I think I remember someone in the Hoodoo Gurus talking about them; back in the day they weren't something you could just go down to the record store and get. I have an Australian compilation somewhere, or used to, that had a Skyhooks track on it. I don't remember what song or if I even liked it.
Ziggy Alberts has a challenging task. How do you make it as, essentially, a folk-rocker in this day and age? Can he write lyrics that aren't trite, a rehash of every folk song ever written, or just silly? Or does it really matter, because each generation should be discovering love, loneliness, and social justice? It appears he doesn't want to keep the same old singing from the 60s and 70s, but doesn't want his words to get lost in the more recent marble-mouth styling of Bon Iver and the like.
I wasn't aware of his music until I caught the first radio play of Bright Lights, a track from his new album, when I was on a road trip. I went back and listened to some of his earlier stuff and the new album. I hear too much similarity, especially the knocking thing, but that is a first impression as I get my ear in tune to his music (so to speak). And really, it's effin' folk - it should evolve slowly. And it is evolving - the new stuff seems to have refined his style.
I guess success is when you want to listen to it more. Maybe it won't have staying power in my psyche but I can say that about a lot of music, and I think it will. It doesn't hurt that he's a good guitar player.
OMG. Just saw the documentary Gurrumul, about an indigenous Australian musician, who I knew little about. Saw it at the Star Cinema, my local sit on a sofa in a Victorian music hall, drinking wine and watching flicks place. The director is a local boy and did a Q&A afterwards. It was really interesting and the scenes of his community were beautiful. I really need to get some all of his music.
OMG. Just saw the documentary Gurrumul, about an indigenous Australian musician, who I knew little about. Saw it at the Star Cinema, my local sit on a sofa in a Victorian music hall, drinking wine and watching flicks place. The director is a local boy and did a Q&A afterwards. It was really interesting and the scenes of his community were beautiful. I really need to get some all of his music.
Thanks for the intro! Looking forward to more of her.