Violetine
Small Speaker Joyland
»
Violetine
Small Speaker Joyland
Mushroom, 1998
RiYL: Older, less energetic Pearl Jam tracks, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Australian Pub Rock |
After a host of semi-successful EPs and a series of notable support slots (including one for Everclear in 1998), everyone -- including the major Australian alternative station Triple J and the group's devoted pub-circuit fans -- knew that this album was in the pipes. And, while the effort is far from perfect, the promise displayed is exciting nonetheless.
The group has a lot to thank Triple J for. Long-time talent scout Richard Kingsmill ensured numerous appearances on his widely heard Oz Music Show. The band's "Live At The Wireless" set was great programming for the J's and unbeatable publicity for the group. The band's appearance on Triple J's TV effort, "Recovery," put them in the picture for those without the age or stamina to get around the Melbourne pub-rock circuit. And, in a final master stroke, SSJ's selection as Album of the Week guaranteed heady sales.
The music itself is quite different from anything else, at least in the Australian scene. Sean Miljoen's raspy vocals contribute a valuable feel for the mainstream that has so obviously influenced tracks like "Any Day" and "Buzz" -- air guitars aplenty, this is the new wave of Oz rock at its best. In contrast, Glenn Lewis' less conventional and distinctive voice compliments hugely the angsty Pearl Jam-esque bass of "Fuzzanova" and the almost-industrial "Burning Sun."
The surprise tracks on the album have to be "That's The Shit" and "Dr. Vonk." The former is a decidely funky effort, while the latter, a refreshingly melodic instrumental, builds up with a Red Hot Chili Peppers-on-a-good-day swing and still manages to pull off a satisfyingly loud exit. If variety is this group's lifeblood then the aforementioned make quite an impression on the listener.
For this reviewer's money, however, the stand-out track is easily "Red," a surprisingly genuine and wholly unindulgent soundtrack to break-up: "cut me like a razor in my hand," cries Miljoen, and the dumped thousands know exactly what he's singing about.
On first spin, SSJ seems to suffer a little from "this track sounds like the last one" syndrome. The kick of distortion becomes a little too predictable, making the album somewhat diluted. But beyond the surface, every track has its own gem in the form of a solid guitar hook or catchy chorus. Perhaps the track list could have been cut down a little in the interests of a slicker presentation, but the album is far from ruined.
Small Speaker Joyland is, like the vast majority of first-timers, no masterpiece. It does, however, mark the arrival of a talented and ambitious trio into the bigtime of the Australian alternative scene. If SSJ is what Parables For Wooden Ears was for Powderfinger, then Triple J listeners have a lot to be excited about. Oh, yeah -- and the guys kick live.
JAMES GORMAN |