Album: The Black Ryder

It was my favourite time of the day. It was probably yours too: that period in the late afternoon when the sun just hangs in the sky and the air has lost its bite and only a cool breeze remains. How poetic. Anyway, I somehow got my hands on the Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride which is the debut release from Sydney kids The Black Ryder and so as I sat in my car killing some time I decided to give it a listen. Knowing they had already supported Brian Jonestown Massacre and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, I knew before hearing the first guitar reverb that this should be good. And by the third track, Sweet Come Down I was totally convinced that this psychedelic throw back to 70's intensity are gonna make waves in the international scene soon. Big waves. Real soon.

The Black Ryder-Sweet Come Down (mp3)

Philadelphia Grand Jury

I'm a covert. I'm now officially in love with Sydney duo Philadelphia Grand Jury. I know, I know, I'm sorta slow on the uptake cos the rest of the country has been frothing over these guys at least since their 7" Going To The Casino was released in June. But I dunno, the throaty over excited squealing didn't really do it for me. But nowwwwww, The Philly Jays can do no wrong. Their debut full length Hope is for Hopers is really just epic. To prove this fact, check out their film clip for the first single off the album The Good News which is so simple but so good. I may be bias as it is filmed predominantly in my child hood stomping ground. East side 4 life.


Philidelphia Grand Jury-The Good News (mp3)

Montpelier

Montpelier Street
Brisbane
Australia

...is where four guys formed a super melodic indie pop band that sits heavily on keys and a double whammy of male vocals. Cryptically, Montpelier has said that they have toured under a different name all around Australia...but no word on what this name was. They have just finished recording their debut EP with LA producer Kevin Augunas, and if their stuff turns out anything like the stuff he did with Yves Klein Blue's release earlier this year then watch the hell out.



Montpelier-The Rafters (mp3)

Whitley

I really really love Whitley. Since the debut 2007 release The Submarine, barely a week has passed where the hushed distinctively Australian vocals of Lawrence Greenwood have not somehow made a way into my musical life (check out a cool video for one of the tracks below). The second album is called Go Forth, Find Mammoth and it's a bit different. Expect more layers, more volume and more energy. Gone are the gentle almost Elliot Smith sounding tones, and instead we are greeted with an uptempo collection of 12 tracks that make you wanna dance rather than contemplate the world.

Whitley-Head First Down (mp3)

Das Pop's Growing Pains

As soon as I heard this track (which was actually very recently despite the fact that it was released more than a year ago) I thought: boy that sounds exactly like the Growing Pains theme song. I don't think the average person would ever make a connection between Belgium band Das Pop and this late 80's/early 90's sitcom greatness. And in fact the similarities really are minimal (but i do maintain that chord progression on the keys is almost the same). It's just that I just find the television from this period of time so immensely entertaining that any chance for a textual reference is exciting. Check it out for yourself.

Das Pop-Underground (mp3)