Sydney outfit Straight Arrows’ third album ON TOP! is a staunch reinterpretation of 1960s garage-rock; pardon the pun but on this album, Owen Penglis, Will Harley, Adam Williams and Al Grigg don’t miss a beat.
Opening song ‘Nothing To Me’ is a classic banger that is reminiscent of British Invasion pop-rock like The Beatles’ ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ and The Animals’ ‘It’s My Life’.
The album’s lead single ‘21st Century’ thwomps along with a bucket load of swagger for the verse opening up into a full-blown chorus that features the lyrics “Take me out / the future it got zero for me / Take me out / I hit the top, the rest means nothing”. Interestingly the song is written from the perspective of an internet troll at the top of their insidious game, it is quite the juxtaposition to hear such a classic rock sound with Facebook specific lyrics: “A thousand friends and plenty of room for more.”
This is a very good genre album that while staying true to the sonic aesthetic of the ‘60s, doesn’t fall into the trap of singing about the same tired themes of the male-dominated world that existed in that very era.
8/10
