STACK Jun #128

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098 JUNE 2015 JB Hi-Fi
King Parrot
Dead Set
King Parrot are the band of the
moment. No group has worked as
tirelessly as this Melbourne five-
piece and their attitude has paid
off with numerous international/
national tours and encouragement
from some major names. Dead
Set finds the band working
with ex-Pantera/current Down
frontman Philip Anselmo and his
experience adds some subtle
guidance. Beyond this, Dead Set
is unrelenting in its approach and
is certain to satisfy thee band's
rabid fanbase. King Parrot have
mastered the live arena, and with
Dead Set they prove that they
can back it up in the songwriting
department.
(Rocket) Simon Lukic
Tim Rogers and the Bamboos
The Rules of Attraction
It's hard to believe, what with Tim Rogers' esteemed profile and voluminous baggage
these last 25 years, that a guest appearance on a Melbourne soul band's album
would turn out to be the most successful four minutes of his life. He recalled (a tad
ruefully) in 2012 that The Bamboos' I Got Burned took 20 minutes to record; he
didn't even write the lyrics. Three year later, The Rules of Attraction redresses
that little niggle – here the You Am I guy writes words to guitarist Lance Ferguson's
full-blooded demos – while extending the slick-heeled soul outfit's smoky funk in
several directions.The cocksure fanfare of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. – spelled out Respect
style – turns out to be a classic Rogers tightrope-walk between bravado and self-
effacement. It's pegged on a soulful piano and Stonesy horn hook, with Ferguson's
late-arriving wah-wah guitar solo reminding us there's more than one star in the
building. Easy and the title track, with its falsetto echo of Burned, also seem to
comment on the situation as it's unfolding: two parties pooling resources to gamble
on something better. You can extrapolate an ironic twist to Better Off Alone, too,
as a protagonist named Timothy muses on the value of going solo with the
tambourine-shaking backbeat of a full church revival at his back. All told, the division
of labour is both seamless and mutually advantageous. It's hard to imagine Rogers
writing a groove as pilled-up and panting as Devil I Know, but it's equally hard to hear
any singer doing it this kind of justice, from unrepentant lyrics about temptation to the
way he slides into the chorus like he's burning rubber down a divorcee's driveway.
Best of all is the steamy Saturday night fever of Did I Wake You: from swirling strings
to Kylie Auldist's muted handling of Rogers' mortifying romantic scenario, it's the
sum of some mighty seasoned parts. (Warner) Michael Dwyer
Rolo Tomassi
Grievances
This wee British five-piece have
been nothing if not unwaveringly
ambitious over a decade-long
career. Frontwoman Eva Spence
is always awe-inspiring in her
range, as she swings haphazardly
from an angelic hum to harnessing
the roar of demon spawn. Sporadic
time signatures make Grievances
an uncomfortable listen, but Rolo
have never aspired to appease their
audience; in fact, tracks like The
Embers are actually some of their
most linear and accessible to date.
A fantastic addition to the band’s
already stellar catalogue.
(Shock)
Emily Kelly
Cosmic Psychos
Cum the Raw Prawn
Is there another band who typify
a lost ethos of working class Oz punk-
truth with unashamed honesty and
credentials to make all the rest weak
at the knees? No. These f***ers
are not afraid of anything or anyone.
With music to inspire stealing a
cop car and lyrics to offend fixed-
wheel hipsters to the point of
self-immolation, the Psychos are as
cheeky, angry and depraved as ever.
These 10 tracks will never get airplay,
mostly owing to the ‘c’ word (and
worse) being screamed in every other
chorus of this frightening example of
a band that STILL delivers rock harder
than you ever will. Play it as you mow
the lawn, beer in hand, sans pants.
(Desperate/Rocket)
Chris Murray
Colleen Hewett
Black and White
This lady sure can sing the
blues. Colleen Hewett was
Queen of Pop in the ’70s;
now she digs a little deeper,
opening with a cover of Blues
Is My Business. “If trouble
were money,” she declares,
“I’d have more money than
anyone should.” There are some
stellar guests, including Gil
Matthews on drums, Broderick
Smith on harmonica, Lindsay
Field and Joe Creighton on
backing vocals, and Hewett’s
son, William, on guitar. But
Hewett is the star of this show.
A lifetime of living has gone
into this album and you believe
every word; she’s made the best
album of her career.
(Bilarm Music) Jeff Jenkins
Shelley Segal
Strange Feeling
Sometimes less is more. After
three albums, Shelley Segal’s
latest release features just five
songs, but it has more emotional
depth than just about any
album you’ll hear this year. This
Melbourne artist reminds of Tori
Amos, Kate Miller-Heidke and Ani
DiFranco – yep, she’s not afraid
to say something. Check out the
stunning Sidelined, which deals
with body image and relationships.
“You want a skinny lover,” Segal
sings, “and so I find I have the
wrong body.” And when she
sings, “I took your soundtrack off
my shelf, I’m making room for
somebody else", you can’t help
but cry.
(True Music) Jeff Jenkins
Ben Lee
Love is the Great Rebellion
The opening track of Ben Lee’s
10th album is called Giving Up
On Miracles, but the LA-based
Sydney-born singer-songwriter
remains relentlessly optimistic,
though he concedes he doesn’t
have all the answers: “I don’t
know how to get there,” he
admits. This doesn’t match
his masterpiece, Awake Is the
New Sleep, and songs such as
Happiness (featuring his father-
in-law Donovan on backing
vocals) won’t appease the Ben
Lee haters. But take the leap
and the rewards are plenty.
“I believe in change,” Lee
declares in Goodbye To
Yesterday. All you need is love.
(Warner)
Jeff Jenkins
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