“And we will live forever…” – Phil Jamieson, Aussie rock’s Peter Pan, declares during Unknown Pretenders.
Grinspoon’s first single release in 12 years is also a vehicle for urgent, explosive riffage and manic drumming, and we can easily imagine flying shoes in the mosh when this one’s performed live.
A gut-punched, “OOoo!” Followed by, “What?” Then, “WAAAAAAAAAHHH!” From the jump, standout track (ILYSM) – short for I Love You So Much, obvs – deals blood-curdling yowls (think The Vines’ Craig Nicholls).
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There’s also a barrage of dumbfounding, electrifying riffs and walloping, cymbal-heavy drums – woah, no passengers is an understatement when it comes to Grinners. They’ve been on the road a fair bit in recent years and Grinspoon’s gig fitness has clearly translated to the studio.
Self-described as “…a little bit surf, a little bit James Bond and a little bit magic mushrooms”, Grinspoon’s latest single, Never Say Never, starts off turbo before instruments retreat during the breakdown to spotlight lyrical imagery: “Falling down, need to get up/ I’m a lonely clown with no makeup…”
We suspect Jamo’s theatrical stint as St Jimmy in Green Day’s musical American Idiot impacted some of his whatever, whatever vocal performances – definitely not in a cringey way, though. On the dynamic This Love, he channels Ozzy before switching to ‘Cookie Monster At Large’ for the chorus.
During Nasty – which contains an unforeseen, stank face-inducing guitar solo – Jamieson flirts with caricature (convincingly, like he’s Alice Cooper’s sassy younger bro or something) and it totally works: “You say I drink too fucking much!” – drinking’s a bit of a lyrical motif throughout, come to think of it.
“We’re together and we’re drunk as fuck, HEY!” – some of whatever, whatever’s themes are super-appropriate for Schoolies playlisting; even the album’s title also embodies youthful ‘tude.
But listeners are also afforded plenty of opportunities to collect themselves thanks to a coupla moody instrumental interludes and several rock ballads, including 4, 5 & 7 – during which Jamo’s winsome, vulnerable portrayal hits the spot (“I’m broken with nothing else to say…”) – and The Only 1, a breakup lament: “I never signed up to be the only one/ To be there when you’re coming down…”
Following up the record’s penultimate barnstormer Can I Make You Feel (those frustrated, screamo vocals could potentially wake people from comas!) with closer Underground – a strings-enhanced, get-yer-lighters-out ballad (“She’s all fucked-up and crying”) – redefines tonal whiplash.
Could OG Grinners fans potentially rock out alongside their offspring with this record cranked at high volume? HELL, yeah! Unfuck your family therapy.
One of Lismore’s proudest exports, Grinspoon continues to school rock bands of the future. On whatever, whatever, this band is – unquestionably – in career-best form. They’re still mischievous rabble-rousers. Grinners are winners.
LABEL: UNIVERSAL
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
