reviews
featured review:dexter jonesGenre: Pop/rock Dexter Jones want us to remember their songs which are as obviously stylised and memorable as the “DJ” logo emblazoned so boldly on the cover, not a bad thing at all. This comes across as a commercial release, it’s well produced and executed, it’s catchy and driving, it has hooks! |
all 2010 reviews
Please note: Opinions expressed by the Review Panel are not necessarily shared by other Music SA staff.
| Dexter Jones 3/9/2010 | |
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Dexter Jones want us to remember their songs which are as obviously stylised and memorable as the “DJ” logo emblazoned so boldly on the cover, not a bad thing at all. This comes across as a commercial release, it’s well produced and executed, it’s catchy and driving, it has hooks!
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| The Battery Kids 26/8/2010 | |
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The Battery Kids are emerging talent onto the local indie rock scene. After meeting five years ago as music students, they have received worthy attention from the likely audiences at Triple J and Three D, with their 2008 single Ghost Town getting to number 28 of Three D's top 100 for the year. We're Just Hanging while the Rats All Gather and the Vultures Circle Overhead is their first full-length album and it's mature for its age.
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| Self Preservation Society 19/8/2010 | |
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Tristan Newsome is the smooth voiced troubadour who fronted the now disbanded local group “The Flying Squad”. Self Preservation Society is Tristan’s new venture; a pared back vehicle for presenting his acoustic tunes and stories of life on the road.
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| The Timbers 12/8/2010 | |
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The Timbers are a more recent addition to Adelaide’s music scene. Their folk/roots sensibilities have been gracing stages since mid 2009 and this EP is their first publicly available release to date. Comprising a mere three tracks, the EP is more of a sampler of greater things to come than a release in its own right, however wanting more is not a bad thing for an audience to desire.
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| Roadside Slasher 22/7/2010 | |
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Roadside Slasher’s ‘Friend of the Moon’ is not an album for the faint of heart. This is angry chick pub rock at it’s ballsiest. There are songs about prostitution, erotic hypnosis and swearing aplenty.
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| Goldstein 7/7/2010 | |
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Australian folk act Goldstein’s (pronounced Gold-Steen) third long-player “Bin Night” (2010) sees the four-piece treading the same ground as their previous releases “Out To Sea” (2007) and “Spurs On My Boots” (2006). Australian folk act Goldstein’s 3rd long-player Bin Night (2010) sees the four-piece treading the same ground as their previous releases Out To Sea (2007) and Spurs On My Boots (2006). There is however something commendable about the band’s confidence in their own sound.
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| Mick Kidd 1/7/2010 | |
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This is a collection of blues focused, rootsy songs written, composed and performed by Mick Kidd, who in a Prince-like effort has not only sung, but played all guitars, bass, and percussion. Impressive to say the least. This album is the perfect accompaniment to a lazy Sunday afternoon; it’s not challenging on the ear and doesn’t try to achieve too much. Herein lies its success. These old Shoes is what it is - a man with soul doing what he does best, singing the blues.
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| The British Robots 24/6/2010 | |
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The British Robots. Sneaking under the radar, secretly recording this EP - their self-titled debut - without so much as a whisper. The result? A neat concoction of melodic indie pop, swampy acoustic guitars, uncomplicated percussion, slick yet organic vocals and their most endearing quality - five friends having a blast. Albeit a relaxed tea-soaked hang-out, as opposed to a beer-fuelled dodge-fest!
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| The Readymades 1/6/2010 | |
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The Readymades are an Adelaide three piece band who have been performing together since November 2006. Their current EP titled Hook, Sinker and Line was released May 1st 2010 and is a great insight of what is ahead for this quirky trio.
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| TJ Collective 20/5/2010 | |
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"Through the Ruins of Midnight" is a collection of nine, mostly short(ish) tracks by TJ Collective. The "TJ" in collective question is one Terry Jones, who authored the music and lyrics on this album as well as playing a mean saxophone. He also appears to grace the album cover in a stylishly rendered portrait in keeping with the rest of the CD graphic design which is tasteful and entirely apropos the musical content.
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| Brillig 29/4/2010 | |
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Hale to Brillig's first full (acoustic) feature offering! This is a brilliant album from a band bold enough to offer audiences something different. Brillig are story-tellers from another time who successfully channel wonderful elements of colonial era folk music for 21st Century audiences.
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| A Clearing 29/4/2010 | |
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Matt Saunders (under the nom-de-plume of A Clearing) is a one-man-rock-band producing music in his home, including six tracks which have been collected under the title To Live Without Fear. Though Saunders' photographic likeness on his web-page may have you wondering momentarily if Billy Corgan has taken up a new alias (though viewed in action on one of the videos to found on the page, Mr Saunders has slightly more of an Angry Anderson look) but his music is generally simpler and happier than that of Billy, and more varied and sensitive than that of Angry, though he certainly knows how to rock out!
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| Mr Goodnight 15/4/2010 | |
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I had never heard of Mr Goodnight before their CD came up on the reviews list recently. Usually I have even a fledgling insight into what a band sounds like, but not on this occasion, and boy howdy was I pleasantly surprised.
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| Hoy-Hoy! 14/4/2010 | |
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This DVD captures some of the legends of the Adelaide Blues scene live on stage at The Gov, celebrating Hoy-Hoy!'s 18th Birthday. Some may be surprised that this is only the 18th birthday for Hoy-Hoy!, as they seem to have been around for ever. However, when Frank introduces some of the guests in final song it becomes apparent that show is also a 34th birthday celebration for a group of Adelaide Blues stalwarts who kicked off way back in 1976 at The Windmill Hotel in Prospect.
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| Semi-Normal 17/3/2010 | |
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Semi-Normal from the Indie/Rock scene have released their debut album "Half Open Minds" on Indie-a-Go-Go Records. The band formed in 2002 and the release of their debut album has been a highlight of their career. Half Open Minds successfully delivers the band's quest to produce musical guitar leading rock. Ben Downing, lead vocals and guitar, creates an interesting tone to the album. His thoughtful and crafty use of lyrics really does portray the band's professional approach to the Indie/Rock scene.
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| Courtney Robb 11/3/2010 | |
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I'll cut straight to point here. Courtney Robb carries two instruments; a melodious Maton guitar and a marvelously mellifluous voice. I believe they may be inseparable, conspiring to caress the walls of bars, clubs and country barflies across this land. Courtney has traveled broadly and done just that; I can hear it in her lyric.
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| The Neverbells 4/3/2010 | |
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'Dreamland' is a brand new release from brand new Adelaide outfit The Neverbells who have been causing a bit of a stir in local media of late. The Neverbells are comprised of members of various other Adelaide bands from the last 10 years, and thus one can appreciate that the for a first release, the quality of music, song writing and recording is naturally better than that of most Adelaide band's debut.
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| ISAW 24/2/2010 | |
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The first thing I noticed when I unpacked Isaw's self-titled 3 track debut CD was the snap on the back cover of five "strapping young lads" posing before a no-nonsense industrial background and looking serious. The same style of picture is repeated inside the CD booklet and this, coupled with the close-focus eye graphic and saw-blade title font on the front cover, led me to suspect that I would not be reviewing a string quartet.
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| Oliver's Army 18/2/2010 | |
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"I would stare at the sky and think of you, remember the way I died, Left the earth and forgot who I was, I may have missed my chance, and we sit by and wonder why..." And thus begins Oliver's Army's release, moody and foreboding without coming across as being desperate or self indulgent. It was a real treat to sit down and listen to this EP, as twin brothers Ryan and Todd Oliver have written and recorded a very accomplished, fresh work that insists on repeat listens.
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| Andy & Marta 11/2/2010 | |
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Andy Armstrong and Marta Bayly have teamed up for a first album, Harmony of One, which is characterised by an upbeat sound on tracks like 'No One to Blame' and the title track. The album features simple, honest folk lyrics and appealing, 'ups and downs of life' themes like love, travel, music and friends. A country flavour permeates, with Andy's guitar flourishes on 'No One to Blam'e and rural scenes like the final track 'Every Time a Magpie Calls'.
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| 4 Kings Loud 21/1/2010 | |
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'Mortal Coil' is Adelaide band 4 King Loud's debut album. An ambitious feat for any band's first, delivering 10 tracks of rock songs that have been well worked on various South Australian stages over the past 12 months or so. While the album kicks in immediately at a high tempo with 'Ambition', what is also immediately apparent is the production that hasn't quite cut it on this release. While the vocals take the steady middle, the guitars and drums are a reedy backdrop to what are ultimately strong songs.
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| Double Handed 7/1/2010 | |
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Double Handed's latest release "A Book of Back Pages" is a strong Prog Rock album that shows a band with a lot of diversity to offer. It is then sad for this reviewer to have just found out that the band has recently split. However, if Double Handed have decided to call it a day then they have finished off with a bit of style. So point me in the direction of some sporting memorabilia and call me OJ Simpson cause here we go into the world of "A Book of Back Pages".
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| The Vampire Project 7/1/2010 | |
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The Vampire Project label themselves as "Alternative/ Gothic/ Rock" and certainly these influences are here present on their debut self-titled EP as well as an overall urbanity complemented by tight performance and production both.
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