January was a great month for Australian music and festivals! My favourite (mostly local) picks of the month. Hope you enjoy!
Listen on: JB Hi-Fi Now Music | Spotify
1. Pedestrian At Best — Courtney Barnett
Courtney, I love you. This song was the highlight of laneway festival.
2. Nothing Left To Hide — Dorsal Fins
A slimy, dirty, catchy epic from a Melbourne supergroup, comprised of fantastic humans.
3. Anyway — Slum Sociable
Floaty, beautiful, dream pop. Easily my favourite performance of Sugar Mountain.
4. God’s Whisper — Raury
Raury has the goods. Such an epic performance at laneway.
5. Keep Me Alive — All We Are
An epic ballad that for some reason reminds me of Fleetwood Mac, this album is fantastic.
6. Simple Feelings — Twerps
Twerps are swell. Aussie surf rock, perfect for a sunny day at Sugar Mountain.
7. Showin’ Off — Fascinator
Sexy, and reminiscent of an epic 90s ballad that I’d file somewhere in between The Verve and Air.
8. Camberwell — #1 Dads
Cannot. Stop. Singing. The sharp lyrical delivery makes it sound somewhat like a folk cover of a rap song.
9. Cut The Wire — Dorsal Fins
A mysterious, dangerous, midnight sort of track. Would not be out of place during an epic shootout or training montage from an 80's action movie. Easily my favourite song, from an excellent record.
10. Lost Souls — Raury
A haunting and powerful ballad from an excellent songwriter.
Sawls. Soahls. Sahls?
11. Turn Into the Noise — Patrick Watson
A triumphant and beautiful return for Patrick Watson, that sends shivers down my spine.
12. Elastic — Menace Beach
90's Californian surfer punk. Catchy, and awesome.
13. Pretend You’re Mine — Pearls
Grungy, spooky, psych-rock from Pearls, who you may remember from their excellent cover of Dirty Water on the psychedelic reimagining, Nuggets.
14. Blame — Denai Moore
Oh wow, this song is beautiful, and I really like that album cover. Wait, that typography looks similar to foals.. Is it *googles* — yep it’s leif podhajsky, again. Aaand he alse created the cover for all we are. Well played all.
15. Cheap Education — Twerps
Twerps are swell. Another catchy (and very australian) ballad.
16. Secret Enchanted Broccoli Forest — The Babe Rainbow
Who wouldn’t want to live in a secret enchanted forest, and dance under a babe rainbow? A psychedelic trip reminiscent of strawberry alarm clock.
17. My Rush — #1 Dads
Grab the tissue box for this beautiful slow burner, lest it hit you right in the feels.
18. Fortune Teller — Menace Beach
Carried by a beautifully fuzzy organ, perfect for a sunny afternoon.
19. New Moves — Twerps
So catchy aren't they? I really love the new Twerps album.
20. Hold Me Down — Mansionair
A Funky, dark, howl at the moon. Beautiful.
21. So Soldier — #1 Dads feat. Ainslie Wills
“You’ve been hiding that secret under your shirt collar / You can’t breathe easy”.
Another lyrically impressive slow burner.
22. Honey — All We Are
A funky disco dance-floor filler, with a slightly serious tone. What up Jungle?
23. Possessed — Eagulls
Wailing, Horrors-esque guitar licks on a ballsy punk track.
