James Sutton

THE OCEAN.

I LIVED IN BONDI FOR 6 YEARS AND HAD SUCH A BLAST. ALL AUSTRALIANS LOVE THE OCEAN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. BEING THAT CLOSE TO IT IN BONDI YOU BASICALLY NEVER LEAVE. THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS AWESOME IN THAT SUBURB AND THE OCEAN IS NEVER THE SAME TWO DAYS IN A ROW. IT BECOMES SUCH A MAGNET AND YOU BUILD YOUR DAYS AROUND IT.

YOU END UP KNOWING MOST OF YOUR NEIGHBOURS. AND HALF THE LOCAL SHOPKEEPERS. WELL I DID ANYWAY. THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO SEE TOO.

I HAD AN OLD TURKISH COUPLE LIVING NEXT TO ME FOR YEARS (ELMAS & NORM) AND ELMAS WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO FEED ME. I WOULD OPEN MY DOOR AND SHE’D BE HOLDING A HUGE PLATE OF THA BEST TURKISH FOOD (MY FAVOURITE). SHE NEVER HAD TO TWIST MY ARM.

SHE’D SIMPLY SAY: “JAMES. YOU EAT”

NORM HER HUSBAND WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO GET ME CRUNK WITH SOME HARDCORE TURKISH SPIRIT (RAKI THINK IT WAS) & WE HAD A PLATE WASH & RETURN SYSTEM GOING.

MASSIVE ATTACK.

MY FIRST JOB IN FILM & TV WAS AT A PLACE IN SYDNEY CALLED VIDEO 8. WE HAD A FEW TELECINE’S AND WOULD DO ALL THE COMMERCIAL DUPLICATION JOBS IN SYDNEY WHEN AD’S WERE SENT OUT TO TV STATIONS PHYSICALLY.

I WORKED WITH FOUR OTHER GUYS DOWNSTAIRS AND WE DID ALL THE BULK DUPLICATION OF VHS TAPES. RUNS OF 20,000, 5,000, 40,000. ETC.

WE DID ALL THE CRUSTY DEMONS OF DIRT FILMS, RIP CURL STUFF, JACK McCOY FILMS FOR BILLABONG. & THE HUNDREDS OF THINGS I’VE FORGOTTEN.

MY BOSS IAN WENT AWAY FOR A WEEK OF HOLIDAYS AND I WAS RUNNING THE SHOW. IT SUBSEQUENTLY WAS ALSO THE WEEK THAT MEZZANINE WAS ALBUM OF THE WEEK ON TRIPLE J (TRIPLE J IS ON THE BRILLIANT ABC) SO NO AD’S AND GREAT MUSIC.

I’D NEVER HEARD ANY MASSIVE ATTACK ALTHOUGH THAT WEEK WAS SUCH AN INTRODUCTION, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT ALBUM. I REMEMBER EACH DAY JJJ WOULD PLAY TWO OR THREE TRACKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY

HAVING THAT ALBUM FOLDED OUT IN FRONT OF ME PIECE BY PIECE IS FOREVER BURNT INTO MY MIND.

IT’S SUCH A BROODING HEAVY RECORD.

AND THE FACT THAT IN THE ROOM RIGHT NEXT TO ME THEY WERE CUTTING UP THE DAILY 35MM PRINT REELS FROM THE FIRST MATRIX FILM (THAT WAS BEING SHOT IN SYDNEY AT THE TIME) DIDN’T HURT EITHER.

I WOULD ALWAYS GO AND CHAT WITH BASIA (ONE OF THE SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS) AND LOOK AT WHAT THEY WERE SHOOTING WHILST MEZZANINE SCORED IT.

THE BLACK KEYS.

THERE USE TO BE THIS TINY RECORD STORE IN NEUTRAL BAY IN SYDNEY OPPOSITE THE BLOCKBUSTER. I LIVED ON BEN BOYD RD & WOULD GO IN REGULARLY.

I RECKON THE STORE WAS NO BIGGER THAN 6 x 6 METRES. BUT IT WAS FULL TO THE BRIM OF CD’S & VINYL.

I BECAME FRIENDS WITH THE OWNER (HE WAS ALWAYS THERE) KNOW IDEA WHAT IS NAME WAS / ONE DAY I RANDOMLY ASKED “WHATS NEW THAT YOU LIKE?” I NEVER HAD SAID THAT IN MY LIFE. AS I ALWAYS KNEW WHAT I LIKED ALTHOUGH ONE DAY I JUST DID.

HE SAID THERE’S THIS ENGLISH BAND CALLED THE ARCTIC MONKEYS, IT’S LIKE THE BEE GEE’S MIXED WITH THE BEATLES. THE SECOND BAND WERE SOME GUYS FROM THE STATES CALLED THE BLACK KEYS AND SOME OTHER BAND I’VE SINCE FORGOTTEN. THAT’S RIGHT - IT WAS U.N.K.L.E. WAS DEF U.N.K.L.E.

HE WAS LIKE “YEAH THE BLACK KEYS ARE ONLY DRUMS & GUITAR. SORT OF SOUNDS LIKE HENDRIX” I WAS LIKE “HENDRIX ?” AND HE HANDED ME “THICKFREAKNESS.

I WAS LIKE “RAD”. I ALSO LIKED THE PIANO REFERENCE IN IT.

I LISTENED TO IT NON-STOP FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. IN THE CAR LOTS.

ONE DAY AS A LION.

JON THEODORE FROM THE MARS VOLTA - NOW IN QUEENS (OF THE STONEAGE).

ZACH DE LA ROCHA FROM RAGE

THEY BROUGHT OUT ONE 5 SONG EP (WHICH SO WASN’T ENOUGH MUSIC) IN 2010 AND IT WAS LIKE GARAGE RECORDED HIP HOP ROCK - COMPLETE WITH SYNTHS.

MIC DROP - I THINK IS WHAT YOU SAY.

AMY SHARK.

AMY SHARK HAD BEEN KICKING AROUND RADIO PLAYLISTS IN AUSTRALIA FOR A WHILE & I ALWAYS HAD LIKED IYT ENOUGH.

SHE WAS SLOWLY BUILDING A FAN BASE UP AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN (LIKE LOTS OF GOOD MUSIC OFTEN DOES) PEOPLE OVERSEAS STARTED LISTENING.

THAT JUST TURBOCHARGES HOW MUCH SOMEONE TOURS AND THEY EITHER BURN OUT QUICK OR BECOME WAY BETTER.

SHE BECAME A WAY BETTER SONGWRITER.

SHE’S SORT OF OFF IN HER OWN CORNER OF MUSIC DOING HER OWN THING I THINK.

IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO BUY AN ALBUM OR TWO ALTHOUGH WHEN I DID WAS LIKE …….

TOOL.

I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS BAND FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. I FIRST HEARD THEM IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN BEN TRINDER IN MY ART CLASS BASED A WORK ON THE FILM CLIP FOR “SOBER”.

I’VE SEEN THEM PLAY ON ALL THEIR TOURS IN AUSTRALIA AND IT’S ALWAYS TOO SHORT. TOOL RUN THEIR OWN RACE AND HAVE A LARGE RABID FAN BASE.

THEIR COVER OF LED ZEPPELIN’S “NO QUARTER” IS INCREDIBLE AS IS A BOOTLEG OF THEM COVERING “DEMON CLEANER” BY KYUSS.

MAYNARD LIKES TO SING IN EQUAL PARTS ABOUT SPIRITUALITY, THE HUMAN CONDITION & ESPECIALLY PERSPECTIVE & POLITICS.

I’D SAY IN 2019 HE’LL BE PRETTY TUNED IN.

*UPDATE: FEAR I IS INSANE GOOD.

REGINA SPEKTOR.

MY MATE JOSH FIRST TOLD ME ABOUT THIS RUSSIAN/AMERICAN MUSICIAN WHO HAD THESE QUIRKY SONGS AND SHE WAS STARTING TO MAKE SOME WAVES OVERSEAS.

I BOUGHT HER LATEST RECORD AT THE TIME AND INSTANTLY SAW THE ATTRACTION.

WE SAW HER PLAY AT THE OPERA HOUSE IN SYDNEY IN 2010 AND IT WAS AMAZING. CROWD IN HER PALM.

SHE PLAYED ONE OF HER SONGS, THINK IT WAS “SAMSON” AND SHE USED A WOODEN CHAIR BESIDE HER AS A PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT.

BARONESS.

THIS BAND IS A COMPLETE STANDOUT IN THE MODERN HEAVY ROCK ERA. THEY’VE PUT OUT 5 RECORDS IN A ROW WHICH ARE SUCH A DIFFERENT TAKE ON METAL. IT’S “LIGHT” (SORT OF) ALTHOUGH IT GROOVES. IT ACTUALLY REMINDS ME OF METALLICA IN THE CLIFF BURTON/MASTER/& JUSTICE ERA. WHEN THEY MADE BACH INSPIRED METAL.

THEY HAVE A DRUMMER WHO HAS A BACKGROUND IN JAZZ AND THEIR NEW GUITARIST GINA GLEASON IS APPARENTLY INCREDIBLE. WHAT COMES AFTER PURPLE ? APPARENTLY IT’S NOT A COLOUR THIS TIME. **IT WAS A COLOUR ))

WE FIRST SAW THEM AT EASTERN CREEK IN 2010 AT SOUNDWAVE ON A RIDICULOUS 42 DEGREE DAY IN SYDNEY. I’D NEVER SEEN A BAND LIVE HAVING NEVER HEARD A SONG AND BEEN SO TAKEN IN BY IT.

WE’VE SEEN THEM A FEW TIMES SINCE AND ALSO AT THE METRO IN 2016. INCREDIBLE.

I REALLY THINK THEY ARE ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BANDS OF ALL TIME.

IF YOU INTERESTED BUY THE BLUE ALBUM, THE RED OR THE PURPLE ALBUMS.

IF YOU DON’T LOVE IT BY THE 3RD SONG IT’S NOT IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE.

CAMILLE.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS THE FRENCH DO WELL: THEY MAKE GREAT FILMS, THEY MAKE BEAUTIFUL CLOTHES, THEY MAKE LOVE WELL. THEY KNOW A FEW THINGS ABOUT ART, THEY HAVE NICE BUILDINGS, CAN COOK AND WHEN THEY SPEAK IT MAKES ME WANT TO LEARN THEIR LANGUAGE.

AND SO NATURALLY WHEN THEY SING IT SOUNDS HALF DECENT.

A GIRL I USE TO KNOW LOVED CAMILLE AND BOUGHT ME A TICKET TO HER SYDNEY FESTIVAL SHOW IN 2009. I WAS LATE FROM WORK THAT NIGHT ALTHOUGH I DOVE INTO THE SYDNEY RECITAL HALL AND CAUGHT THE LAST 45 MINUTES OF HER SOLD OUT SHOW.

THE CROWD WERE ON THEIR FEET AS SHE WORKED THROUGH ABOUT 3 OR 4 SONGS AND INTO AN ENCORE.

PART POP, PART VOICE PERCUSSION, PART BALLAD, PART ROCK, PART URBAN BEAT.

SOME SONGS IN ENGLISH. SOME IN FRENCH. SOME SONGS IN BOTH.

IT’S TIMELESS MUSIC. & SHE GETS YOU IN HER POCKET. QUICK.

SHE PLAYED IN SYDNEY IN JANUARY 2019 (THE ONLY TIME IN 10 YEARS SHE’S BEEN BACK - AND ONLY ONE SHOW) EXCEPT I WASN’T IN SYDNEY. WHAT THE FU%$ IS THAT ABOUT..

DEFTONES.

MY MATE TOM FROM COFFS HARBOUR GOT ME INTO THESE GUYS.

THE FIRST TIME WE EVER SAW THEM WAS AT THIS LITTLE PUB IN SYDNEY IN REDFERN CALLED THE IRON DUKE. THEY PLAYED AN UNDER AGES GIG AT 4PM THEN AN OVER 18’S SHOW LATER THAT SAME NIGHT.

WE WENT TO BOTH SHOWS.

STEPH THE GUITARIST WAS SITTING OUTSIDE ON THE STEP AND WE GOT HIM TO SIGN OUR TICKETS.

I ALSO HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF WALKING AROUND LONDON MY FIRST TWO WEEKS OF LIVING THERE AND LISTENING TO “AROUND THE FUR” BACK TO BACK ON MY DISCMAN. HA.

THEY HAVE PUT OUT HEAPS OF RECORDS OVER THE YEARS AND STILL ARE MAKING REALLY GOOD MUSIC. SUPER GOOD MUSIC.

I LOVED 2012’s “KOI NO YOKAN”

ONE OF MY TOP 10 BANDS OF ALL TIME.

ANGUS & JULIA STONE.

THIS BROTHER AND SISTER GREW UP IN AVALON ON SYDNEYS NORTHERN BEACHES. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE WORLD.

MY CHILDHOOD BEACH WAS THE NEIGHBOURING BILGOLA BEACH. AND I CAN TOTALLY SEE HOW SUCH AN IDYLLIC SETTING COULD HELP CONTRIBUTE TO CREATE SUCH MUSIC.

THESE TWO WRITE CLEVER, MELODY RIDDLED, AMBIGUOUS SOMETIMES DARK POP AND FOLK SONGS THAT NEVER TIRE.

WHEN RICK RUBIN CHASED THEM DOWN TO DO THEIR NEXT RECORD AT THE TIME MOST AUSTRALIAN’S WERE LIKE “WELL YEAH, OF COURSE”

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.

WHAT CAN YOU REALLY SAY ABOUT THIS BAND.

THEY CAME SCREAMING OUT OF LA AND NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD ANYTHING QUITE LIKE IT. IT WAS METAL, PART JAZZ, WITH HIP HOP, AND ROCK ALL FUZED TOGETHER BY 4 INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS.

TOM MORELLO WILL GO DOWN BESIDE JIMI HENDRIX AND HE WAS BACKED UP BY ONE OF THE TIGHTEST RHYTHM SECTIONS EVER.

BRAD WILK COULD PLAY THESE WEIRD OFF BEAT DRUM PARTS, THAT CUT BACK AGAINST THE GUITAR AND BASS.

& TIM COMMERFORD IS A HOSS ON BASS. WITH ZACK UP FRONT THEY WERE A COMPLETE POWERHOUSE.

AND THEY’RE ALWAYS. ALWAYS. RELEVANT.

DOGS.

I LOVE DOGS. I COULD LEAVE IT AT THAT REALLY.

I LOOK AFTER THESE TWO LOONS EVERY NOW & THEN. MAYA ON THE LEFT. HARVEY ON THE RIGHT. HARVEY LITERALLY RUNS ON NUCLEAR ENERGY.

I TOOK THIS PHOTO ON A 41 DEGREE DAY IN SYDNEY IN SUMMER JANUARY 2018. THE CICADA’S WERE SO LOUD THAT DAY IT WAS DEAFENING. I JUST PULLED OUT THE PHONE ON A WHIM AND THEY BOTH STOPPED AND GAVE ME THIS PERFECT SINGLE SHOT.

THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER IS MY FAMS’ DOG “BOWIE” & HE’S A DAG.

A LOVEABLE DAG.

HE JUST WALKS AROUND SMILING AT EVERYONE. HE LIKES TO CHASE POSSUMS ALONG THE BACK FENCE. HE’S GOT A MEAN BARK. NOT ALL SUGAR AND SPICE.

HE DEFINITELY LOVES A FRONT DOOR GREETING TOO.

COG.

IN 2002 THESE BOYS FROM BONDI RELEASED TWO EP’S WHICH GOT PEOPLES ATTENTION IN A BIG WAY. IT WAS PROG ROCK INFUSED WITH LOTS OF MELODY AND THEY STARTED TO GET A REPUTATION FOR AN IMMENSE SOUND LIVE.

IT WAS TOTALLY UNIQUE.

WE USE TO CHASE BANDS AROUND THE PLACE AND ALTHOUGH I MISSED THEIR LEGENDARY MONTH LONG RESIDENCY AT THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL IN SURRY HILLS (YEAH THE PLACE THAT SELLS BURRITO’S USE TO HAVE LIVE MUSIC IN THE BACK ROOM) I DID MANAGE TO CATCH THEM AT THE NORTH BONDI RSL ONE SATURDAY NIGHT WITH A BIG GROUP OF FRIENDS (THEY TOO ALSO USE TO HAVE LIVE MUSIC AT NTH BONDI RSL).

AND THE HYPE WAS REAL.

THEY RECORDED THEIR FIRST ALBUM AND RELEASED IT IN 2005. AND IT’S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE AUSTRALIAN RECORDS OF ALL TIME IF NOT MY FAVOURITE. THEY SEEMED TO BLEND SO MANY ELEMENTS INTO THEIR SOUND AND CREATED SOME EPIC 8+ MINUTE SONGS.

THERE IS ALSO A CAUTIONARY TALE IN WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AFTER THAT & AT A PIVOTAL STAGE IN THEIR CAREER.

IT GOT HIJACKED.

I HEARD SOME DEMO’S OF THEIR 2ND RECORD AND SAW THEM PLAY SOME OF IT LIVE AND TO BE HONEST EVERY ONE OF THOSE SONGS WAS LUDICROUS GOOD.

AN EVOLUTION & IMPROVEMENT ON THEIR FIRST ALBUM - IF THAT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE.

THEY THEN DITCHED ALL OF THOSE SONGS AND WENT TO THE U.S AND WROTE & RECORDED A WHOLE NEW ALBUM WORTH OF MUSIC WITH A WELL REGARDED PRODUCER WHO WAS LEADING THEM ALONG THAT PATH. THEY WERE RECORDING IT FOR LIKE A YEAR OR EVEN 18 MONTHS IN THIS STUDIO IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

IT ALL FELL APART DURING THAT TIME, BEING FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND PARTNERS & ISOLATED IN A SENSE - AND THEY WERE SORT OF TALKED INTO THE IDEA TO A DEGREE.

AND THE BAND ULTIMATELY BROKE UP A FEW YEARS LATER. THE ALBUM THEY ENDED UP RECORDING WAS A BIG STEP DOWN TO THE ORIGINAL SONGS THEY HAD WRITTEN AND PLAYED LIVE FOR A FEW MONTHS HERE IN AUSTRALIA.

IT WAS DEVASTATING TO SEE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF GUYS & MUSICIANS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FALL AWAY FOR THEM. IT WAS HEARTBREAKING. I SERIOUSLY THINK THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN AS BIG AS THE SKY WOULD’VE ALLOWED.

FLORENCE (AND THE MACHINE)

YOU KNOW HOW MUSIC CAN TIE YOU TO A TIME AND PLACE. WELL FOR FLORENCE’S FIRST RECORD RATHER THAN BE ABOUT A SUMMER HOLIDAY ROAD TRIP OR GREAT TIMES LIVING OVERSEAS - ME DISCOVERING HER WAS THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY FIRST REALLY BIG HEARTBREAK.

SONGS OFF HER FIRST RECORD ARE ETCHED INTO MY SUBCONSCIOUS AND I BECAME A FAN AS MUCH AS IT HURT FOR A WHILE TO BE ONE.

SHE’S GOT A VOICE THAT FILLS A ROOM AND DEMANDS ATTENTION. I LOVE HER LYRICAL MUSINGS AND SUBJECT MATTER. & THEN THE MUSIC SHE CHOOSES TO UNDERPIN IT ALL WITH.

SHE’S A TIMELESS, DEEP ARTIST.

AND SHE’S BRITISH. AND WITH ME BEING HALF CONVICT THERE’S SOMETHING REALLY APPEALING ABOUT THAT.

PORTISHEAD.

THEIR FIRST RECORD INVENTED A WHOLE GENRE OF MUSIC ALL BY ITSELF AND YOU WOULD HEAR MUSICIANS ON ALL PARTS OF THE SPECTRUM TALK ABOUT IT IN ADMIRATION.

AFTER RELEASING ANOTHER ALBUM QUICKLY AFTER THE FIRST THEY THEN VANISHED UNTIL 2008’s “THIRD” WHICH WAS AN INCREDIBLE BOOK END PIECE TO THE FIRST 2 ALBUMS.

BETH GIBBONS SINGS WITH SUCH DEPTH & HONESTY YOU CAN FEEL EVERY PHRASE.

GEOFF BARROW MARRIED AN AUSTRALIAN GIRL AND I HEARD IN 2005 HE DID A FEW SOLO SHOWS AT THE LANE COVE HOTEL IN SYDNEY.

HA. THAT WOULD’VE BEEN ALRIGHT.

VINCENT VAN GOGH.

I KNOW IT MAY SEEM LIKE A TOTAL CLICHE TO PICK HIM AS A FAVOURITE ARTIST. ALTHOUGH THERE’S SOMETHING SO ENDURING ABOUT HIM & HIS WORK.

HE’S AN ARTIST IN THE TRUE SENSE OF THE WORD. CRAZY TALENTED, PROLIFIC, CONSIDERED, SOMEWHAT TORTURED, BRUTALLY HONEST & HE COULD PAINT ANYTHING. ANYTHING. IN ANY STYLE.

HE PAINTED FOR HIMSELF AND PAINTED WHAT HE SAW. HE TOLD HIS STORY THROUGH HIS WORK AND PAINTED HIS LIFE EXACTLY HOW IT OCCURRED & WITHOUT PRETENCE.

I SPENT 5 1/4 HOURS IN THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM IN AMSTERDAM. THEY HAD TO SWEEP ME OUT.

NICK CAVE & WARREN ELLIS.

I’D TAKE A COMFORTABLE BET THAT THERE WASN’T A FILM COMPOSER ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD IN 2008/09 WHO DIDN’T REALISE THAT THE BAR HAD BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY RAISED WHEN “THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD” WAS FINALLY RELEASED.

ANDREW DOMINIK’S 2ND FILM WAS A MASTERPIECE ON ALL FRONTS AS WAS THE MUSIC THAT ACCOMPANIED IT. THESE TWO BOYS FROM MELBOURNE CREATED SOMETHING COMPLEX, DARK AND EERILY FAMILIAR IN THE SCORE FOR THIS FILM.

JEREMY RENNER, SAM ROCKWELL, PITTS PERFORMANCE WAS FLAWLESS. & CASEY AFFLECK FOUND SOMETHING SPECIAL AND PUT IT IN EVERY BODY POSTURE HE HELD. SAM SHEPARD. PAUL SCHNEIDER. SO MANY WELL CONSIDERED CHOICES. ROGER DEAKINS SHOT IT.

I WAS A BIT TOO YOUNG TO GET INTO THE DIRTY THREE WHEN THEY WERE AROUND 20/25 YEARS AGO ALTHOUGH I’D ALWAYS HAD AN APPRECIATION FOR NICK CAVE. THEIR SCORES ARE FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUPH & PLUTONIC.

TWO GUYS FROM MELBOURNE PUT OUT THE BEST 3 HIP HOP ALBUMS TO EVERY COME OUT OF AUSTRALIA.

MUPH ON THE LEFT PLAYED DRUMS AND THEY JUST TOLD THESE GREAT STORIES ABOUT LIVING IN THE SUBURBS AROUND MELBOURNE. LOTS OF SOCIAL OBSERVATIONS. FUNNY STUFF. LIKE HANGING OUT WITH YOUR MATES, BEING BORED.

THEY HAVE A GREAT SONG ABOUT WHEN YOU’VE GOTTA GO TO WORK ON YOUR DAY OFF. THEY CAPTURED AUSTRALIA REALLY WELL HOW I KNOW IT.

AND SOME OTHER LYRICS WITH STUFF LIKE:

“WHAT THE COURTS SAY,

AIN’T ALWAYS JUSTICE,

AND WHAT GETS AIRPLAY,

CAN’T ALWAYS BE TRUSTED”.

PJ HARVEY.

WE WERE WAITING FOR A BAND TO COME ON STAGE AT THE 2003 BIG DAY OUT (IT WAS QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE) AND WERE GARNISHING A GOOD SPOT NEAR THE STAGE - WHEN PJ HARVEY WALTZED OUT WITH A GUITAR IN HAND FOR HER SLOT.

THERE WERE PROBABLY 15,000 PEOPLE IN THAT STADIUM. AND SHE JUST STARTED PLAYING ALL BY HERSELF AND IT WAS SO FUCKING GREAT.

YOU COULD HEAR EVERY NOTE. AND EVERY SONG WAS EXCELLENT. PJ DOES GRUNGE STUFF WELL. IT FELT LIKE SHE WAS SINGING IT JUST FOR YOU.

THERE WAS A STORY GOING AROUND THAT HER, JOSH HOMME AND A FEW OF HIS COHORTS WERE GOING TO RECORD THE NEXT DESERT SESSIONS ALBUM OUT AT RANCH DE LA LUNA RIGHT AFTER TOURING AUS. AS IT TURNS OUT THEY DID.

AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST THEY’D DONE.

NINE INCH NAILS.

I STILL REMEMBER MY FRIEND DAN LOVING THE OPENING DRUMBEAT OF “MARCH OF THE PIGS” WHILST DRINKING BEER AND PLAYING PING PONG AT 10 IN THE MORNING ON OUR HOLIDAY IN BYRON.

I WAS THINKING “THIS BAND IS INTENSE. DARK. NOT SURE IT’S MY THING”. MAYBE IT WAS JUST DAN. HE HAD A PINK MOHAWK AT THE TIME.

I TOTALLY DIDN’T GET THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT - WENT STRAIGHT OVER MY HEAD - I DIDN’T GET THE ANGLE. ALTHOUGH WHEN THE FRAGILE CAME OUT I WAS A BIT OLDER AND I GOT WHAT MAKES THIS BAND BEYOND EXCELLENT.

REZNOR’S VOICE SLICES THROUGH ALL THOSE HEAVY PULSING DRUMS, GUITAR & SYNTHS AND YOU CAN JUST HEAR THE CONVICTION IN EVERY WORD. REZNORS VOICE WOULD ACHE. THAT’S WHAT I HEARD ANYWAY.

I’LL NEVER FORGET WHEN THEY OPENED WITH “1,000,000” AT SOUNDWAVE IN SYDNEY IN 2009. I’D NEVER HEARD A DRUM SOUND LIKE THAT AT AN OUTDOOR FESTIVAL. IT SERIOUSLY SOUNDED LIKE 400 ARMY TANKS ROLLING UP THE HILL.

**WATCH THE VIDEO OF THIS PERFORMANCE ABOVE. START AT 2 MINUTES 15 SECONDS. EVEN IF YOU ONLY WATCH 1 MINUTE OF IT. THAT DRUM SOUND.

AND EVERYTHING HE’S DONE WITH ATTICUS ROSS ON THE FILMS THEY’VE SCORED CAME AS NO SURPRISE AT ALL.

MOVEMENT & EXERCISE.

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU DO. TENNIS, SWIMMING, SPIN, YOGA, RUNNING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, TAI CHI OR HIKING. ANYTHING.

MOVING MY BODY AND CHALLENGING MYSELF PHYSICALLY IS ONE OF LIFE’S PLEASURES & LIFE’S ONGOING REWARDS.

AND YOU GET INJURED SOMETIMES. ROLL AN ANKLE, SMASH A KNEE INTO SOMETHING. LIMP AROUND FOR A BIT. NEVER MATTERS THOUGH.

THERE’S A GREAT QUOTE WHICH IS “IF YOU DON’T START MAKING TIME FOR HEALTH, BETTER GET READY TO SET TIME ASIDE FOR DISEASE.

AND ACCOMPANY THAT WITH CLEAN, BALANCED NUTRITION AND IT’S A RECIPE FOR SIMPLE LIVING.

I LOVE THE OCEAN, FUNCTIONAL/CROSSFIT/CALISTHENICS & YOGA IN EQUAL MEASURE. BUSHWALKING & HIKING TOO.

THE BEST MEDICINE IN MY MIND IS:

NUTRITION

MOVEMENT

REST

NATURE

CONNECTION

LUDOVICO EINAUDI.

LOVE A GREAT PIECE OF PIANO. THIS GUY CREATES STRONG, POTENT & BROODING MUSIC THAT PLACES YOU IMMEDIATELY IN IT’S PATHWAY. I FIND HIM FLAWLESS, BRILLIANT.

HIS MUSIC GOES SO WELL UNDERPINNING A ROUGH EDIT.

COMPLETELY BRINGS IT TO LIFE. ALTHOUGH NO-ONE TO DATE HAS THE DOUGH TO LICENCE IT. SOON THOUGH. SOON.

JACK JOHNSON.

I LISTEN TO JACK JOHNSON ALOT. ANYTIME. ANY DAY. IT’S SIMPLE MUSIC. THAT’S HOW IT SLOTS IN.

& HE JUST KEEPS PUTTING RECORDS OUT AND THEY’RE ALWAYS GOOD. IT’S SUNDAY MUSIC.

AND THE MAN IS A TOTAL DUDE. WALKS THE WALK. DOES SO MANY PROJECTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT & THE OCEAN. CAN MAKES FILMS. A TRIPLE THREAT: GUITAR, SURFS, STORYTELLS.

KARNIVOOL.

FROM PERTH. WA. AS GOOD AS THE BEST BANDS I’VE EVER SEEN. THEIR 2ND RECORD SOUND AWAKE PUSHED PROG METAL FAR. THAT ALBUM IS PERFECTION.

IN 2005 I BLAGGED MY WAY INTO THEIR SOLDOUT SHOW AT THE HiFi BAR IN MELBOURNE TO SEE THEM LIVE. SUPER KEEN FOR THEIR NEXT RECORD IN 2020.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THESE BOYS IS YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY IT. STILL.

THEY’RE ALWAYS SUPER HUMBLED BY THE CROWDS THEY PULL AND THE PLACES THEY GET TO TRAVEL.

THE EUROPEANS & AMERICANS GO CRAZY FOR THEM AND THEY CAN FILL SOME BIG VENUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

LANA DEL RAY.

WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE.

I THINK SHE WAS ON THE GATSBY SOUNDTRACK AT LEAST THAT’S WHEN I FIRST CAUGHT ON AND HER MUSIC IS QUITE HARD TO PIN DOWN.

WE WERE SITTING IN A FISH AND CHIP SHOP ONE NIGHT IN BRONTE IN SYDNEY AND THERE WAS THIS 10 OR 12 PAGE ARTICLE IN VOGUE ABOUT HER. SO I JUST READ THE WHOLE THING.

AND WAS LIKE WOW. OK.

DEFINITELY MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE GOING ON THERE.

JED KURZEL.

HIS BROTHER MADE A FILM IN 2011 WITH A FEW OF THE BEST COLLABORATORS YOU’LL FIND IN A DP, DIRECTOR AND ONE OF THE BEST FILM EDITORS AROUND.

THEY CAPTURED & DISTILLED A FILM ABOUT A SERIES OF BRUTAL CRIMES THAT HAPPENED IN THE 1990’s IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA & JEDS SCORE MADE THE WHOLE THING INCREDIBLY POTENT.

HIS SCORE FOR THAT AND ALSO FOR MACBETH ARE ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS.

GREAT FILM SCORES STAY WITH YOU WELL AFTER THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. HIS DO THAT IN SPADES.

GOSSIP.

I FIRST HEARD 09’s “MUSIC FOR MEN” AND THAT’S A FLAWLESS RECORD FROM START TO FINISH. A GIRL I KNEW REALLY LOVED THEM AND I TOTALLY SAW WHY. THEIR NEXT RECORD A JOYFUL NOISE WHICH I’M PRETTY SURE RICK RUBIN PRODUCED WAS AWESOME. THEY PICKED UP JUST WHERE THEY LEFT OFF.

IT’S SUPER CATCHY SING ALONG MUSIC. KIND OF GIRL ANTHEMIC OR SOMETHING.

THEY’VE NOT DONE ANYTHING SINCE AND PERHAPS THEY’VE RETIRED. ACOUSTIC RECORD PLEASE ?

I SAW THEM PLAY AT THE PARADISO IN AMSTERDAM IN 2019 AND THEY WERE INCREDIBLE. LIKE. INCREDIBLE.

THE DOORS.

WHEN I FIRST SAW OLIVER STONES FILM ABOUT THESE GUYS THAT’S WHEN I FIRST DISCOVERED THE DOORS.

THEIR MUSIC IS JUST SO TIMELESS. AND I ALWAYS COME BACK TO IT.

I THEN FIND MYSELF ALMOST RE-DISCOVERING THEM EVERY TIME AND GO “AHH YEAH, THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS AGAIN”.

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT MORRISONS LYRICS ARE NECESSARILY ABOUT ALTHOUGH HE WAS ON SOME HIGH PLAIN WHICH ALWAYS CARRIES A MESSAGE.

THE PRESETS.

THESE GUYS.

THEY GOT A LITTLE PANNED & TRASHED FOR THEIR 2ND RECORD ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT “PACIFICA” WAS INCREDIBLE. AMAZING EVEN.

SUCH A CLEVER DEPARTURE FROM WHAT EVERYONE WAS PROBABLY EXPECTING

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THEM STILL JUST BUY THEIR LAST RECORD “HIGH VIZ” AND EAT THOSE WORDS ON A BIG OLD SANDWICH. IT’S A CLASSIC. IT’S ONE OF THE BEST RECORDS I’VE EVER HEARD ON A FIRST LISTEN.

IT’S CRACKING, DENSE DANCE MUSIC WALL TO WALL. SUPER CLEVER LYRICAL FLOURISHES AND THEIR INSANE MUSICIANSHIP ALL OVER IT.

IN MY MIND THESE GUYS ARE A NEW HIGH WATER MARK IN DANCE MUSIC. I INCLUDE THE REST OF THE WORLD IN THAT TOO.

THIS ALBUM FINISHES WITH 2 OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE HEAVY BEAT (BROODING) DANCE TRACKS YOU’VE NEVER EVER HEARD.

COMPLETE GENIUS.

BANKSY.

A GOOD FRIEND & ALSO A MUCHLY TALENTED EDITOR / JOE MORRIS GOT ME INTO HIM ABOUT A DECADE AGO. I’D HEARD ABOUT HIM THROUGH MY G/F ANJA AT THE TIME ALTHOUGH ONLY IN BITS & BITES.

JOE GOT A BUNCH OF US TICKETS TO GO TO THE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE OF “EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP” AT THE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL.

BANKSY’S ART IS JUST SO SPOT ON EVERY TIME. AND HIS ABILITY TO OUTPUT SUCH CONSISTENT QUALITY AND ALSO STAY RELEVANT IS BRILLIANT.

AND YEAH I’M TOTALLY CONVINCED ROBERT DEL NAJA FROM MASSIVE ATTACK IS SOMEHOW INVOLVED FOR SURE. ALTHOUGH WHO CARES IT DOESN’T MATTER.

BANKSY’S ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD. WHAT HE JUST DID IN PARIS IN 2018. THE MURAL (ABOVE - OF THE OLD LADY HOLDING A FLOWER) ON THE FIRE DOOR AT THE REAR OF THE BATACLAN.

SO POWERFUL. & DAMN. HE DOES IT AGAIN.

MASTODON.

MORE PROGRESSIVE METAL. DONE RIGHT. TOTALLY UNIQUE. GAME OVER.

THESE GUYS ARE BRILLIANT. AND FUNNY. THE GUITARIST BRENT IS AN AMUSING MAN SO IS THE DRUMMER BRANN. COOL NAMES TOO.

THEY SEEM TO PUT OUT A NEW RECORD EVERY 10 MINUTES. WHICH IS ALWAYS THE WAY TO DO IT. DON’T OVERTHINK - JUST ITERATE.

THEY’RE IN THE TOP 2 OR 3 HEAVY BANDS GOING AROUND AT THE MOMENT.

START WITH CRACK THE SKY OR BLOOD MOUNTAIN

JOSE GONZALEZ.

HIS SUBJECT MATTER AND VOICE IS UNFORGETTABLE. AND HE CAN CREATE THIS UNDERCURRENT WITH HIS NYLON STRINGED ACOUSTIC THAT STAYS WITH YOU LONG AFTER EVERY LISTEN.

HE MAKES YOU WAIT A WHILE FOR A NEW ALBUM & DOESN’T DRIFT TOO FAR FROM THE GARDEN PATH.

I THINK ULTIMATELY THAT’S THE BALANCE AS AN ARTIST OR MUSICIAN IS TO STILL SOUND LIKE YOU AND ALSO EVOLVE.

THE HERD.

THIS GROUP ARE FROM SYDNEY. AN ENSEMBLE OF VARIOUS MC’S, SINGERS AND MUSICIANS.

THEY SPENT TIME LIVING AND HANGING OUT IN THE SUBURBS WHERE WE DID GROWING UP. THEY BROKE SOME BIG SONGS ON JJJ IN THE 00’S AND EVERYONE KNEW THEIR MUSIC.

VERY AUSTRALIAN AND JUST VERY REAL ABOUT THE WORLD WE CAN SOMETIMES ALL FIND OURSELVES LIVING IN.

SO MUCH TALENT IT WAS OFFENSIVE. ALL THEIR OFFSHOOT WORK INDEPENDENTLY WAS ALSO EXCEPTIONAL.

QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE.

I FEEL LIKE JOSH HOMME IS PART OF MY FAMILY AS I’VE WATCHED HIM GROW. WE FIRST SAW HIM PLAY WHEN HE WAS 21 AND WE WERE ALL 15.

I THINK I’VE SEEN QUEENS PLAY 7 OR 8 TIMES.

HERE’S A LIST. AS MUCH FOR MY TEST OF MEMORY AND NOSTALGIA MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. SEEN THEM LIVE IN:

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2011

2014

2016

WE WERE ALL KYUSS FANS. IF YOU’VE NEVER HEARD KYUSS. STOP LISTENING TO ME BULLSHIT ON & IMMEDIATELY GO AND BUY ANY OF THEIR LAST 3 ALBUMS, AND THEN GO ON A SUMMER ROAD TRIP NORTH AND LISTEN WITHOUT DISTRACTION & PLAY LOUD.

LIKE BLACK SABBATH LOUD.

JOHN BUTLER TRIO.

THIS GUY TOTALLY WEARS HIS HEART ON HIS SLEEVE. AND WRITES & PLAYS BLUESY/ROCK INSPIRED ROOTS AND HE KNOWS A MELODY PHRASING.

THEY TOUCH ON LOTS OF SUBJECTS WHICH INTEREST ME AND HE ALWAYS PLAYS WITH INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS BEHIND HIM - SWITCHING IT UP EVERY 6 OR 7 YEARS WITH NEW BAND MATES TO GET NEW BLOOD & REFRESH INSPIRATION.

IN EUROPE THEY ARE MASSIVE. MASSIVE. IN FRANCE THEY ARE BASICALLY ROYALTY AND THE SAME IN THE U.S. THEY PULL HUGE ROCKING CROWDS AT FESTIVALS OVER THERE.

LOOK UP THEIR COVER OF “S.O.S” BY THE POLICE ON FRENCH RADIO. IT’S ON YOUTUBE. IT’S RIDICULOUS. HAS 2+ MILLION VIEWS OR SOMETHING THAT’S HOW TO FIND IT.

THE BEASTIE BOYS.

THESE 3 GUYS FROM NEW YORK DID IT ALL. THEY WERE STREETS AHEAD OF EVERYONE IN TERMS OF MIXING THINGS TOGETHER AND THEY COULD PICK UP INSTRUMENTS AND PLAY SOME OF THE GREATEST LITTLE JAZZ COMPOSITIONS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD.

I SEE 98% OF HIP HOP TODAY AND IT’S THE MOST BORING MEANINGLESS (PARDON MY FRENCH) COMPLETE FUCKING BULLSHIT.

THESE 3 DUDES WERE THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF ALL THAT. THEY’LL BE INFLUENCING KIDS 50 YEARS FROM NOW.

I GET SAD THAT I NEVER SAW THEM PLAY LIVE (NEVER SAW YAUCH). I HAD THE CHANCE IN 2004 AT THE BIG DAY OUT ALTHOUGH WAS SKINT OR SOMETHING BORING LIKE THAT.

URTHBOY.

AUSTRALIAN HIP HOP / DONE RIGHT. LYRICS ARE ALWAYS ON POINT. NUANCED. POLITICAL. HONEST. ABOUT REAL LIFE. HARMONY’S EVERYWHERE.

GREAT BEATS BEHIND IT ALL.

LOVE WATCHING HIM LIVE. ITS IN HIS BONES. YOU CAN TELL.

HE DID THIS GREAT SONG WITH THE GUYS FROM MUPH & PLUTONIC FROM MELBOURNE CALLED “GOIN ON TOUR”. IT’S SO GREAT.

LONDON GRAMMAR.

THEIR FIRST RECORD WAS INCREDIBLE. HANNAH’S VOICE. AND HER LYRICS FEEL THEY’RE A GOOD 20 YEARS AHEAD OF HER TENDER AGE WHEN THAT ALBUM WAS RELEASED.

EITHER THAT OR A SUPER INTERESTING WOMEN SHE ALREADY WAS / IT WAS JUST SO FELT / AND CLEARLY FROM THINGS SHE’D SEEN & THINGS SHE’D LIVED.

THEY’RE SECOND ALBUM WAS A JAW DROPPING EVOLVED CONTINUATION FROM THAT / WITH MANY, MANY GREAT TRACKS. SHE TENDS TO SKATE THE AMBIGUITY IN HER LYRICS TO MAKE YOU PAY ATTENTION.

THEN IT’S ALL UNDERPINNED BY THE TIMELESS, EFFORTLESS MUSIC FROM THE TWO BOYS STANDING BESIDE HER.

I HOPE THESE THREE KEEP MAKING MUSIC FOR A LONG TIME.

AUDIOSLAVE.

I LITERALLY COULDN’T BELIEVE WHEN THESE GUYS GOT TOGETHER. PROBABLY MY FAVOURITE RHYTHM SECTION OF ALL TIME.

I WAS NEVER A HUGE SOUNDGARDEN FAN (I LOVED A HANDFUL OF SONGS/OWNED A FEW ALBUMS) SO MAYBE I WAS A FAN OF SORTS.

ALTHOUGH I KNEW THIS WOULD BE SPECIAL.

AND IT REALLY WAS.

I ALWAYS FIND TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS BAND. ALWAYS.

THE PRODIGY.

THE GUYS WERE ONLY JUST STARTING WHEN BREATHE CAME OUT.

I HAVE ALL THEIR ALBUMS AND THEY’VE BEEN PUTTING OUT GREAT RECORD AFTER GREAT RECORD.

I BOUGHT THEIR NEW ALBUM “NO TOURISTS” AND ITS PHENOMENAL. LIKE PHENOMENAL. AND ITS 2019.

***AND KEITH FLINT JUST PASSED THIS YEAR. AND I’M SAD ABOUT THAT. THAT SUX. WHAT A WASTE. TOO MANY GOOD MEN ARE DYING.

THIS PHOTO OF THEM WAS TAKEN UNDERNEATH THE HARBOUR BRIDGE IN SYDNEY IN LATE JANUARY 2019. I POSTED THIS 5 WEEKS BEFORE HE DIED. (

MOGWAI.

FROM SCOTLAND.

PROG METAL. LONG SONGS. LOTS OF INSTRUMENTALS.

THEY SEEM TO PUT OUT A NEW ALBUM EVERY TWO YEARS.

IT’S ALWAYS ALWAYS INCREDIBLE. AND CAN BE VERY DIFFERENT. SWITCHING BETWEEN HEAVY TO REALLY MELODIC AND SPARSE.

I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THEM.

THE LIVING END.

THESE BOYS ARE FROM MELBOURNE. WHEN THEY STARTED OUT IT WAS THIS SKA, PUNK, ROCKABILLY THING WHICH NEVER REALLY WAS MY THING ALTHOUGH BY DEFAULT WE ALL STILL KNEW PLENTY OF THEIR SONGS.

THEN IN 2008 THEIR SOUND CHANGED TO MORE A STRAIGHT AHEAD ROCK THING AND IT WAS EXCELLENT.

I THINK THEY CAME BACK AS A MODERN DAY VERSION OF AC/DC. WHICH SEEMS FAIR AS AC/DC ARE AUSTRALIAN AFTER ALL.

THEY THEN PUT OUT THREE RECORDS OVER ABOUT 8 YEARS WHICH WERE BRILLIANT. ANTHEM-IC / BALLAD-Y. THIS MAY SOUND CLICHE ALTHOUGH IT JUST SOUNDED SO MUCH “LIKE MELBOURNE”. IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

CHRIS CHENEY (THE SINGER IN THE MIDDLE) AND ALSO THE GUITARIST IS WIDELY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST ROCK GUITARISTS TO EVER COME OUT OF AUSTRALIA AND I’D CONCUR. I’VE SEEN THEM LIVE A FEW TIMES AND HE’S INSANE. (HE PLAYS LEAD AND RHYTHM ALMOST AT THE SAME TIME) I’M NOT SURE HOW HE MANAGES IT.

SAW THEM AT THE MELKWEG IN AMSTERDAM IN 2017 AND THEY WERE PHENOMENAL.

CROWD IN THEIR HAND.

ENTOMBED.

FROM STOCKHOLM.

TWIN GUITARS / BOTH ALEX & UFFE COULD PLAY LEAD / THEY WOULD TAG TEAM IT / A VOCALIST WHO SOUNDED LIKE HE TRUDGED OUT OF THE SWAMPLAND / A DRUMMER WHO HAD THIS LOW HUGE SOUND / AND A BASS PLAYER WHO SOUNDED LIKE A V8 MUSCLE CAR.

I THINK THE BEST WAY TO GET A SENSE OF THIS BAND IS WITH THIS REVIEW OF THE ALBUM “UPRISING” (I LIKED IT SO MUCH I CUT IT OUT)

THEIR PREVIOUS ALBUM WAS A LITTLE PANNED AS IT WAS ALLEGED THEY WATERED DOWN THEIR SOUND. I DISAGREE WITH THAT POSITION THOUGH. THEY JUST TRIED A FEW DIFFERENT IDEAS.

SO ON THEIR NEXT ALBUM THEY PICKED UP TOOLS AND RECORDED IT IN 11 DAYS APPARENTLY.

AND RELEASED THE BEST “RETURN TO FORM” ALBUM I’VE EVER HEARD.

HERE IS THAT REVIEW:

KYUSS.

SOMETIME IN THE LATE 1980’S AND EARLY 1990’S IN PALM SPRINGS OUTSIDE LA / YOUNG KIDS STARTED HAVING GENERATOR PARTY’S OUT IN THE DESERT WHERE THEY SKATED, HUNG OUT, GOT DRUNK, KISSED GIRLS, OPENED THEIR MINDS AND PLAYED LIVE MUSIC.

APPARENTLY KYUSS DEVELOPED THEIR SOUND FROM A MYRIAD OF INFLUENCES ALTHOUGH ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EXPLANATIONS IS THAT THEIR SOUND MATCHED THE VASTNESS OF THE SPACE AROUND THEM IN WHICH THEY PLAYED.

**THEIR GUITARIST IS JOSH HOMME FROM QUEEN OF THE STONEAGE FAME. 

WE SAW THEM WHEN WE WERE 15. THESE PHOTO’S WERE FROM THAT SHOW.

THEY SUPPORTED METALLICA IN SYDNEY AND THE REVIEW GAVE THEM 5/5 WHILST ‘TALLICA GOT A 4/5.

IF YOU’VE EVER SURFED, SKATED, LOVED NATURE, ABSEILED, ANYTHING WHERE YOU’VE MARVELLED AT THE UNIVERSE AND ITS POWER THEN KYUSS IS FOR YOU. THEIR MUSIC IS FROM THE EARTH BENEATH YOU.

JOSH HOMME, NICK OLIVERI, JOHN GARCIA, BRANT BJORK, SCOTT REEDER & ALFREDO HERNANDEZ STUMBLED ACROSS SONGS WHICH NEVER GET OLD.

JOSH HOMME TUNED DOWN BIG TIME AND PLAYED HIS GUITAR THROUGH A BASS AMP. NICK O & SCOTT REEDERS BASS HAD THIS CHUGGING BLUES SOUND THAT ROLLED AND ROLLED AND ROLLED.

AS DID THE DRUMS.

IF I COULD RECOMMEND A SONG TO DIVE IN ON THEN THERE’S HEAPS.

ALTHOUGH “SPACESHIP LANDING” IS A PRETTY GREAT PLACE TO START.

FROM THE REVIEW BELOW: 

“IT’S THE FACT THAT THIS BAND PLAY SOME OF THE PHATTEST, DUMBEST, GROOVIEST, HEAVY METAL THAT YOU HAVEN’T HEARD FOR A LONG TIME. IT’S THE STUFF THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN IN FORTY FOOT BOUNDS, RACING A STEAM ENGINE AND WINNING - IT’S HUGE, IT’S INSPIRING AND IT’S PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO COME BACK INTO FASHION”,

SEPULTURA.

THESE GUYS AT ONE STAGE WERE THE BIGGEST HEAVY BAND IN THE WORLD.

THERE’S DEFINITELY A LESSON IN WHAT HAPPENED WITH THEM TOO.

THEY BROUGHT OUT 4 RECORDS THAT WERE A NEW HIGH WATER MARK IN THE GENRE:

ARISE.

CHAOS AD.

ROOTS.

AGAINST.

EVEN THOUGH “AGAINST” WAS WITHOUT MAX CAVALERA IT WAS SUPER GOOD.

THE FEW SONGS THEY RECORDED WITH THE JAPANESE KODO DRUMMERS WERE BRILLIANT, AS WERE THE SONGS WITH MIKE PATTON & JASON NEWSTED.

AND OF COURSE “ROOTS” WAS SONICALLY LIKE NO OTHER RECORD EVER MADE.

TRY “AMBUSH”, “CUT-THROAT” OR “ENDANGERED SPECIES” FOR EXAMPLES OF THAT. THE WHOLE RECORD IS PHENOMENAL.