:: Various Artists - Playing Favourites Volume 1

Various Artists

Illustrious artists are an independent record label from Sydney. Co-founded by Russel Hopkinson (You Am I) this compilation of songs is, in their own words “not supposed to represent any new movement in rock n roll….it’s just a bunch of tunes that set a fire in [our] pants”. The underlying vibe here is, quite simply, rock, in all of its unadulterated splendours. From the Beatlesque harmonies of The Anyone’s’ ‘I can hear Your Whistle Blow’ through to the ragged punk vibes of The City Lights’ ‘Curse On Everyone’, drums pound and guitar riffs abound. The M-16’s and Pinky Tuscadero (tracks 10 and 12 respectively) bleed Aussie pub rock-isms and the guttural bluesy grunt of The Holy Soul’s ‘Jesus caught the 5:19’ will make your woofers growl. The liner notes say it best, when they refer to the entire compilation as being a valuable part of what they refer to as “the good time society of rockin people’.

Evan Alexander is a freelance journalist, an accredited composer/songwriter, frontman for Brisbane Alt/Indie Rock outfit AGE 6 (www.age6.com.au), and a solo performer. Contact Evan via Heapsaflash Music at heapsaflash@hotmail.com