STACK #221 March 2023

REVIEWS MUSIC

Conrad Sewell Precious

Ruel 4th Wall

Dead City Ruins Shockwave

Jen Cloher I Am the River, the River Is Me As one of Melbourne’s most acclaimed songwriters, Jen Cloher has become synonymous with the fiercely political and starkly personal. Cloher honours their queer identity and M ā ori heritage on Mana Takat ā pui , the first of several of the album's tracks sung either partially or wholly in M ā ori. The record features several collaborators including dance troupe Te Hononga o ng ā Iwi, who provide haka chants on Being Human , as well as Emma Donovan whose unmistakable vocal wreathes through The Wild . If Cloher’s previous album was an exercise in reclaiming their identity, I Am the River, The River Is Me is an unabashed celebration of who they are and what they stand for, empowering and inspiring in equal measure. (Milk! Records) Holly Pereira

"And I finally found my sound,” Conrad Sewell declares on his second album. The opening track, with its subtle nods to The Beatles, Stones, Prince, and Queen, is a neat summation of that sound. For the most part, Sewell is a funky soul man, but he’s also capable of delivering a straight-out pop-rock belter – check out Make Me a Believer – as well as a big pop ballad ( Rolling Thunder ). He’s also not afraid to deal directly with his demons. “I drank away all of my self-esteem,” he confides in Ego . The album culminates in the title track, which is part confession (“You can call it self-destruction”), part plea (“Don’t hate me if you don’t know me”), and part defiance: “I’m not giving up”. Yep, the strength of Precious shows that Conrad Sewell is definitely here to stay. (Sony) Jeff Jenkins

“All this overthinking is wearing me down,” Ruel reveals in the opening track of his debut album, while in the second song he reminds himself to “trust the process”. Though the Sydney singer is still only 20, his first LP has certainly been long-awaited, coming five years after he won the Breakthrough Artist ARIA. Along the way, Ruel has been championed by Elton John and collaborated with Hilltop Hoods. “Growing up is strange,” he concludes, and there’s no doubt he’s grown up in public. The album’s title refers to discovering that your life is a lie and is being filmed to entertain others, like The Truman Show . “I tend to get anxious when something begins,” Ruel sings in If And/Or When . “The odds are against us.” But Ruel could easily become a superstar. He’s delivered a sparkling debut. (Sony) Jeff Jenkins

On Shockwave , hard-rockers Dead City Ruins introduce listeners to a new chapter in the glinting tome that is their story: vocalist Steve Welsh. Like the lovekid of Axl and Ozzy, Welsh’s voice boasts precision – have faith he will roundhouse each and every meteoric note he goes for – but also a loose flexibility, letting him loop and slither around his bandmates’ extraordinarily tight playing (in riff and in rhythm; see the well-titled Speed Machine , or the dynamic stop/start pockets of Preacher ) with abandon. And then there are the shivers the ominous and contemplative Rain will elicit. Shockwave presents the Melbourne five-piece in stellar form, unhindered and wielding the might of The Sorcerer – this is super vibrant and turbo enjoyable rock. (AFM Records) ZKR

Coloured vinyl has experienced a complete glow-up since the disappointingly craggy efforts of '70s pressings; take a gander at the magnificent 180gm, bejewelled LPs of brand new releases you can get your mitts on at JB.

single illustrated tooth – pop it on your inner left wrist and pretend you're Phoebe Bridgers!) plus a 24-page zine. (Universal)

special edition also includes alternate artwork, and a huge pull-out poster of your favourite sad romantic. (Universal)

A Gorillaz, Cracker Island JB Hi- Fi AU Exclusive Neon Pink Vinyl

Glinting bright like Noodle’s rimless sunnies, Murdoc’s headdress, Russel’s beanie and 2-D’s literal spiralled eyeballs: the JB-exclusive neon pink edition of Gorillaz’ Cracker Island is one for display, that’s for sure. There’s no better way to immerse yourself into whatever trance Murdoc’s Last Cult chooses to deliver, via the sonic kaleidoscope that is Damon Albarn’s subconscious. (Inertia) B Miley Cyrus, Endless Summer Vacation JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive White Vinyl Perfectly matching the frothy seafoam which tops the swells at Santa Monica Beach, the crisp white of Miley’s Endless Summer Vacation will inject some LA vibe into your vinyl collection. Plus, this colour makes it very easy to see where the schmutz is on the disc, so you can give it a good clean before you drop the needle straight onto Flowers . (Sony) C Lana Del Rey, Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive Dark Pink Vinyl What other colour could you imagine embodying the sensual and cinematic sounds of Lana’s latest? Femme but mysterious, dark pink couldn't be more appropriate. This

D DMA'S, How Many Dreams? JB Hi-Fi Exclusive Translucent Gold Vinyl

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How apt that the jewel in DMA'S discography crown is available in beautiful translucent gold? Tommy O'Dell, Johnny Took, and Matt Mason's ambitious and soaring new achievement How Many Dreams? on this JB-exclusive coloured vinyl will look like a celestial body spinning on your turntable . (Universal) The fire engine title treatment of Matt Corby's Everything's Fine album artwork (the illustration of which was created by Hungarian-Filipina-Australian artist Niqui Toldi) is reflected in this juicy JB-exclusive red vinyl. It's a fitting choice for an album which ripples with fiery feeling and effortless funk. (Universal) F Boygenius, The Record JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive Orange Crush Swirl Vinyl If anyone knows how to elicit synesthesia in us, it's this uniquely talented trio. Boygenius's new album The Record will land in this sunkissed orange crush vinyl version, which also includes an adorable temporary tattoo (of a E Matt Corby, Everything's Fine JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive Red Vinyl

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