10 and 1 - Australian Albums You Should Hear Before You Die

Murder Ballads. Odyssey Number Five. Frogstomp. Kick. Back In Black. Whispering Jack. Fever. Apocalypso. Eternal Nightcap. Hourly, Daily. The Sound of White. Unit. Walking On A Dream. East. Down The Way. Savage Garden. Barricades and Brickwalls. Gossip. Since I Left You. Innerspeaker.


When you're talking about the greatest Australian albums of all time, you're guaranteed to bring up some of the celebrated titles above. INXS and Kylie's true US breakthroughs, Silverchair's riotous debut, Nick Cave's tales of love and death. They are truly defining works in Australia's music history and albums that you really should make an effort to hear, as the book I've started re-reading suggests, before you die. Don't stress out too much if you miss out on Hourly, Daily. You'll find a way to get over it in heaven. Or... you'll go to hell and they'll be playing it over and over and over and over again. And again and again and again. Yikes.


Like most 'greatest of all time' lists, you're always going to find a lot of the same albums discussed. With good reason too, they're generally amazing. What this means is that some other incredible pieces of work find themselves without the recognition they deserve, so today, I'll be presenting to you ten album I recommend you give a try before you cark it that only occasionally pop up nowadays (even though the majority are quite new). In 'Straya, cark it mean you dead. There were no typos in that last sentence. Read it as written please and thank you. As is the 10 and 1 rule, I'll leave you with one Aussie album you don't need to listen to in this life or the next or eternal whatever fairytale you believe. Here's some great Aussie music. Enjoy!

THE 10:

From Here To Anywhere

by Sneaky Sound System (2011)

 

"I won't forget the time, when you told me, we could be something, the memory is mine." From the anthemic 'Big' to the hopelessness of 'I Need You So,' the playful 'We Love' and desperate 'Really Want To See You Again;' Sneaky Sound System's latest album, From Here To Anywhere, goes a long way in supporting the theory that Australia is home to the greatest electronic-pop in the world. 

Howling Bells

by Howling Bells (2006)

It's easy to feel that the Howling Bells are underappreciated when you see an act of their caliber performing in Brisbane's Alhambra Lounge. No disrespect to Alhambra, it's a good venue for emerging acts. It teaches them to deal with an unpredictable crowd; half are music fans that came to see the show, half are drunk wankers that have stumbled in off the street thinking it's The Family. For an established act like the Howling Bells that have three critically acclaimed albums to their name? They should at least be at The Zoo, competing with that jerk of a drummer that's busking on the other side of the street. I love you Brisbane and I love the Howling Bells. Let 'Low Happening' take you over before 'A Ballad For The Bleeding Hearts' sends shivers right through your body. 

Farewell Youth

by Matt Walters (2011)

The one-two punch of 'St. Peter's Gate' and 'I Would Die For You' alone makes Farewell Youth an unforgettable listening experience, but there's a lot more to love. Walters has a wonderful way with words that you'll find yourself falling for. The album may close with the cute (and probably pretty gross if you think about it too much) track 'The First Time,' but it'll stay with you for a long time after.

#1 - Your Top 20 Favourite Bands



Your new favourite... book?


I bought an awesome book today that I've wanted in my possession since I saw it in Urban Outfitters last year. Lisa Nola's 'Music Listography' is every music lovers dream; a journal of sorts that works as a collection of playlist that you fill in. The end result? Your musical tastes, loves, likes and even dislikes all in one place. I'm going to be sharing with you each of my playlists as a new feature and we kick off with It's My Kind of Scene's twenty favourite bands. Narrowing it down to such a (relatively) small number is no easy feat and I surprised myself with who I was willing to keep in and who I was more than ready to cut. Play along at home too and if you're looking for the awesomeness that is 'Music Listography,' head to your nearest Typo store (if you're in Australia), Urban Outfitters (US/UK) and everyone else... just go to Amazon.com or something.

Your Top 20 Favourite Bands:

Rules: You can only include bonafide bands. That's a collection of artists playing real life musical instruments to create delicious sounds. Who does this take out of the equation? Boy "bands," girl groups, electronic acts and rap groups. Sorry Spice Girls, but who knows... you might get on a playlist one day! Also, this doesn't act as a countdown, so the list is in no particular order. Enjoy! 

Top 300 Songs of the 2000s, #200 - 191



Pink: She's got her rock moves and she don't need you tonight.


We're in top 200 territory! Keep an eye out for hits from the biggest acts in the music industry today. They'll be popping up all over the place. Mostly here. Mostly now. And tomorrow. And the next day. Probably the one after that too. You get my point, right? Wonderful.

#200 - Hearts On Fire (2007)

by Cut Copy

With hearts on fire I reach out to you tonight...

They've just released their latest album, Zonoscope, to virtually universal critical acclaim. Will any song on it be able to match their incredible hits from the past like 'Hearts On Fire?' Go get the album and find out for yourself! 

Top 300 Songs of the 2000s, #290 - 281



Mike Skinner aka The Streets.


It's the second installment of our biggest countdown yet! In the first edition we heard sweet music from industry heavyweights like Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Basement Jaxx. What's in store for today's edition? Let's find out...

#290 - A Sorta Fairytale (2002)

by Tori Amos

Things you said that day, up on the 101,

The girl had come undone, I tried to downplay it...

Song of the Day - Secret Agent Man

The Superjesus - Secret Agent Man

Album: Jet Age (2000)

The Superjesus... another Australian band that sadly bit the dust far too early and never achieved the success they deserved. Sarah McLeod, iconic Aussie rock chick and frontwoman for the band, has reinvented herself as a party girl, chock full-of club hits, but hopefully one day she'll remember her rockish roots, hook back up with the rest of the Superjesus and grace us with another album. Until then, enjoy 'Secret Agent Man.'

Top 200 Songs of the 1990s, #150 - 141

Welcome back! So here we are with 50 down and 150 to go. We're getting closer and closer to the top 100...

#150 - Name (1995)

by Goo Goo Dolls

Yeah, this is the same Goo Goo Dolls that sang 'Iris,' not that you'd be able to tell by looking at them in the video. It's like everyone had to have long hair when Grunge took off.

#149 - Passenger (1999)

by Powderfinger

#148 - No Scrubs (1999)

by TLC

Scrub used to be like, a method of cleaning. TLC changed the meaning of scrub forever. Look in the dictionary and it's now defined as 1) is a guy who thinks he's fly, also known as a buster.

#147 - What's My Age Again (1999)

by Blink-182

#146 - Just A Girl (1995)

by No Doubt

Rock Gwen Stefani was so much cooler than Super Pop Gwen.

#145 - Bachelorette (1997)

by Bjork

#144 - Something In The Way (1991)

by Nirvana

For those of you keeping score at home, that's now two for Nirvana. How many more do you think there'll be before the countdown is over?

#143 - Down Again (1998)

by Superjesus

#142 - Been Caught Stealing (1990)

by Jane's Addiction

#141 - It's Oh So Quiet (1995)

by Bjork

That is one damn good music video. Thankfully the song's great too.

Not much small talk today... just great tunes from the 90s. The next ten will hopefully be up tomorrow!

Countdown: Women Who Rock - #12, Sarah McLeod

#12 - Sarah McLeod

of The Superjesus

The Superjesus may be long dead and their lead singer may have moved into the club scene but in the 90s and early 2000s Sarah McLeod was the first lady of Australian rock. She had the look, the attitude and the perfect rock voice, like an angel that smoked a pack of cigarettes a day.

A lot of people would say McLeod is a poor choice for the list. The Superjesus released three albums, two of which were minor successes and had no massively popular singles. Her own solo album, 2005s Beauty Was a Tiger, didn't exactly light up the charts either. But it doesn't change the fact that Sarah McLeod was a true rocker, right up to the point that 'He Doesn't Love You' was remixed and went to #1 on the club charts. She was the inspiration behind many Aussie girls picking up a guitar.

If you ever get a chance, track down and listen to Beauty Was a Tiger. Go back and listen to The Superjesus' Sumo and Jet Age. If you're really up for it, look on iTunes for acoustic releases that Sarah has. Hopefully you won't be disappointed.

Key Tracks: 'Down Again' and 'Now and Then' (Sumo), 'Secret Agent Man,' 'Enough to Know,' 'Gravity' and 'Second Sun' (Jet Age), 'He Doesn't Love You' and 'All But Gone' (Beauty Was a Tiger).