Rocking Down Under: Kallaj’s Guide To Aussie Rock [PART THREE]

So it's been a year. Don't worry, I didn't forget about finishing this off, lets go!




1: "Rock N Roll Outlaw”: Rose Tattoo 

Rose Tattoo kicks serious ass, just look at these guys!! 

Like AC/DC, their first album was produced by George Young and Harry Vanda (sensing a theme yet?).  Also, their hard rock meets hard blues sound is the perfect mix where nether side oversteps and comes off as a distinctive sound.  With this sound, Rose Tattoo made themselves big favorites on the Aussie pub circuit. Rock N Roll Outlaw gives a great glimpse into what I’m talking about. Rose Tattoo were one of the many bands who recorded for Albert Productions of Sydney, the label that launched careers of The Easybeats, Stevie Wright, and AC/DC. The big thing about the recordings produced at Alberts is that the guitar sound on any of these recordings is very distinctive. As with this record, the guitar is largely present and very crunchy. Young & Vanda are very overlooked as producers, and they helped develop a great sound for their label.  Also, the lead vocalist, get this, Angry Anderson (seriously), has not only the best name in 70s rock, but also puts himself on the list of great voices for a frontman. If you dig this, give their S/T album a spin.

2: “Boys in Town”: The Divinyls

Yes… These guys…

All Austin Powers jokes aside, I’m a big fan of the Divinyls first couple albums, with "Boys In Town" being a strong highlight.  There’s almost a Blondie quality about this song; a strong female frontwoman, a very prominent new wave sound, so If that’s your bag, then go no further and find a copy of their first album, Desperate. Watching these guys live in 1982 shows they aren’t just a Blondie knockoff though. I love how their lead vocalist, Chrissy Amphlett, is totally rocking, and wearing schoolgirl outfit  almost like a female… 

Well… 

You know. 

The crazy thing is is the whole transformation from this to “Touch Myself” in 1991. The first two albums are very rock oriented and then they made a shift towards a more popish sound. It’s a shame they never released more harder rocking tracks after the first two albums.

Aussie Rock Today:

     

Even though I've been going old school doesn't mean there aren't good modern bands. Two great groups that come to mind are King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Amyl & The Sniffers. King Gizzard are very much in the psychedelic brand of things mixed with a bunch of other sounds that would take too long to list here, so if you like surprises and eclecticism with your music, then these guys are for you. Amyl & The Sniffers, on the other hand, are old school as they come. Mixing 70's punk with Aussie pub rock, they are one of the most exciting bands I've seen in the last couple years.

Bonus: Other great songs to check out

Below, I’ve added some other songs that’s are pretty awesome that I didn’t have a chance to talk about, but are still very much worth your time. 

• “Wild Weekend” - The Thunderbirds
• “Bombora” -  The Atlantics
• “The Loved One” - The Loved Ones
• “The Real Thing” - Russell Morris
• “Ball Power” (Whole Album) - Colored Balls 
• “Boppin The Blues” - Blackfeather
• “Eagle Rock” - Daddy Cool
• “The Freak” - Zoot
• “Riff in my Head” - Hush
• “Jump in my Car” - Ted Mulry Gang
• “Aloha Steve & Danno” - Radio Birdman
• “(I’m) Stranded” - The Saints
• “Take A Long Line” - The Angles
• “Am I Ever Going To See Your Face Again” - The Angles
• “Beautiful People” - Australian Crawl
• “Run to Paradise” - Choirboys

Final thought: If you did not get hip to Aussie rock, go back to Part One and read though again. Repeat as many times if necessary.