Smile Lines – Slowly Slowly

I’m so sorry little bloggo. I have little time for recreational writing these days so you will be neglected a lot now.

Slowly Slowly released St. Leonards in May and I fell hard. This song stood out in particular because it challenged what I had come to love about this band and everything they’ve done so far. The quiet and very lyric laden verses contrasted so beautifully with the punchy chorus and invited many sing-alongs at the live shows I’ve attended since the album release. The boys have released the clip and announced a single tour for the release of Smile Lines and tickets are selling fast.

Check it out below and get a ticky while you can. See you at both Vic shows 💖

Slowly Slowly – St. Leonards

Hot off last year’s hit Aliens, Slowly Slowly have come back strong with their new banging single ‘Alchemy’. Ben Stewart’s unique ability to write lyrics that simultaneously move you and force you to self-reflect continue to awe me and I’m excited that they are experimenting with different paces while remaining true to their core sound and values. Check out the clip for their new single filmed in the good ol’ 3072 and get ready to fall in love with Slowly Slowly all over again ❤

Today was a huge day for in the SS team, with the announcement of their signing with Unified, release date for their sophomore album St Leonards and a national tour in support of the release during May/June ’18. All the info for pre-orders and ticket links can be found below. Support these amazing humans and I’ll see you at The Corner Hotel 😀

Captives – Over the Rainbow

I’m very excited for a new year of music and hopefully won’t neglect this thing too much. First off the bat are my favourite bunch of Tasmanian/Melbourne punks Captives who are releasing their album ‘Over the Rainbow’ very very soon. To celebrate, the boys are embarking on a mini tour with mates Born Lion in late Feb/early March. It’s been awhile since they’ve played a show and I honestly can’t wait to see them up onstage again 🐙

Click through to pre-order the album and I’ll see you at the water jug 💖

Just another end of year list

Music in 2017 was beyond great. Thanks for getting me through one of the toughest years I’ve had yet. Again, I’m terrible at listening to a wide variety of music, I tend to listen to things on repeat A LOT, but these are the ones that I enjoyed most and a few reasons why.

Albums

Gang of Youths – Go Farther in Lightness

This whole album though 💖

• Bangers: Fear and Trembling, Let Me Down Easy, Atlas Drowned, The Heart is a Muscle, What Can I Do if the Fire Goes Out?, Say Yes to Life
• Feels: The Deepest Sighs, The Frankest Shadows, Go Farther in Lightness, Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane, Keep Me in the Open
• Fave things: “I wanna be loved, I wanna be whole again<<<<<<<
  y hair behind my ears and touch my soul again<<<<<<<
  ow is wide, the post unfulfilled<<<<<<<
  t ask you to be patient if you’ll have me still”

Jim Lawrie – Slacker of the Year

• Bangers: Lost on Earth, New Frontier, Feels Like it Happened in a Dream
• Feels: Still Miss You, Does Your City Sleep Like Mine, Ties That Bind
• Fave things: The ‘Slacker of the Year’ award ribbon that came with the record 🤣

Paramore – After Laughter

• Bangers: Hard Times, Rose Colored Boy, Caught in the Middle, Told You So
• Feels: Tell Me How, Fake Happy, Forgiveness, 26
• Fave things: The fact that Paramore didn’t give a fuck about changing their sound up and making an album they wanted to make. Sounds simple enough, but doesn’t always happen.

The Smith Street Band – More Scared of You than You are of Me

• Bangers: Death to the Lads, Birthdays
• Feels: Passiona, It Kills Me to Have to be Alive
• Fave things: Unlike the rest of TSSB albums but still very much like them. Also helped me through a painful period of this year and I’m super grateful for that.

Lincoln le Fevre & The Insiders – Come Undone

• Bangers: Useless Shit, Constellations, Undone, Alone at the Back,
• Feels: Newcastle, Gaslight City
• Fave things: The way that Linc sings the word bar in the line “We make constellations, Canis Major by the makeshift bar” brings me so much joy and I really couldn’t tell you why. Also if you get a chance to catch him sing Undone acoustically, definitely do it.

Rounding out the rest of the top 10

• Brief Habits – Self-Titled
• Ecca Vandal – Self- Titled
• Jess Locke – Universe
• The Teskey Brothers – Half Mile Harvest
• Alex Lahey – I Love You Like a Brother

EPs

• Self-Talk – Almost Everything
• Rad Island – Power Couple
• Robert Muinos – EP3
• Speech Patterns – Crosswater
• Jo Neugebauer _ Inevitable
• Next Man Dead – Daylight
• Rachel Maria Cox – Untidy Lines

Singles

• Slowly Slowly – Aliens
• Have/Hold – The Bells
• Have/Hold – Stoic
• Slowly Slowly – Ivy on the Fence  Line
• Slowly Slowly – Dinosaurs (Live from Preston)
• Gyroscope – Crooked Thought/DABS
• Tim Smyth and HolyTrash – Calefornia
• Halcyon Drive – The Birds
• Jeffers Limit – Spots

The Bells – Have/Hold

I didn’t write about this song on here when it was released a few months ago but I no doubt wrote something on the old facey and I remember telling Luke off for once again making me cry through the sheer power of his voice and lyrical content.

2017 has been a tough one in many ways for this beautiful band but they continue to be a very personal source of comfort for me musically, socially and emotionally and for that I count myself extremely lucky. This song was written during the grieving period of the loss of a significant family member and it is clear just how much he meant to frontman Luke Shields. The one word that comes to mind in trying to describe this song is epic. From the gentle piano to the crashing drums to the piercing falsetto of Luke Shields, this song is a testament to the risks Have/Hold are willing to take for their next record and I honestly cannot bloody wait. Lock yourself in a quiet space, chuck this on and get ready for an heart-wrenching ride.

This was only the second time I’d ever seen this played live and I’m stoked I captured it because I’ve watched it about 50 times over the past few days and each time I’m reminded of just how much I fucking love it. I’m forever in awe of Luke’s way with words and I thank him for opening up a wider literary world for me.

Swings and Roundabouts – Jo Neugebauer

Sometimes life brings you little joys in the most random ways and this little gem is one of them. Jo’s acoustic folk punk borne out of heartbreakingly honest personal experiences was something I wasn’t entirely ready for but equally delighted by. Here is a little snippet from their new EP ‘Inevitable’ which will be released on November 26th through Sad Grrrls Club with a lovely Sunday arvo launch at The Reverence Hotel.

Happy Release Day

To these two massive legends! So happy that these two records are out for everyone to hear.

Ecca Vandal really can’t be boxed into any genre and that’s one of the best things about her. She is a massive force and this album captures the raw and punchy punk and hip hop vibes that she has become known for. Chuck it a listen and head to the launch on November 25th at The Corner Hotel. Might see you there (I may have a prior engagement so can’t be definite yet, sorry legends).

The one word that came to mind when I heard Universe is delightful. Pure pop from this Melbourne based songwriter with some underlying dark lyrical content. Get the kettle on and sit back for 40 mins to chill. Can’t wait for the launch with recent favourite Jim Lawrie 💖 

Gyroscope

What a bloody good morning! New music from one of my absolute favourite Aussie bands in seven years and they’re so fucking good! I’ve always loved Gyroscope’s heavier sound and I’m so happy about these two songs and excited for what’s to come 💖😁

And a national tour to support too 🤗 

Gang of Youths – Go Farther in Lightness

If you haven’t spun this record yet, then please fucking do. Dave Leaupepe has such a beautiful way with words and I just cannot get over how much I love this album. This is coming from someone who has a pretty shit attention span for songs longer than 4 mins, but I’ve been captivated by so many songs on here including the slow burning opener ‘Fear and Trembling’. the ever delightful ‘Let Me Down Easy’ and heart tugging title tidbit ‘Go Farther in Lightness’. Anyway enough gushing, go forth and listen sweet bebes x

Have you got a moment to talk about…

The brilliance of one Jim Lawrie?

I know I’ve seen Jim perform a couple of times but I never fully investigated and I have much regret about that. Jim has a uniquely beautiful voice and a backlog of songs that satisfy my love of great melodies, emotive lyrics and storytelling. His most recent release is Slacker of the Year and includes my first favourite ‘Ties That Bind’ and a whole host of absolute bangers. Honestly though, I’ve now listened to everything available on Spotify and I’m a bit in love, so if you’re looking for something new to listen to this is my recommendation. The ‘Slacker of the Year’ blue award ribbon that came with the record is also one of the best things ever.