12 Songs: OZ
It’s common knowledge (or at least it should be) that nobody does rock and roll better than the Aussies. Compared to the often overproduced and overindulgent sound of rock and roll in the States, Australia offers a more raw, no-B.S. take on the genre, highlighting the basic attributes that made it so much damn fun in the first place. It’s fast, sweaty, loud, and downright snotty at times, but in the best way possible.
The feral attitude and urgent energy of Melbourne rockers like Civic and Eddy Current Suppression Ring harkens back to a time when giants like The Saints and Radio Birdman roamed down under, while synth-punks like Total Control provide a glimpse into an inevitable synthetic future, one void of guitars. While they may vary in their respective sounds and styles, the major players of this sub-rosa garage rock scene all share a unique lo-fi aesthetic that has come to define the sound of a generation of Aussie rockers.
Here’s a 12 track primer on the best of Oz, curated for your listening pleasure, free from any algorithmic interference as always.—Jackson Todd
