australian punk Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

X “Aspirations”

sfilzen — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:03:23 +0000

X “Aspirations” 1979/2024 reissue on red & white splatter, Dirt Cult Records/Green Noise Records. Australian punk – NOT the L.A.-based classic punk band but a classic nonetheless. Less polished, way snottier than their American counterparts, with accents! Tough, menacing, stomping, and often political, Aspirations is up there with the Sex Pistols, The Clash and yes, X, with must-owns for any classic punk collection. The opener “Suck Suck” is brutal, “Police” has tinges of reggae just like the UK punks like to sprinkle in, “Revolution” is a growling brawler, the bass-line of “Turn My Head” vibrates deep, a real ass-shaker (like literally quivers the tailbone), “Waiting” is a tortured screaming dirge, reminiscent of Germs’ “Shut Down,” and “I Don’t Wanna Go Out” is an absolute banger, the bass-line a direct nod to the Peter Gunn series theme song by Henry Mancini. Even if you think you’ve never heard of Aussie X, you probably do know this track (well, if you like/listen to punk).

YouTube isn’t cooperating to embed this video but it’s early/live(ish) X performing “I Don’t Wanna Go Out.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGc02KW4fFg

Here’s a 2022 video of “Suck Suck” (not sure which band members are original, definitely not all of them: the bassist looks young enough to be the singer’s or guitarist’s son)

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Amyl and the Sniffers “Big Attraction” and “Giddy Up”

sfilzen — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 22:30:22 +0000

Amyl and the Sniffers “Big Attraction” and “Giddy Up” 2018. Damaged Goods Records. A comp LP of the Australian punks first two EP’s from 2016 and 2017 (both self-released). Raucous, punchy, FUN punk in the spirit of The Ramones, Sex Pistols, mixed with a loud hard edge (they’re influenced by AC/DC, of course). We saw Amyl and the Sniffers play in July and it ranks as one of the best shows – and definitely the best punk show – we’ve seen in years. Side A has Big Attraction (2017) and my favorite track is the riotous “Balaclava Lover Boogie” which is also hilarious; I’m pretty sure the chorus goes “Balaclava with my llama, balaclava lover boogie!” but they are Australian so it is very likely I’m not hearing it quite right (back in the early 80′s I thought AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds” went like this: “dirty jeans, they’re dungarees” so clearly I’m not to be trusted). Also great are “I’m Not a Loser,” “Mole (Sniff Sniff)” and “Westgate” so basically the whole EP because there are only six songs. Side B is Giddy Up (2016) with just four tracks: “Pleasure Forever” (such a great classic 70′s punk sound), “Caltex Cowgirl” (a startling slow track that is almost melodic but not quite), “Mandalay” (super-raw) and “Stole My Pushbike” (and she’s pissed, she wants it back!). Apparently they wrote, recorded and released Giddy Up in a mere 12 hours.

The comp ended up going to #8 on the UK vinyl charts in 2018; they signed with Rough Trade soon after (I think we may have picked up this record at Rough Trade in London this past summer).

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Cosmic Psychos “Blokes You Can Trust”

sfilzen — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:02:52 +0000

Cosmic Psychos “Blokes You Can Trust” 1991. Amphetamine Reptile Records, produced by Butch Vig, recorded at Smart Studios in Madison WI (where they apparently had a great time, thanking the Crystal Corner bar and Sprecher Beer in the liner notes). Blokes You Can Trust was the third LP from Australian punks Cosmic Psychos, though with recording and production by Butch Vig, fresh from Nirvana’s Nevermind, there is a distinct early 90′s grunge sound, albeit leaning more toward Motorhead metal and speed than the dirge of many grunge contemporaries. The opening track “Back at School” is fast and wicked; released as a single its b-side is a cover of the riot grrrl classic “Shove” by L7. “Dead Roo,” the other single Cosmic Psychos released, is also great, detailing the hazards of driving on Australian highways. “I’m Up You’re Out” definitely leans in the slower, heavier grunge direction but “Loser” has a more classic, 3-chord Ramoneseque punk vibe and “Nightshift” is hyper-speed hardcore punk. “Hooray Fuck” is all metal guitar, deep beats and head-banging to the anthemic chorus (“Hooray Fuck!”). “Do It to Me” is hilarious, but “Never Grow Old” feels tired and cliched. “What” is fairly straight-up punk but the album concludes with “Elle” which is an acoustic growler, filled with laughs and audience/band whoops and hollers, like it’s closing time in an almost-cleared pub, the lights are on, the amps unplugged and the band is wasted but needs to play one more song.

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