7 December 2007

Top Five Fave Canberra Records of All Time

| Nickamc
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Obviously this is going to be very contentious, what with large age ranges and differing musical experiences and preferences, but I think it’s going to be fascinating to see what albums people really treasure from this cold little town.

My top five:

5. Mightyfew – Mightyfew
This cd was Canberran music when I was 15. One of the first ever gigs I went to, and a really solid, if someone dated, release.

4. Dahahoo – Jim & The Haircut
I’ve been following Dahahoo around since they started, and when this first record came out I would listen to it back to back, end on end for hours, singing along and then bugging Sam and Toby King for demos of their newer stuff. Fairly unpolished sound, but that’s what makes it pretty. The boys say the songwriting is quite up to standard anymore, but I love it.

3. One Night Jam – Turn Fish Back On!
I was in and around the studio alot while they recorded this album, and at the time Vorn Doolette’s songs were some of the prettiest I’d heard come out of a local mouth.

2. Henry’s Anger – Personality Test
In terms of mass appeal, next to Alchemist I think this is one of the most successful Canberran records ever. Still one of my favorite bands, this album has a sonic quality to it that I think all Canberran hard rock bands should aspire to. Pure unadulterated rock.

1. The Henchmen – The Henchmen
Every song, every minute of this wonderful album is a treasure. I remember how excited all the boys got when this came out, and it stands alone as some of the best songwriting I’ve heard in this city. It also marks the first time I really heard a band sing about Canberra (Macarthur/Northbourne) Blending a perfect rock and folk fusion, its a real shame these guys aren’t still around, but it makes me even more excited about their reunion show on Saturday at Transit. Be there.

Other notable mentions: Dahahoo – Da-Demo/Tarantism, Alchemist – Organasm, The Ellis Collective – Orange EP

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Awesome reading all of the comments – reinforces the musical strength over a long period of time Canberra has had, even if it hasn’t always got the recognition it deserves.

I honestly don’t think I can come to such a short list as the strengths in each genre highlighted by others indicate.

Koolism
Alchemist, Liquid, Henry’s Anger, Mighty Few, BOC, Tonk
Aston Shuffle, Peking Duk, Safia
The Falling Joys (yes – they got prominent in Canberra)
Doug Anthony Allstars
Mikelangelo
Armoured Angel
Trouser Trouser – agree should definitely be up there. Fred Smith, The Fuelers, Crumpet, Way Hip Antelopes also.
Quick 50 – released 2 EPs, 3 of the 4 moved to Sydney and continued for a short while before moving into other projects.
Nifty Keen Type Dog – what a dynamic band
Three – amazing
Ruby My Dear
Redletter
The Ellis Collective, The Wedded Bliss
Julia & The DSS
Fun Machine
Dahahoo
Brisk
Sidewinder
The Hammonds

Where to stop – I find this an impossible task 🙂

I have excluded The Church etc as they made it out of Sydney and only half the lineup was from Canberra.

For me best all time coolest canberra bands:

– Three
– Crumpet
– henry’s anger
– punchinello(caboose)
– aforafro

BTW. does anyone know where (or if) you can get any music still from any of these bands???

Obscure Australian Music on youtube has an album by Three on it, if that is any help.

Was Haari Bandhu Canberran or did he just play in Canberra? I bought both of his albums. It’s great, mellow music. I could listen to his version of Girl from Ipanema all day.

Barry Drive with his good friend Albert Hall?

Quick 50 were great – loved seeing them live and the EP was excellent. Didn’t they put another one out?
They had a great stage presence and obviously had fun.
I heard some of them moved to Sydney a few years back but understand their drummer Glenn still gigs around (The Chuffs??) and is the drummer in Cell Block 69.
Barry Drive were another good band of the time (what a great Canberra name) but I can’t remember the title of their EP.

Deadmandrinking6:10 pm 13 Dec 07

I said Koolism, Holden. Everyone else is lame.

Fuck I can’t believe I forgot Brisk’s Hell Or High Water… that easily beats out Mightfew in my fifth spot.

Holden Caulfield3:56 pm 13 Dec 07

No Koolism fans then?

George Washingmachine (with David Bates and Neil Gray at the PITS). And the Red Hillbillies, The Naughty Rhythms, Way Hip Antelopes, and DIZZI DECAZZ with Pip Branson.

And all the local bands that played at the Gypsy Bar between 1996 and 2002, I think I saw every single one of them.

And has anybody got this CD: ‘Folked Up Jazz’ by Straight Ahead – Dave O’Neil, Tony Hunter, Cicilia Kemezys and Bruce Packard? Recorded at Canberra Stereo Public Radio in 1993. Available at: http://birdland.com.au:8080/Birdland/catalogue/category634/p45924 – brilliant local CD this one, if you like that sort of thing.

I have Straight Ahead – it is one of my favourite CDs; really wish they had produced another album, and were still performing!

Yeah, Quick 50 is a geat band. Are they still around?

For me, Quick 50’s Live in Japan and Fred Smith’s Bagarap Empires stand up against anything produced in Australia in their respective genres.

And no, I really don’t think The Church can be claimed as a Canberra band. Steve Kilbey did some good work as a co-host on the iconic 2XX Punk Show, but I don’t recall The Church emerging nationally from playing as a band in the local pub scene as did say Gadflys, Sidewinder, 78 Saab, Falling Joys…

Not sure if we can claim Baterz, but he was a genius and sadly missed!

Sorry to keep doing this but I forgot Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen (particularly when Branson was in the band).
http://www.oninvisiblewings.com/bsg/black_sea_01.html

He he he.

The Hepnos morphed into The Mighty Reapers – now that was a good band.

Fluges, I now hate you … thanks to you I’ve got that bloody song Soul Kind of Feeling running through me head and it won’t stop.

Willy Winter Band; The Ritz; Itchy Feat

Big Wheel and the Hubcaps (mid-70’s)

Dynamic Hepnotics (bit of a Canberra connection there)

Armoured Angel – Communion EP – heavy in just the best way.
Harlequin – great mix up of Queensryche/Marillion – oh wait, no album….aaarrgh!
Falling Joys – Wishlist was a great album
DVoB – At the sign of the pink flamingo – great gothabilly

I remember Befuddle, top blokes too.

Speaking of Ska, anyone remember Ska Trek?

Oh man… stop it, you’re making me cry! Bring back the good old days, eh!?

Holden Caulfield10:00 am 11 Dec 07

Can we still lay claim to 78 Saab? Their first album, ‘Picture a hum, can’t hear a sound’ is quality.

V twin venom4:40 pm 10 Dec 07

“F Troop” deserve an honourable mention for some fine Ska. Wish I could remember just one of their songs…perhaps none were original. Perhaps..what was I talking about?

Befuddle… anybody remember them?? The CD was called ‘corker’???

“Were the Falling Joys really from Canberra??”

Played at a long ago boyfriend’s b’day party in Booroondara Street. Went to uni with some of them. They had close connections with The Gadflys.

From the same era, my vote, The Lighthouse Keepers “Gargoyle”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lighthouse_Keepers
Ah, Juliet Ward the quintessential rock chick.

I must say, the ANU spat out some real talent at that time. DAAS, too, and not to forget the gorgeous Richard Roxborough.

Good times.

Gadflys; Doug Anthony Allstars; George Washing Machine. How about ANU students like Midnight Oil or the Sydney bands who regularly toured the clubs here: Flowers and the Radiators

Myself and Mrs Maelinar like Revolver, although I need to disclaim that I’m a mate of Thumper’s.

Mrs Maelinar particularly likes the lyrics in Mark Hunstone’s songs, cause he’s a witty little character.

gun street girl11:01 am 10 Dec 07

Niftydog – the P Harness board game came with the CD titled “@ction” – but I don’t recall whether Terry Toweling Shorts was on the tracklist. I don’t have the CD anymore, thanks to a thieving bastard of an ex-flatmate (though I still retain the board game to this day). If anyone knows where P Harness CDs can be found (besides my ex-flatmate’s pilfered collection), please share!

Were the Falling Joys really from Canberra??

They really were, they used to do awesome pre-christmas shows at the ANU bar and throw a bucket of scotch over the crowd as a finale.

mmmm scotch from the sky….

those were the days my friends.

anybody remember bock? They were cool..

or goons hired goons?

Three – My Hat Is A Red Saucepan, also gets my vote
Liquid – Abduls Secret Movie
Thugs & Terrorists – Can’t remember the name, but they did an awesome little EP in the late 80’s.
Little Smoke – self titled, I’m proud of my boys. 🙂
& of course The Church count as a Canberra band!

RE: Los Cap….recently re-reviewed by the Masked Reviewer on Just Bands: http://littlesmoke.com/newjb/?p=15

Three – My Hat Is A Red Saucepan

Obscure, but utterly brilliant and completely unique.

P-harness indeed. Anyone know where I can get a copy of the album with “Terry Towelling Shorts” on it and the board game in the cover?!?!?

Don’t know any of their albums, but Wivestale were awesome too.

I’d rate Turn Fish Back On! as my favourite. Vorn is an extremely talented songwriter, in the vein of Darren Hanlon or John Prine.

Los Capitanes are a bunch of extremely talented musos. They’re underappreciated (probably because they play ska, and they play a lot of all-ages gigs… both of which are good things that not enough bands do).

Backbeat Driver’s with The Emperor’s New Blues.

Were the Falling Joys really from Canberra??

. . . or The Bitter Lemons? (now that’s really going back!)

What? Nothing about Snibbo?

johnboy’s right, in that Trouser Trouser deserve some consideration. But unfortunately, they spread some of their great songs over several albums, making it difficult to really rate one record above the competition. “Tambourine Bay”, “Sunday” and the divine “Whenever Possible” were great, but on separate records. Their “Barton’s Streak” debut record, with “If I Was Bionic, There’d Be Some Changes Around Here”, “Out of Common Courtesy” and “The Pointless Song” (one of the wittiest songs ever released by a Canberra band) was probably their best record though.
That’s the way with many Canberra bands though. Some of their individual tracks are brilliant (and I’m thinking here of things like Adonais’ “Threnody” and some of Cuss’ work especially) were brilliant, but let down by their neighbours.
Probably the best all-round Canberra CD I encountered was Crumpet’s 1998 “Shotgun Tango”.
But some here might not be old enough to remember them.

apparently, rabble, julia and her dss’s were on the j’s yesterday.

would also rate their debut as a fine and excellent cbr disc

damnintellectuals6:28 am 09 Dec 07

My fav: The Gadflys first album, self titled, which has the stand-out song, “Apathy”. I suspect The Gadflys went on to make other great albums but I only have their first on vinyl and it has risen again lately into my rotation.

‘Australian Kingswood Factory – Cruisin EP’

Motorvatin’.

“I think I’m falling in Love”

The Word

Anyone remember them?

Julia and the Deep Sea Sirens.

Los Capitanos.

Anything by The Fuelers.

P J Woof.

Australian Kingswood Factory – Cruisin EP.

Deadmandrinking3:50 pm 08 Dec 07

Oh, what about Koolism? They’ve got some good stuff out there.

oh, and how could i have forgotten naughty rhythms’ ‘look like me’?? fantastic iconic music from the pinnacle of australian ska.

how do the church count as a canberra band? did some of them hail from here? (my sister shot the cover to ‘heyday’, so that’s a connection – thought they were sydney but..?)

and do The Church count as a Canberra band?

Lunasphere by Alchemist ?

there was a radford boy in early sidewinder too.

gun street girl10:13 pm 07 Dec 07

Yep – Sidewinder were Canberra boys (Narrabundah College, I think).

Geez, had to dig out some of the old’s here!
Second for P. Harness (still have an EP floating around here somewhere). You know you have a Canberra band when you have a song called “Belconnen Mall”
Befuddle – Befuddle
Sidewinder (or were they Sydney?) – The Gentle Art of Spoonbending
Forward Defence (remember all the metal bands in the late 90’s?)
Sofa La Teido – Flies

Ahh, the good times :o)

gun street girl9:29 pm 07 Dec 07

*connection*. Not collection. Damnit.

Votes also for The Falling Joys and P. Harness.

hmmm.

Some good picks there.

Fred smith and trouser trouser need some consideration too.

Deadmandrinking8:30 pm 07 Dec 07

C’mon dude, Tarantism beats Jim and the Haircut by far. Get with the times.

gun street girl6:49 pm 07 Dec 07

Can we claim a tenuous Canberra collection to The Bedridden? If so, they’d be in my top five.

Liquid – Abdul’s Secret Movie
Henry’s Anger – Personality Test
A Band Called Horse – The Shame Of Arizona

(only can come up with 3, sorry…)

i’m not so much up on a lot of canberra music, but i’d rate birdseed’s [an early 90s funk band] debut – and i believe only? – release, an ep, it in particuar has one of my favourite songs from any band ever anywhere – a big call – in ‘christopher’. a beauttiful song with technical competence to rank with musicians from anywhere.

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