Jo's Pick of the Week: Someone I work with recently recalled a funny little story about the first time they met me and how intimidating I apparently was during that encounter, which made me laugh because I remember the first time we met and my version of meeting is remarkably different to theirs. Mine involved a time I wasn't really enjoying and while my intimidating demeanour was daunting to them, all I was actually doing was desperately trying to be a normal, functioning, well adjusted human; avoiding questions and conversations at all cost in the fear someone would figure out just who the intimidated one was and it's more than likely all I wanted to do was run home and crawl under a blanket to never see natural light again, which is pretty much where I would have dragged myself from in order to get to work in the first place. All of this long story has very little to do with Tired Lion, except to say it is guitars like theirs that are some of the reasons to keep crawling out from under the blankie as well as voices and words like Sophie Hopes' that make leaving the house ok and it's awesome songs like 'Agoraphobia' which are the type of songs that people who are often more intimidated than intimidating, need to get through some days. (Jo Michelmore)
Matt's Pick of the Week: So today is World Mental Health Day, a day for education, awareness of advocacy of mental health issues that takes place all over the world. You might have seen some articles about it popping up on your Facebook feed. Anyway, anything that creates broader discussion about mental health is great, or in the case of Tired Lion's new single 'Agoraphobia', it's excellent. The four band members that make up Tired Lion (Sophie Hopes, Matt Tanner, Ethan Darnell and Nick Vasey) wrote the song with their own perspectives and experiences with mental illness. Now, I should probably make it clear that 'Agoraphobia' wasn't written for World Mental Health Day. It just happens to be today and the subject matter of the song couldn't be more appropriate to tie the two together, because talking about mental health and illness is super important and the more people do it the better. It's just coincidence that it's today and the song is what it's about. What isn't coincidence is that we've got another top tune from WA's leading rock outfit. "Getting through it, dried eyed, crying at the corner of a taxi rank, it's not a movie, now it's night time, those kids are itching for red wine." Tired Lion hook you from those opening lines and riffs and they don't let you go until the track ends. It's becoming a thing with them; tracks that immediately grab you and leave you wanting to hear them over and over again. Hopes continues to grow into the role of Australia's finest front and the guys kill it, as usual. More soon please. Also, this is the first time Jo and I have picked the same song, so bonus points for that, yeah? Yeah. (Matt Bond)
2. Bec Sandridge - High Tide
3. Tkay Maidza - Tennies
4. Kimbra - Sweet Relief
5. Ariela Jacobs - Leave Your Light On
6. Big Smoke - Best of You
7. Tkay Maidza ft. Killer Mike - Carry On
8. Jidenna - Long Live The Chief (NEW)
9. The Bear Hunt - Who Made You God?
10. Lady Gaga - Million Reasons (NEW)
11. Jack River - Palo Alto
12. Lime Cordiale - Waking Up Easy
13. Lisa Mitchell - Warhol (NEW)
14. Allie and Ivy - Best Friends
15. San Cisco - B Side (NEW)
16. Gretta Ray - Unwind
17. Crystal Fighters - Ways I Can't Tell You (NEW)
Jo's Pick of the Week: So last Friday morning when I heard the new track from Bec Sandridge I was pretty sure I had my pick for this week's Top 25 sorted, then Friday afternoon Matt sent me the link to Kimbra's little surprise release and I was like "WHA?" because I couldn't believe two incredibly awesome women could release two awesome songs on the same day and then I was torn between which one to write about. We've got a long history of loving Kimbra, with her making numerous appearances on our Woman of the Year and our end of year countdown lists, so I decided to leave Kimbra to Matt (should he choose to write about her, I don't tell him what to do with his life) and write about Ms Sandridge, who's more than likely to make our lists this year - spoiler alert! And beside that, only days ago I was listening to Blondie's 'Tide Is High' so maybe that was a sign I was going to love 'High Tide'. With comparisons to both Blondie and Fleetwood Mac there's pretty much no chance I was going dislike this song, but it's not the comparisons that are important, it's the vocal that demands attention and the rolling, shadowy guitars that hypnotise you into listening again and again. I declared myself a big fan after we saw her play at BIGSOUND, but if she keeps releasing tracks like this there's no doubt that my big fan status will turn into massive fan status very, very quickly. Bec Sandridge plays with Cub Sport on a national tour beginning 21st October in Adelaide, which pretty much sounds like a gig one needs to attend! (Jo Michelmore)
2. Tkay Maidza - Tennies (NEW)
Matt's Pick of the Week: "When I put my tennies on, when I put my tennies on." I can't stop singing it and I don't even really know what it's about. Such is the power of Tkay Maidza. A thorough investigation (Googled it) showed that 'tennies' are tennis shoes. So I'm assuming that when Tkay puts her tennies on, it's the equivalent of Penny Wong taking her glasses off on Q&A. Shit is about to get real and someone is about to get a verbal smackdown. Released as the follow up to 'Carry On' as a preview to the upcoming debut album TKAY, 'Tennies' will have you putting on your finest Dunlop Volleys and ready for one sick night on the town. The badass transference is strong with this song. It will give you attitude like you wouldn't believe. Listening to this song will make you feel like you're walking into a club with a wind machine blowing your glamorous hair out while everyone stares at you with jealousy dripping out of every fiber of their being. In this regard, 'Tennies' is the new 'Pass That Dutch'. Perfect for any dramatic entrance, to get any party started and to make you furiously attempt to memorise the rhymes as fast as you can. #putyourtennies out in support of Tkay Maidza, get this song and get even more excited about the October 28 release of TKAY. (Matt Bond)
3. Kimbra - Sweet Relief (NEW)
4. Tkay Maidza ft. Killer Mike - Carry On
5. Big Smoke - Best of You
6. Allie and Ivy - Best Friends
7. Gretta Ray - Unwind
8. Tash Sultana - Jungle
9. Ariela Jacobs - Leave Your Light On (NEW)
10. Jack River - Palo Alto (NEW)
11. Jess Kent - The Sweet Spot
12. Sparrows - Get To Know You
13. Lime Cordiale - Waking Up Easy (NEW)
14. Just A Gent ft. Ella Vos and Joey Chavez - Rolling Dice
