Goodbye Troubadour

On the 21st of THIS month the Trouabadour will close. This sucks. We're losing Lofly Hangar as well, and there's whispers that the Globe may follow. So, I hope everyone likes The Zoo.....

But as previously mentioned, this sucks.

Alot of good memories in the place, including feeling the floor warp for Regurgitators farewell show (it was not their last show by a long shot). Also; City on Film, Dent May, Dan Deacon and many many others, not to mention the plethora of amazing Brisbane bands to pass through the joint. So Vale Troubadour, you added some much needed class to Brunswick St.

List-o-mania

Hiya. Longer between updates than I thought (back to college is the excuse I’m giving). Tonight the first ARIA was supposed to be awarded on 7pm Project.. I’m still not sure if they did. Some dude who was on JJJ a few years back interviewed Dan Sultan, perhaps he won something? It was handled poorly, as it looks like the awards may be altogether this year. Powderfinger doing their final performance at the ceremony though.

Recently, a lot has been made over a new book about the best 100 Australian albums. I haven’t looked through it yet, but I’m guessing the ordinary suspects will pop up again. Probably an interesting read, but it may not leave you with too much stuff you haven’t heard before.

With this in mind, I thought I’d let you all in on my 10 favourite Australian albums. I’m not going to order it, or I will never be happy with the order.

New Buffalo – Last Beautiful Day

Look, okay, this is my favourite album of all time. I’ve listened so many times, but each listen still thrills me. From the wonky pop of ‘Recovery’ to the sparse, haunting ‘Come Back’, this album, to me at least, doesn’t have a dud note. I could have put all her albums in this 10, but I’m sticking to one album per artist. Even then I wanted to cheat and list the Sally Setlmann album as well. ‘I’ve got You and You’ve got me’ should have been a huge hit, on par with ‘1-2-3-4’, which she of course wrote with good friend Fiest.

Talkshow Boy – Watch as I perform my own tracheotomy

When I first saw TSB, it was a revelation, unlike anything I heard witnessed before. So bombastic and over the top, his equipment (a sole laptop) broke (twice, although the second time it turned out he had somehow just muted it) all the while feeling like it could be part of the show. But it goes a lot past the live performance, the 19 songs on this album perfectly demonstrating his glitched out production, ear for a hook, but most importantly, genius lyrics. From dealing with heartbreak (‘Being Heartbroken is Way Cool’) to fashion (‘Freaky Teen Fashion – Time for A makeover!’) to technology (the now somewhat dated ‘OMG I <3 href="http://www.pocketclock.org/talkshowboy/waipmot.html">http://www.pocketclock.org/talkshowboy/waipmot.html and I strongly advise you grab it.

Magic Dirt – Roky’s Room

This shit is brutal. No vocals. No melody. No percussion. No song titles. Just heavy as fuck drone. This was Dean Turner’s love letter to the noise music he always found so much inspiration in, and stands as possibly their best release (even if it was never really billed as Magic Dirt, just Roky’s Room). Magic Dirt were at a time of change. Having left behind the poppier sounds of their last few albums, they had just released the also excellent mini-album Beast, which saw them return to their rawer roots, but nothing like this. This album might remain their most obscure, and most ‘difficult’, but it deserves to be remembered.

Go Betweens – 16 Lovers Lane

Was hard to work out which GB’s albums to slot in here, but in the end, it had to be 16LL. Right from the opening of ‘Love Goes on!’, through to ‘Dive for your Memory’, it feels like the definitive statement of these two young men from Brisbane, the love, the loss, the boredom, the kinda wishing you lived somewhere else, all themes many Brisbanites still click with today. It of course features ‘Streets of your Town’, their most popular release, which later got used in an ad for the local paper (albeit, not using THAT line). A fine album in every regard, its nice to know that Australia sometimes doesn’t let their treasures be forgotten.

BIGSTRONGBRUTE – Gardens in the Gutter

Ah, the first Brisbane entry on my list. Paul Donoughue is BIGSTRONGBRUTE, a lo-fi, folk-pop maestro. Like Go-Betweens before him/them, this album is a local masterpiece, unfortunately not as recognized. It sways from Beirut-esque pop, through to an almost country and western feel, but never feels disjointed or schizophrenic. A worthy listen if you can find it, hopefully one day it will be remembered in the same vein as GB’s. (sorry, this was really poorly written, and doesn’t do the album justice)

Architecture in Helsinki – In case we die

Schizophrenic may be a mission statement for AiH. A natural progression of their whimsical debut, this album was bursting at the seams with horns, strings, percussion, all things musical. It took AiH to a new audience, but unfortunately, they haven’t yet been able to recapture the feeling and excitement of this album. The title track is in 4 parts, with the melody swinging crazily, and 4 completely different moods being completely fleshed out in the space of 3 minutes (altogether, not each). The most ‘fun’ album on this list.

My Disco – Paradise

The cover of this album portrays My Disco’s three members, dressed in black, against a stark Southern Australian outback landscape. You can see miles around (the album even folds out to see more landscape) but for the most part, its just these three men dressed head to toe in black. It sums the album up better than any other cover I have encountered. Look at any review for this album, and one word keeps coming up – minimalist. Clocking in at under 40 minutes, this feels so complete, every beat feels justified, like if it wasn’t completely necessary it wouldn’t be on the record. Albini’s production shines, but that isn’t the point, this is My Disco’s work, and theirs alone.

Something for Kate – Echolalia

Probably not the most obvious of their albums for me to choose, but it’s my favourite, and has always held a very special position for me being the first cd I bought myself. ‘Monsters’ was a killer single, but the entire album was worthy. They acted as something of a gateway band for me, and I assume many others, taking me away from the realms of Triple J, and into discovering more ‘alternative’ stuff, and lead me to begin listening to 4zzz, which obviously informs a lot of this list (I did almost include Veronicas though). After this, I felt the band kind of lost it a bit, but Dempseys solo album was great, and felt like a successor to Echolalia.

Sleepy Jackson – Lovers

Luke Steele. What a wanker right. The most frustrating thing about his huge ego has always been that he makes the music to back it up. Bands have formed from members he has turfed, but after hearing their output, he was probably right to kick them. This is his masterpiece though. Switching genre from song to song, it hits alt-country, psychedelic rock, folk pop, and never has a dull moment. This deserves a spot in any collection, and stands up even today in a post Empire of the Sun world. Still a wanker though.

Ambitious Lovers – Stranger, Can I touch you?

This is like nothing I have ever heard. A junkyard, ukulele tribute to boredom, loves, and everyday life. ‘Wine’ could be the best song to ever come out of this city. I will never understand why they didn’t become synonymous with Brisbane, many who saw them became devoted fans. The album is available for download from www.incrementalrecords.com and if you don’t download it, you’re doing yourself a disservice. This album becomes a good friend.

Well, I rambled on for too long again. Hopefully the albums here help you understand the type of music this blog will discuss. The only other thing I have to say this week is that Deadshits #1 is on Friday at Woodland in Brisbane, features Bitch Prefect, Blank Realm, Teen Ax and more, and you should probably go.

First Post - Aria time!

First post and I’m talking about the ARIA’s. Sorry.

Recently, a lot has been made about ARIA’s ‘changing’ of the guard. While I’m not saying this is untrue per se, maybe it’s just a case of only one of the acts that usually clean the awards up releasing an album, and last album or not, it just wasn’t very good. There is no reason any of these acts won’t become icons in the same way Powderfinger or Silverchair are, in fact, these awards may cement the career of Angus and Julia Stone, confirming what has been clear for months now – they are the biggest act in the country right now. John Butler was somewhat snubbed, I admit, but he isn’t necessarily a certain nominee anyway.

Another point of note is, there were a lot more albums that could have just as easily been nominated for the main prize without major surprise. I’m talking mainly Parkway Drive, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Dan Sultan, Cloud Control and Bliss and Eso. All of these are again, ‘new’ bands, but that mainly reflects the year’s popular releases, rather than some ‘changing of the guard’.

So, for my first post in this blog, I am going to start an inaugural predictions and commentary on the awards. I know this is perhaps alarmingly apropos in the face of the band that I’ve stolen the name of this blog from, but Australian music is Australian music, and I plan on following all facets of it. I’m not going to do the ‘Most Popular’ cats, because that shit is wack.

One final note before a huge post that no-one will read, WHAT DOES SALLY SELTMANN HAVE TO DO TO GET SOME NOTICE! An amazing album, and not a single nomination.

Album of the Year
Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way (Original Matters/EMI)
Birds of Tokyo - Birds Of Tokyo (EMI)
Sia - We Are Born (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
Tame Impala – Innerspeaker (Modular Recordings)
Washington - I Believe You Liar (Mercury/UMA)

WHO WILL WIN: Angus and Julia Stone. It’s their year.

WHO SHOULD WIN: I’m going to give it up to AAJS here. Not a lot in the category tickles my fancy, but they certainly deserve recognition of their phenomenal rise

Single of the Year
Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane (Original Matters/EMI)
Birds of Tokyo – Plans (EMI)
Sia - Clap Your Hands (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
The Temper Trap - Love Lost (Liberation Music)
Washington - How To Tame Lions (Mercury/UMA)

WHO WILL WIN: As much as I wanna say Temper Trap will pick this up, I think AAJS will continue their streak.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Sia. The album wasn’t as strong as some made it out to be, but this was a great lead single.

Best Female Artist
Clare Bowditch - Modern Day Addiction (Island/UMA)
Kylie Minogue – Aphrodite (Mushroom Records/Warner Music)
Lisa Mitchell - Oh! Hark! (Warner Music Australia)
Sia - We Are Born (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)
Washington - I Believe You Liar (Mercury/UMA)

WHO WILL WIN – This is possibly the tightest major award. It could go anyway, but album noms assure it will be Sia or Washington. I’m going to guess Sia.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Kylie!

Best Male Artist
Dan Kelly - Dan Kelly's Dream (Shock)
Dan Sultan - Get Out While You Can (MGM)
Guy Sebastian - Like It Like That (Sony Music)
John Butler - April Uprising (Jarrah Records/MGM)
Paul Dempsey - Fast Friends (EMI)

WHO WILL WIN: I can’t quite see why all of a sudden its John Butler, not John Butler Trio, but he will win.

WHO SHOULD WIN: DEMPO!!!! His solo career has defied the odds and been both popular and of a high quality (arguably much better than the last few Something for Kate albums)

Best Group
Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way (Original Matters/EMI)
Birds of Tokyo - Birds Of Tokyo (EMI)
Powderfinger - Golden Rule (UMA)
Tame Impala – Innerspeaker (Modular Recordings)
The Temper Trap - Love Lost (Liberation Music)

WHO WILL WIN – AAJS. You know the drill now.

WHO SHOULD WIN – AAJS.

Best Independent Release
Art vs Science - Magic Fountain (Green/MGM)
Dan Sultan - Get Out While You Can (MGM)
Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Rush to Relax (Suppression Records/Shock)
John Butler Trio - April Uprising (Jarrah Records/MGM)
Sia - We Are Born (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)

WHO WILL WIN – This one is tough. Album nom points to SIA, but Art Vs Science are a huge hurdle, as is Eddy Current Suppression Ring. However, while it seems there are ARIA’s in the later two’s future, SIA will likely walk away with this.

WHO SHOULD WIN – ECSR should have swept the awards noms. It’s a shame they will likely be going home empty handed, but something tells me that they couldn’t give a shit.

Best Pop Release
Bluejuice - Head of the Hawk (Dew Process/Universal Music)
Empire of the Sun - Half Mast (EMI)
Guy Sebastian - Like It Like That (Sony Music)
Kylie Minogue – Aphrodite (Warner Music Australia)
Sia - We Are Born (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)

WHO WILL WIN – SIA. Well, it isn’t going to be Guy Sebastian now is it.

WHO SHOULD WIN – Bluejuice. Fun album. Shame it didn’t blow up for them they way it looked like it might.

Breakthrough Artist
Amy Meredith – Restless (Sony Music)
Cloud Control - Bliss Release (Ivy League Records/Universal)
Philadelphia Grand Jury - Hope is for Hopers (Normal People Making Music/Boomtown/Shock)
Tame Impala- Innerspeaker (Modular Recordings)
Washington - I Believe You Liar (Mercury/UMA)

WHO WILL WIN – Tame Impala. Good album, and I can’t see them going home completely empty handed.

WHO SHOULD WIN – Cloud Control, just to see the award go to someone less popular.

COMMENTARY – Two awards combined this year, and a lot of curveballs in the nominees. Amy Meredith should take this one last moment of ‘fame’, they will be gone in two weeks. Congrats to PGJ for a big nom.

Best Rock Album
Birds of Tokyo - Birds Of Tokyo (EMI)
Cloud Control - Bliss Release (Ivy League Records/Universal)
Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Rush to Relax (Suppression Records/Shock)
Powderfinger - Golden Rule (UMA)
Tame Impala - Innerspeaker (Modular Recordings)

WHO WILL WIN – Birds of Tokyo. The band is huge, and would likely sweep the awards if not for Angus and Julia Stone. As it stands, they may not win too many, but they will win this for sure.

WHO SHOULD WIN – ECSR.

Best Urban Album
Bliss N Eso - Running on Air (Illusive Sounds)
Lowrider - Round the World (Illusive Sounds)
M-Phazes - Good Gracious (Obese Records)
Space Invadas - Soul-Fi (Invada/Inertia)
Urthboy – Spitshine (Elefant Traks/Inertia)

WHO WILL WIN - I can’t see any circumstance where Bliss and Eso knock Eminem off number one, and don’t win this. I really thought they would get a lot of the nominations that eventually went to Washington or Sia.

WHO SHOULD WIN – I have no idea. Bliss and Eso I guess

Best Adult Alternative Album
Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way (Original Matters/EMI)
Basement Birds - Basement Birds (Basement Birds)
Clare Bowditch - Modern Day Addiction (Island/UMA)
The Cat Empire – Cinema (EMI)
Washington - I Believe You Liar (Mercury/UMA)
Whitley - Go Forth, Find Mammoth (Dew Process/Universal Music)

WHO WILL WIN – AAJS

WHO SHOULD WIN – Sally Seltmann!!!!!

COMMENTARY – What the fuck kinda category is this. What the fuck kinda nominees are these. Why are there 6 nominees. Scrap the category, and make a clearer one.

Best Dance Release
Art vs Science - Magic Fountain (Green/MGM)
Miami Horror – Sometimes (EMI)
Midnight Juggernauts - The Crystal Axis (Siberia/Inertia)
Pendulum – Immersion (Warner Bros UK)
Yolanda Be Cool and Dcup - We No Speak Americano (Sweat it Out/Central Station Records)

WHO WILL WIN – Yolanda Be Cool and Dcup. Massive track internationally, and their 15 mins will extend to this award (but how much longer). People don’t care about Pendulum in Australia as much as they do in Europe, and Art Vs Science will be awarded when they have an album.

WHO SHOULD WIN – Midnight Juggernauts, if only for being the best of a poor bunch.

Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Airbourne - No Guts, No Glory (EMI)
Dead Letter Circus - This is the Warning (Warner Music Australia)
Parkway Drive - Deep Blue (Resist Records/Shock)
The Amity Affliction - Youngbloods (Boomtown/Shock)
Violent Soho - Violent Soho (Liberation Music)

WHO WILL WIN – This one is interesting. Violent Soho and Airbourne have had huge years in the USA, but never really hit at home. Amity and DLC have had huge years at home, but it probably won’t be enough to get it over the line against Parkway Drive, who, lets face it, probably were the inspiration for the long overdue category.

WHO SHOULD WIN – Shoot me, I LIKE the Violent Soho album and would love to see the Mansfield boys collecting it.

COMMENTARY – It shouldn’t have taken so long to get this category, and even now the award is being handed out before the show, and not on air.