Jebediah - Oiks (2024)

[Alternative Rock]

The last couple of Jebediah albums have been a bit of a bumpy ride, with the music awkwardly alternating between the alternate rock bombast the band started with and other more commercial tracks clearly designed to get airplay. This approach made for a difficult listen, as the listener generally wanted to hear more of one style than the other - leaving them impressed half the time and disappointed for the other half. 13 years after the very uneven Kosciusko (2011) the band is back with Oiks, and although this is still an album of varying styles, the band finally feels comfortable in its own skin. The album opens softly (but powerfully) with 'Bad For You', but it doesn't take long before the noise kicks in on 'Gum Up The Bearings' - a perfect blend of the pop-punk charm Jebediah do so well. Kevin Mitchell's voice is less abrasive than on earlier albums, and a lot of the nasal 'whine' is gone. 'Motivation' is an earworm that will be in your head all day long, and is very old-school Jebediah in style, and 'Rubberman' explores an odd dream-like landscape. There is a range of styles here, but they blend well, and the album never feels disjointed. 'Start Again' has an urgency that is hard to describe, and propels itself forward before the album comes to a close with the sombre but restless 'Aqua - Lung'. This isn't the Jebediah of old, in fact it is far from it, but it feels like the band are having fun - and that is infectious for the listener. It is an album that invites you along for the ride, rather than you merely being an observer - and that is what a great album should do.

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)

[Classic Rock]

I'm challenging myself with this review. I've never been a big fan of Pink Floyd, but I must admit those singles that make it to commercial radio I do enjoy, so I thought I'd jump in on reviewing one. There was a few I am familiar with such at The Wall and A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. So here we go. Some songs are just out there like the first 3 tracks, which easily meld together as short songs. Very mellow and psychedelic almost in nature. Given it was the early 70's at the time, you could easily see how such a sound appealed to the young audience. As short songs lasting about 7.5 mins collectively, you are presented with a classic that I am very familiar with - 'Time'. Going back to my earlier comment, I can't believe how seamless the recording shifts from one song to the other. It almost feels like a single song experience how beautifully the songs are put together. Before you know it, side A is complete. Side B starts with another classic, which I love in 'Money'. As I listened to the remaining 4 tracks, the song titles weren't familiar, but realised I am familiar with 'Us And Them' which always had me trying to remember the contrast to be sung. Like 'Black and..' I thought White, but it's Blue. Get caught by this all the time. 'Brain Damage' is another I am very familiar with. I didn't appreciate the song is the album title track. I'm not going to embarrass myself with describing the inner ongoings of the sound and looking to draw any comparisons. I'm just sitting back and enjoying it for what it is. As I read more about it, it's a masterpiece. I should look into listening to the two I mentioned above, along with this one of course, a little more often.