STACK #195 Jan 2021

FEATURE MUSIC

“Some beats, then some banjo. So starts Keith Urban’s most musically adventurous outing yet, a thrilling mix of new meets old. On his 11th studio album, you sense that Urban can’t quite work out whether he’s a good ol’ boy or a contemporary pop act. It could have been an uneasy mix, but somehow it works. There’s a surprise around every corner (including a duet with Pink), and the record ends with the modern country classic We Were , which even includes a shout-out to Def Leppard. ‘I am who I am,’ Urban concludes.” JJ

style female backing vocals and Cox’s signature smooth pipes, while Give Me Tonight is a sweet ballad in classic storytelling style. There’s plenty more to sink your teeth into here: the bomp ‘n’ stomp of the title track’s fat sax and suspenseful organ licks is particularly satisfying. Coxy is ready and rearing for stardom.” AC

focus on anything else – even Insta scrolling! – while digesting The Slow Rush : an elegant, inventive masterpiece that conjures up sonic stardust with added ripple-dissolve flashback effects. Parker is in a class of his own.” BC

of trying to use words in such a way that the listener feels like they’ve experienced something much more expansive and multi- layered than a four minute song. It excites me to explore what’s possible.” ZKR Midnight Oil, The Makarrata Project IN REVIEW “A sequel of sorts to 1987’s Diesel and Dust … The Makarrata Project (the title refers to a Yolngu word ‘describing a process of conflict resolution, peacemaking and justice’)

The Chicks, Gaslighter IN NUMBERS 2020: Year the group dropped the word ‘Dixie’ from their bandname, citing its negative association with the American Civil War

Five Finger Death Punch, F8 IN NUMBERS

“A couple of thousand”: Number of punters (according to guitarist Zoltan Bathory) who reportedly stormed the photo pit during 5FDP’s 2010 Download UK set, after lead vocalist Ivan Moody challenged the audience to crowd-surf up to the stage 13: Number of countries’ album charts in which F8 reached the top 10 1: Number of Billboard Awards 5FDP received in 2020; they were crowned Active Rock Artist of the Year

14: Number of years between the critically-acclaimed Gaslighter and The Chicks’ previous album, 2006’s Taking The Long Way (which won five Grammys) 13: Number of Grammy Awards won by the band in total 2: Number of different charts in the US on which Gaslighter debuted at #1 (Top Albums, and Top Country Albums)

sees the Oils collaborate with Indigenous artists, both old and young, including Kev Carmody, Frank Yamma, Troy Cassar-Daley, Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan and Alice Skye. The result is another Aussie classic.” JJ

Keith Urban, The Speed Of Now Pt 1 IN REVIEW

Something For Kate, The Modern Medieval IN CONVERSATION: PAUL DEMPSEY “Songs are obviously a pretty condensed format for storytelling, but if you can assemble words in a certain way then it can result in several dimensions of meaning, even if it’s not literal meaning. You can convey a lot of information and feeling and emotion and visualisation in just a few words… I enjoy the challenge

Brad Cox, My Mind’s Projection IN REVIEW “Single Drinking Season is full of bluesy electric guitar, cowbell, gospel-

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