| Title: | Lodge Party |
| Band: | Thurston Howlers |
| Label: | V8 Records |
| Released: | 2001 |
| Highlights: | The Hipster
Miniskirt Action
Insane
You Want It?
Hey Little Buddy |
| Rating: | 7.5/10
|
Is your bag a swingin' lifestyle? Do ya dig brain splittin' reverb fracas? Or even the
menacing mindbending tones of fuzz and grind? Do you partake in stompin' booze-soaked
topless a-go-go frat house debauchery' If the answer is yes, then I recommend you check
out Lodge Party, the debut album from Australia's premier frat party band, The Thurston
Howlers, who as it turns out, are comprised of members of the Crusaders, Psychotic
Turnbuckles and Hekawis.
Lodge Party is a fun listen although at times it does tend a bit too much towards parody
for my liking. Nevertheless, the playing is strong and the recording excellent, with
boss party tracks like Insane, You Want It, Miniskirt Action and Rumpshaker '65 all
guaranteed to get everyone up and dancing. Other tracks, with names like The Hipster, Go
Go Beach, Spy Girl, Beer Run and Lodge Party should give an even clearer indication of
what's on offer (if that isn't already apparent!). If you're into the likes of the
Phantom Surfers, Fortune And Maltese or any of the aforementioned bands, then make sure
you check these guys out.
| Title: | What Rhymes With Cars And Girls |
| Band: | Tim Rogers & The Twinset |
| Label: | BMG Records |
| Released: | 1998 |
| Highlights: | You've Been So Good To Me So Far
I Left My Heart All Over The Place
Arse Kicking Lady From The Northwest
Happy Anniversay
Under The Flight Path |
| Rating: | 8/10
|
What Rhymes With Cars And Girls is Tim Roger's debut solo album, which not surprisingly
takes a totally different approach to the rock-pop stylings of his regular band, You Am I.
With the help of The Twinset, Rogers has been able to bring his penchant for country
influenced music to the fore; something that was not previously possible within the
confines of You Am I. However, to label What Rhymes With Cars And Girls as a country album
is not entirely accurate as the sound could just as easily be described as acoustic pop
and folk rock.
Set to the pub sounds of clinking glasses and background chatter, What Rhymes With Cars
And Girls opens with the delighfully drunken instrumental waltz, Bushell And A Peck,
which sets the scene for the rest of the album. The first 'real' song of the album is the
sparkling, You've Been So Good To Me So Far, a typically honest and uplifting song for
which Rogers is famed. Tim displays his heart on his sleeve yet again for I Left My Heart
All Over The Place, a more downbeat but brilliant song all the same, which explores the
same territory as Heavy Heart. On the other hand You Just Do It For Me Friend is an
infectious upbeat track driven by Jen Anderson's violin. Arse Kickin' Lady From The
Northwest and Under The Flight Path, which were both originally You Am I B-sides, get
resurrected here and are strong cuts. However, my favourite track is the purely magic
Happy Anniversary with its brilliant muted trumpet solo and wistful, longing feel.
Unfortunately, some of the remaining tracks, such as 28 and Hi, We're The Support Band
seem underdone and I can't help but feel that this album was recorded just a touch
prematurely. If this was a You Am I album, I'm sure these tracks wouldn't have made the
final cut. Subsequently What Rhymes With Cars And Girls doesn't come across as being as
complete or as fullfilling as it could easily had been. Still, as the liner notes say,
Tim Rogers wrote these songs because he can't help himself and thankfully we've been given
the opportunity to here them.
| Title: | Mumbo Jumbo |
| Band: | Tumbleweed |
| Label: | Grudge Records |
| Released: | 1999 |
| Highlights: | Planet Of The Weeds
Glow In The Dark
Herman
Ghostshakers
Before The Rain Set In |
| Rating: | 8/10
|
During the 90's, Tumbleweed forged a strong reputation for long haired, bong tokin' and
fuzzed out rock and roll. They were stoner rock before the term had even been coined.
With their fourth and latest album, Mumbo Jumble, they have deliberately and successfully
moved away from this established formula and explored new areas such as 60's styled
garage (Herman), pop (Glow In The Dark), country rock (Before The Rain Set In), swamp rock
(Blue Lady) and even middle eastern psychedelic grooves (Midnight Sunshine). That's not
to say that Tumbleweed have forgotten how to rock as the lead track, Planet Of The Weeds,
attests. Mumbo Jumble is a magnificent return to form for one of Australia's best known
bands that is sure to win them many new fans as well keep their old ones happy.
| Title: | Apocalypse Dudes |
| Band: | Turbonegro (Norway) |
| Label: | Blitzcore Records |
| Released: | 1998 |
| Highlights: | The Age Of Pamparius
Selfdestructo Bust
Rock Against Ass
Don't Say Motherfucker, Motherfucker
Humiliation Street |
| Rating: | 10/10
|
Apocalypse Dudes, the final studio album by legendary Norwegian punk rock band Turbonegro,
is a loosely based autobiographical tale about a bunch of denim clad punks known as the
'Apocolypse Dudes'. Looking at the photos of the band, it is hard to believe that they
can create such kick-ass music. Lead singer Hank Von Helvete looks like a truly scary
Alice Cooper while the rest of the band are glammed up in denim like some twisted cousins
of the Village People. Yet the music is a powerful combination of The Who, AC/DC, Rolling
Stones, New York Dolls and the MC5. My favourite song is the epic Age Of Pampirus, which
is about baking pizzas of all things. This is followed by the exhilarating Selfdestructo
Bust and more melodic Rock Against Ass, both of which are also excellent. Other songs
like Don't Say Motherfucker, Motherfucker, Rendezvous With Anus and Good Head prove that
perhaps there is room for humour in music if it is played as well as this.
These days Turbonegro are known as forerunners of the current Scandinavian invasion and
undoubtably were a major influence on the direction taken by bands like The Hellacopters
and Gluecifier. However, none of these bands have songs like Rendezvous With Anus and
Are You Ready (For Some Darkness), which for better or worse, makes Turbonegro unique.
Put simply, there is no other band quite like Turbonegro.
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