With a gaze further back in time, Wino Havoc is a reminder of what’s intrinsically good about rock ’n’ roll that blends riffs with the punch of a sociopathic Burnie back pocket, with a pop sensibility of an elegant half-forward flanker. Bottles And Barstools is little less than a classic-to-be, a blend of Clash attitude with Flaming Groovies spice, Message From Another World trades the ‘fuck-you’ of its predecessor for powerpop beauty and You Never Wanted It is Californian romantic bewilderment washed up on the rocks of the Victorian surf coast.
After another dose of powerpop on Anna, Think Tanks A Million turns the dial closer to double figures with a grinding blues-rock riff and Van’s smokes-and-whisky ravaged protestations, before the Swedes release and embrace their inner Exile-era Stones in the down and dirty Ancient Art.
Elsewhere, Reward is the boozing rock song every footy club needs to be belt out late at night, More To Life channels AC/DC circa 1974 in all their denim-clad glory and Waves Of Bering Strait rounds out the album with another dose of glistening powerpop wonderment.
Rumour has it that the Swedes may yet appear on a soon-to-be-released Dog Meat compilation (as the band that would have been, had they been there at the time). Regardless of such accolades, the Swedes have carved out an indelible place in contemporary Australia rock history. The Swedish Magazines are a best for all ages.
