

After some promising glimpses in their previous album "Dos" on Holy Mountain records, Wooden Shjips have changed labels to Thrill Jockey and with that the San Franciscan psych rockers have released their most accessible record to date.

This album is full of the moving repetitive riffs, fuzzy solos and echoing vocals that you'd here in one of the original san francisco psych/acid rock bands like jefferson airplane,love, etc. It's not hard to tell who influenced these guys. I dare say even your Dad or stoner Uncle will like this record.

For fans of: any 60's psychedelic or new "neo psychedelic" band eg. Moon Duo, BJM, Dead Meadow, the Warlocks etc.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Doco of the Week: Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt

Up until about August last year (2010) I had absolutely no idea who Townes Van Zandt was and what he did, but that all changed one hazy night stumbling into a friends house at 2am in downtown Missoula Montana. I was just coming by to find a floor to sleep on, but my friend was up watching this documentary on the big screen. After some minor rambling about my late night shenanigans in the dusty dive bars of Missoula, I positioned myself on the empty couch, cracked open a fresh can of PBR and prepared to pass out not caring what was being played before me.

But as I started watching, I was drawn into it and could not sleep. I watched the entire film from beginning to end, captivated by Townes' story.

Townes had a hard life, but he always seemed cheerful. His music was straight from the soul, or the bottom of a bottle of whiskey, whatever comes first. Even if you're not a country music fan you'll enjoy this film, simply because of the story told. And if you're not a fan of Townes at the end, well then there is no hope in you.

If you are lucky enough to live in the USA and not restriced by Australia's RIDICULOUS internet laws, then you can watch the entire doco over at Hulu ( there's also ways around this but you can figure that out for yourselves).

If you want another taste of Townes, then here is a great version of "waiting around to die".

Sleep Therapy: Jürgen Müller

For those who need music to sleep like me, this album has been on high rotation on the bedside dresser playlist. This is by a man called Jürgen Müller from Germany. One of the most intriguing aspects of this album is the back story that comes with it. Basically, this was recorded in 1979 while Jürgen was studying oceanic science at the University of Kiel. After going on an underwater mission to film sea level toxicity a few miles offshore, young Jürgen was struck with inspiration to make a musical document of his experiences. He then created a mobile studio on a vessel and recorded Science of the Sea.

Whether this story is true or not I don't know, but it only adds to the romance and mystery that the music creates. Crackling synth layers and strange bubbles and pops propel you into an underwater sonic submarine and lets you drift the depths of the ocean all from the comfort of your headphones.

Give it a try next time you have trouble sleeping