STACK #144 Oct 2016

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MUSIC REVIEWS

Sum 41 13 Voices Where do you go when teenage angst has paid off well and now you’re bored and old? Sum 41’s efforts in later years – a decade since they emerged as Maiden-worshipping inheritors of Green Day’s brattish pop punk – have made for some unsteady propositions, but credit where it’s due, they mostly refrained from revisiting the high school clichés of their younger years. 13 Voices continues to push forward by finding what distinguished Sum 41 in the first place: Dave Baksh, the guitarist who made their first records so thrilling, is back. The record leans more heavily on their metal heritage, delivering every riff and beat with more force at a slower pace. It’s the only right choice for a band with Sum 41’s legacy, and they grab it with both hands. (Hopeless Records/ Unified) Jake Cleland

Airbourne Breakin' Outta Hell

Yep, they’re derivative. Sure, their lyrics are big, dumb and obvious. But Airbourne are a glorious celebration of the inner bogan in us all. They follow the AC/DC formula – no ballads, no bullshit, delivering anthems for the common man. Frontman Joel O’Keeffe is a mix of Bon Scott and Angus Young; you can just see his cheeky grin as he rips out another monstrous riff and declares, “It’s all for rock ’n’ roll!” Rock might no longer be cool – whatever that means – but Airbourne remain loud and proud. And thrilling. “I know what I got,” O’Keeffe declares in Get Back Up . “And you can’t take it away.” (Spinefarm Records/Caroline) Jeff Jenkins

The Black Sorrows Faithful Satellite

Has there been an Australian artist more prolific and consistent than Joe Camilleri? Regardless of whether he’s got a record deal or radio play, Camilleri simply continues to do one thing: churn out quality music. Jo Jo Zep &The Falcons are in the ARIA Hall of Fame; surely it’s time for The Black

Sorrows to be inducted? Their 20th album showcases a stellar line-up: Claude Carranza (Kids In The Kitchen) on guitar, Mark Gray (Wa Wa Nee) on bass, Angus Burchall (John Farnham) on drums, and jazz great John McAll on keyboards. These guys can play anything, and Faithful Satellite traverses bluegrass, blues, rockabilly, reggae, rock, gospel and soul. And props to Camilleri’s long-time lyricist Nick Smith, who creates vivid images: “And that cold grey moon will be rising soon to watch over me … as we roll into the night, with our faithful satellite.” Camilleri delivers the words with a vitality that singers a third his age would love to have. “It’s the last time I’ll trudge through the streets of this town,” he declares in the record’s final track, Into Twilight , before adding: “I ain’t sayin’ farewell.” Of course he’s not. He’ll never stop. He can’t. The music is in him. (Head Records) Jeff Jenkins

Two Door Cinema Club Gameshow The UK lads have returned with a vengeance. If you are familiar with and loved the single What You Know (impossible not to feel the latter if you are the former) from their 2010 debut album, you'll be delighted with the Irish trio's latest record, Gameshow. It's totally loyal to their indie-rock lineage, with the intro on Bad Decisions alone worth buying the disc for – also, make sure you check out its remarkable video. Are We Ready? (Wreck) is as true as they come, harping ‘What’s it gonna take/ there’s always something else,” pulling at the heartstrings of all the true romantics out there. (Warner) Alesha Kolbe

Lost Animal You Yang Remember those rainy days staring out the window, envisioning yourself in a moody music video? Get ready for those wistful pop pangs again. Jarrod Quarrell’s quirky adenoidal voice is noticeably stronger in his second LP; guaranteed to make you cry-dance, he's no longer drowning in the murk of previous release Ex-Tropical. You Yang balances vocals with odd instrumental choices; from yearning saxophone in Do The Jerk to Gorillaz-esque melodica in Where It Ends and a beautiful backing choir amongst the spectral puddles of Prisoners Island . As the atmospheric twang of NewYears Day comes to a close, there's a low, long rumble to give us time to compose ourselves – though you may find you need a little longer. (Dot Dash/Remote Control) Savannah Douglas

LVL UP Return To Love Return To Love is the raw, jagged indie rock record we've been craving. Forming in 2011, the LVL UP guys are no newbies to the scene and have further magnified their '90s slant with their newest album, full of groovy hits. It cruises between tunes as rugged as a bearded lumberjack ( Spirit Was ) to calming melodies that feel like a mellow beach breeze ( Cut FromThe Vine ). The four-piece's musicianship is in the spotlight throughout, showing off rousing riffs, pounding drums and wicked synth effects – see Hidden Driver – with that pure lo-fi love. Every bit their creation as the Monster was to Frankenstein, Return To Love is LVL UP’s beautiful child, epitomised in the haunting swan song Naked In The River With The Creator . (Sub Pop/Inertia) Savannah Douglas

Safe Hands Tie Your Soul To Mine Novocastrian five-piece Safe Hands have spent a long time trying to fit the ‘punk’ stereotype: breaking instruments, stage invasions and general chaos. Recently the band issued a statement on a change of philosophy and maturity. If you think this means they've gone soft, you couldn’t be further from the truth; from the raw opening of The Coliseum 1921 , the record is unfailing. Benjamin Louttit’s vocal performance falls somewhere between Jesse Lacey of Brand New and Jordan Dreyer of La Dispute. The Great Affair is the band’s shining achievement; on a brooding, emotional journey, Isaac Gibson’s drums will cut through you like a katana sword. (Lost Boy Records)Tim Lambert

OCTOBER 2016

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