(This review first appeared in issue 58 of Shindig! magazine)
Cherry
Red CD
It's a long way to the
top if you want to rock 'n' roll! So opined Bon Scott in 1975, and he
should know. As one of two vocalists in Perth's Valentines, Scott
slogged round Australian venues in search of that lucky break.
A string of singles
revealed a band trying out styles hoping for a hit. Mod, Beat,
psychedelic soul and music hall-inspired novelty all took their turn,
as did a Coca-Cola ad. All their A and B-sides are here along with
four unreleased TV broadcast tracks from their earlier guise as The
Spektors.
An ill-advised foray
into Bubblegum signaled the end, with a fortuitous Easybeats
association taking Scott nearer the Young Brothers' orbit. An
insightful compilation, worth hearing for the band's high watermark
'Juliette', the psych-pop splendour of 'Peculiar Hole In The Sky',
and the future rock god's version of 'Nick Nack Paddy Whack'. I kid
ye not!
One of the best albums I've been listening to this year is Ormythology by The Seventh Ring Of Saturn. The band have recently followed this up with an excellent double A-sided 7" single which sees the band return to their bubblegum rock/pop sound with cover versions of The Grateful Dead's Mountains Of The Moon and The Hollies' All The World Is Love. TSROS head honcho Ted Selke has very kindly agreed to share his thoughts on all things musical - discovering Middle Eastern music, favourite childhood 45s, studio techniques and more!
I was reminded of this LP recently after discussing Bubblegum pop with a pal of mine. I dug it when it came out but it sounds even sweeter now! My original review ran on Subba Cultcha when the album was first released.
Mick
Collins and co. finally release their much promised Bubblegum LP!
Think you know The
Dirtbombs? Purveyors of Detroit garage rock for what seems like
forever, with front man Mick Collins previously responsible for the
force of nature that was The Gories? Yes that band. The band that
have been promising an album of bubblegum pop for almost a decade, an
album most people thought would never materialise. You could almost
think of it as some sort of ruse or joke. Well that album is here and
it's pretty damn good!
Quick history lesson –
Bubblegum for those that don't know is a genre of music that was
created by journeymen record producers back in the late '60s as a
kid-friendly cash-in. With musical roots in the accessible end of
flower-power, beat music and folk-rock, it was often fronted by
manufactured cartoon friendly bands, blokes in animal costumes or
actual cartoons. Think The Banana Splits, The Archies, or 1910
Fruitgum Company. Though despised by serious music fans at the time,
it's since developed a kitsch charm and appeal.
There's something about
the music of one's childhood, it's deeply ingrained and has a sway
over you that the music you hear later doesn't. It's obvious
listening to Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey! (best album title of
the year?) that Mick Collins has a deep affection for this music. The
ten original songs pay homage to this strain of sunshine pop. It's
twee, not in a sexless C86 way, there's just the right amount of fuzz
and groove to keep the faithful happy.
Candy, ice cream,
sunshine and fairground rides all get a look in on this LP of
innocence re-found. The Gories this ain't, but it sure is fun dammit!
I defy anyone to listen to the album's opening track “Sugar On Top”
and not have a smile on their face. Also listen out for the
deliberate melodic steal form The Beach Boys' “God Only Knows” on
album closer “We Come In The Sunshine.”
Garage rock is a genre
that often prides itself in being a ghetto. Mick Collins may upset
the garage rock purists by opting to make music that has roots in
exploitative pop, but hey how cool is it to exploit the exploiters!
Sweet indeed!
