STACK #143 Sept 2016

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MUSIC REVIEWS

Big Scary Animal An ever-evolving sound is emitted from this Melbourne duo, who – from humble indie roots with garage rock and an Australian Music Prize nod – are now selling out shows around the country on the eve of this, their third album proper’s release. Dark, electro-clash undertones across the art-experiment beats and whistles make for an arse-shaking experience if the mood takes you. With its beyond-catchy hooks and stop-start party vibe, The Endless Story is crying for radio dominance (if it ever makes the maddening playlist ‘cut’), so too Flutism and Up and Up and Up with their break-beat/post-punk crossover hypnotism. Best local release of 2016 thus far, as you’d have to pull many a rabbit out of an enormous hat welded shut to compete with this. (Inertia) Chris Murray Wilco Schmilco “I always hated normal American kids…” sings Jeff Tweedy on the opener; you get the idea immediately. If I Ever Was A Child dances into more pop/folk territory with such infectiousness it’ll conjure a Tim Rogers smiling vibe with ease (and demand repeat listens), then Cry All Day train- chugs through a depressive ballad with juxtaposed positivity. Wilco, as always, lure emotional responses from unsuspecting brains via putting you completely at ease in seconds. The 12 tracks here, most of which are under three minutes, traverse many subgenres within their own inimitable style. You’ll hear so much of your own record collection (Lennon, T-Rex, Zevon) snapshotting throughout, but it’s still, unmistakably, Wilco. A serious grower. (ANTI/Warner) Chris Murray

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris The Complete Trio Collection The coming together of three of the major voices in country music was a 'wow' moment in music history. Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt started recording together in the ’70s but it wasn’t until 1987 when we first heard their collaboration on Trio , with Trio II following in 1999 – both Grammy Award-winning and chart-topping albums. Newly mastered with 20 bonus tracks of unreleased material and alternate takes, if you missed these landmark albums the first time around, they are a must in any country music- lovers collection. A triple treat.

Ol '55 Time To Rock 'N' Roll: The Anthology Ol’ 55 were seen as a novelty act – an Aussie version of Sha Na Na, reviving the rock sounds of the ’50s. But they did it wonderfully well, with a sense of style, genuine songwriting smarts and a larrikin sense of humour. And now, 40 years after they urged pub rock fans to Take It Greasy , comes this generous Ol’ 55 compilation: 56 songs

including nine live tracks, some previously unreleased studio recordings plus liner notes by the band’s manager, Glenn A Baker. Frankie J Holden was an accountant named Peter Brian before fronting Ol’ 55 (and this anthology features his song Chartered Accountant Blues ). He was joined by a saxophonist named Nicholas Aitken, who found fame as Wilbur Wilde. Holden and Wilde did just one album with the band, but it was a gem – 1976’s Take It Greasy , featuring the hits On The Prowl and Looking For An Echo , as well as covers of classics such as Get A Job and Only Sixteen . Ol’ 55 – who took their name from the TomWaits song, later covered by The Eagles – picked up where Daddy Cool left off, celebrating rock’s fun side with glorious harmonies and a charismatic line-up. This classy collection is the compilation they deserve. (Festival/Warner) Jeff Jenkins

(Rhino/Warner) Denise Hylands

Venus II Inside Your Sun Inside Your Sun is a love letter to sweet Hacienda, that fantasy land where the pills are pure, the cops never come, and people like Shaun Ryder are allowed to exist in public. Eagle & the Worm’s Jarrad Brown and Canyons’ Ryan Grieve have bonded over their timewarped obsession and synthesized this perfect clone of 'baggy', that awfully-titled genre of '80s British dance rock, which means you get all the rhythm of acid house alongside bombastic psych rock buildups. Venus II are prone to their predecessors’ faults as much as their successes: the slower ballads – mercifully few – come off as gratuitous and self- indulgent stabs at seriousness, but the hard-hitters – most of the rest of the album – are unparalleled fun. (Warner) Jake Cleland

Cody Jinks I'm Not The Devil If you like your country badass and outlaw like Jennings, Haggard and Cash, you may just like what Cody Jinks has to offer. Although he was raised on outlaw country, metal was his first love. They all come around eventually... After a stint fronting a thrash metal band, country came a-calling and with it brought forward a new generation of country appreciation. This Texas singer- songwriter lays down unapologetic and honest songs of heartache and redemption, with a smooth, authentic, all too familiar baritone. This is real straight shootin’, double shot swiggin’, true country. (ThirtyTigers/CookingVinyl) Denise Hylands

Jarrow 2003 Dream Coming out of the Nashville

school of songwriting, 20-year-old Melbournian Dan Oke knows how to sling a tune. As the songwriter and frontman of Jarrow, he portrays himself as spiritually broken and perpetually unlucky, the kind of charming sad boy archetype who takes his beatings with a grin that made Ryan Adams and his ilk so hot. Persona aside, part of 2003 Dream ’s charm is in its varied instrumentation, switching up jagged guitar pop for sprawling psych instrumentals and electric flourishes. Jarrow come off like the kids who knew they were smarter than everyone else in the class and never hesitated to show it, but damnit if you couldn’t help liking them all the same. (Remote Control) Jake Cleland

SEPTEMBER 2016

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