Australian Music Battle No.2 Ben Lee vs. Bob Evans

For the last few years Ben Lee has held the mantle of Lord of Australian Alt-Pop.

His catchy, left field songs have had huge success in Australia and in the US where he now lives, even if Bernard Fanning does think he's a little C-Bomb.

But with his latest effort not receiving the critical acclaim of his previous CD's, Lee is being challenged by Jebediah front man, Kevin Mitchell, who's second solo album is proving immensly popular.

Mitchell, who releases his solo work under the Bob Evans moniker (Don't ask me why artists who go solo do this) received a warm welcome for his first record, 2006's "Suburban Songbook" and his second effort, released this year, "Goodnight, Bull Creek!" is shaping up to be an even bigger hit.

Whereas "Suburban Songbook" was criticised for being overly happy and lacking any meaning, "Goodnight, Bull Creek!" is a more mature album, a mix of up beat pop combined with some more sombre serious tracks.

Speaking in today's SMH, Mitchell, or Evans or what he's calling himself today credits turning 30 as the reason why his music has changed.

"I think what happened there [turning 30] was a bit of a clean slate that appeared for me that I didn't really value and when I started to look at this new beginning as a positive thing I started to find all the things I could take advantage of."

Songs such as "Hand Me Downs" and "Pasha Bulka" are great examples of how Mitchell/Evans has matured as an artist and has just about stolen Lee's crown.

Video to go with "Chase That Feeling"

The Hilltop Hoods have premiered their new film clip for "Chase That Feeling" on YouTube.

Here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWChcdgo2HY

This clip has set a new benchmark for Australian video clips.

The Hoods have really kicked it up a notch and the whole clip seems really proffesional, similar in quality to a Kanye West clip.

Though it's great that the Hoods have released their new clip, is this just another nail in the coffin for music television?

Previously MTV or Channel [V} would have been the go to point for this release, yet it seem the internet is taking even more from TV.

Speaking of this, I would've liked to see the Hoods give the premier of the clip to the ABC to play on Rage, given the fact that without Tripple J they wouldn't have had anywhere near the success they've experienced.

Good on the J's

With Unearthed winners, And Burn being given a spot at the next One Night Stand, it's about time Triple J gets some recognition for the work they do to promote Australian music.

The Unearthed competition they run has unearthed (pun intended) some of Australia's biggest music names.

Past winners include, Missy Higgins, Grinspoon, The Bumblebeez, Killing Heidi and The Hungry Kid of Hungary.

Whilst Unearthed is a great program, Triple J also deserve praise for their everyday broadcasts as well.

There aren't many other stations where bands like The Grates, The Herd, Angus and Julia Stone or The Getaway Plan would get airtime.

Unlike their commercial counterparts Triple J don't view the Australian Music Quota as something to fill the hours between Midnight and 6 am.

Oh, and they don't play Chris Brown, a huge plus.

Triple J Announces One Night Stand.

Triple J's annual free concert is on again this year, and the lucky people of the Gippsland region in Victoria will be treated to a great night of Australian music.

This year's line up includes Eskimo Joe, The Butterfly Effect, Children Collide and Triple J "Unearthed" Winners, And Burn.

The event has been taken to Gippsland in attempt to brighten up the lives of those affected by this years terrible bushfires and will be held in the town of Sale on May 30th.

Apparently there are more acts to be announced so stay in touch.

And if you cant make it to Sale, Triple J will record it all so you'll be able to watch it on Triple J TV.

Profile - Pegz, Australia's Hip - Hop Mogul

On the surface Pegz is the stereotypical hip-hop star.

The 32 year old has gone from a wall tagging graffiti artist to a chart topping rap artist.

Yet besides being an artist himself, Pegz heads up Australia’s biggest and best-known hip-hop labels, Obese Records.

In just over eight years as the head of Obese, Pegz has been responsible for unearthing the biggest acts in Australian hip-hop, including the Hilltop Hoods, Muph & Plutonic and Drapht.

By unearthing these acts Pegz has made hip-hop acceptable in the Australian music scene.

What was once a small number of groups performing in American accents has steadily grown into one of the most successful parts of Australian music.

The Hilltop Hoods latest album, The Hard Road, topped the ARIA charts, the first Australian hip-hop act to do so and has sold over 60 000 copies, a huge achievement for an Australian hip – hop group.

Whilst not reaching the same heights as the acts he discovers, Pegz has had his own musical success, releasing four critically acclaimed albums of his own.

His most recent, 2007’s Burn City is set to be his last solo album as he concentrates more on the business side of Obese.

Minogue To Have Another Crack At USA

Kylie Minogue is set to try to break into the US market once again.

Minogue, who's last record "X" has only sold 36 000 copies in the US (maybe they're smarter than we give them credit for) has announced that she will perform six shows in the US in October this year.

The shows will be part of her "X" tour (which must be how long the tour has run for) which has already earned over $70 million from ticket sales alone.

With this kind of money coming in you have to wonder why Minogue is still trying to make it big in the US, especially at this stage of her career.

Maybe she should bring back the gold hot pants?

Phil's Albums To Look Out For.

Here are five Aussie Albums whose release I’m looking out for.

1. Hilltop Hoods.

The Kings of Aussie hip – hop have promised to have a new album out during May sometime. If it’s anywhere near as good as there last effort, 2006’s The Hard Road, then fans will have nothing to complain about. The only cause for concern is whether their split from long time record label, Obese Records will have an impact on their recording.

2. Urthboy.

If Hilltop are the Kings, then this ranga from is definitely the Crown Prince. The Sydney MC is better known for his work with The Herd, but his two separate solo albums are nothing to be sneezed at. Full of bouncy, up-tempo tracks, Distant Sense of a Random Menace and The Signal should receive more airtime than they do. If his new single, Hell Song, is anything to go buy, Urthboy’s next effort should be more of the same.

3. Birds of Tokyo.

Unlike their West Australian counterparts, Eskimo Joe or Gyroscope, Birds of Tokyo actually produce some decent, original rock music. "Wild Eyed Boy" and "Broken Bones" are killer songs, both having made Triple J's Hottest 100.

As long as they don't fall into the second album syndrome trap like many bands do, Birds of Tokyo could prove to be the next big thing in Aussie rock.

4. The Herd.

It might be a little hopeful since they only released their last album about a year ago, but "Summerland" was so disappointing that I really need a new album from this group to restore my faith.

Jane Tyrell has a great voice, but she doesn't need a major role in every song on a HIP-HOP album.

The Herd should take note of what Muph & PLutonic didon their last release, "And Then Tomorrow Came".

5. Wolfmother.

Their first album took the world by storm. Their Led Zeppelin inspired rock helped them crack the lucrative American market, and they even won a Grammy.

With only Andrew Stockdale remaining from the original group there is are a lot of people wondering whether they can successfully follow up their first album.

Even if they don't, "Cosmic Egg", the title for their upcoming release is a beauty.

New Hilltop Song

As said before one of the CD's I've been waiting for is the new one from The Hilltop Hoods, and this week they've released their first single from the up coming "State of the Art" album, "Chase That Feeling".

The single features the same quartet from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra who the Hoods teamed up with for "The Hard Road: Restrung".

As with their first single last time round, ""Chase That Feeling" is a great song, a little bit slower and more mellow compared to other Hoods releases but great all the same.

Maybe just put the orchestra away for now.

Check it out here or here.

Australian Music Battle No.1 Obese Records Vs Elefant Traks

Obese Records pretty much had a strangle hold over the Australian hip - hop scene.

Anybody getting any decent air time was expected to be from their stable of stars, the likes of The Hilltop Hoods, Muph & Plutonic and Pegz.

But there is a challenger to the throne with Sydney based Elefant Traks coming after the Melbourne Based Obese.

Elefant Traks is getting it's act together.

Astronomy Class are getting tighter on each record and if Urthboy keeps going the way he's going he'll be unstoppable on hi upcoming 3rd album.

There's a few new up and comers coming out of Elefant as well, Horrorshow have received positive feedback on their first album and have been on high rotation on Triple J for the last few months.

Oh, and don't forget their out and out thoroughbred, The Herd.

Whilst Elefant Traks is getting bigger, the opposite seems to be happening at Obese.

The all conquering Hilltop Hoods have left to form their own label, Golden Era and CEO Pegz has hung up the microphone.

Though not all is doom and gloom, Drapht has become a shining light at Obese, with his "Brothers Grimm" album getting two songs on this years Triple J Hottest 100.

"Jimmy Recard" is one of the best Aussie hip - hop songs of all time.

Obese still has Muph & Plutonic as well, who have been getting rave reviews in the US and their last effort, "And Then Tomorrow Came" can match it with the Hoods "The Hard Road".

All in all these aren't bad things, if both Obese and Elefant are healthy and competing with each other than hip - hop music in Australia is on the right track.

Phil's Five To Look Out For.

4There are a few Aussie acts around that will be doing big things soon.

5. TZU.

This folk/rap duo hit the big time with their sophomore album "Computer Love" late last year.
The blend of electro meets folk meets rap is pretty uniique in Australia and "Computer Love" is an 8 out of 10 album.

Not only that, MC Count Bounce from the group has his fingerprints all over Australian hip - hop be it producing or featuring on what seems to be just about every new release.

4. Pez.

Not to be confused with Pegz, this Aussie MC had the hit of the summer with his rookie release "Summerdays" of his first album, "A Mind Of My Own."

The song was on high rotation on Triple J and surprisingly, Channel [V].

"Summerdays" climbed to number four on the latest Triple J Hottest 100.

Not a one hit wonder, the rest of the album is packed full of mellow hip - hop, and yes does feature Count Boucne.

3. Drapht.

The 27 year MC from Perth is a late bloomer, bursting on to the scene again via Triple J.

His singles, "Jimmy Recard" and "Falling" seemed to follow each each time they were played on the j's, and again he received solid airtime on Channel [V].

In his favour is the fact that he's signed to Obese Records who only ever seem to produce stellar music.

2. Ladyhawke.

Ok she's not really an Aussie, but when has that stopped us from claiming a Kiwi as our own?
Crowded House anyone?

Again a late bloomer, in an environment awash with electro pop, Ladyhwake seems to stand out from the rest.

Her singles, "Paris is Burning", "My Delirium" and "Dusk Till Dawn" off her self titled release have crossed the divide from Triple J to commercial radio and TV.

The only thing that could hinder her progress is her recent diagnosis with Aspergers Syndrome.

1 A-Love.

In a world dominated by male rappers A-Love stands out. Not just because she has two X chromosomes, but because she has talent.

Her flow rivals that of any rapper in Australia, male or female.

The young Victorian had a killer single with "Love Is" off her "Ace of Hearts" album, a great effort from a first timer.

Not only has she experienced success here, but she has a growing fan base in the US.

Album Review - Pegz: Burn City

When a hip-hop artist retires there can be two problems.

One is whether or not they have retired, to often a “retirement” announcement is made null and void two years later when an artist returns with a mediocre release.

The second problem is the “party album” phenomenon where each song features five artists and you can’t tell who you’re supposed to be listening to.

Thankfully Aussie hip-hop star and music mogul Pegz seems to have bucked both these trends with his latest and last album, Burn City.

With his focus now on running Australia’s biggest hip-hop label, Obese Records, it’s unlikely that Pegz would have the time to release another album and aside from a few verses from some Australian hip-hop stalwarts, Pegz owns Burn City.

From the outset you can tell that Burn City is going to be an up-tempo record.

The first track, Know comes in under a minute and a half and Pegz uses it to tell us what’s coming up:

"No synthy synth no singy sing,
Just hip-hop on the gritty tip,
Strictly hardcore no ifs or buts"

From there on, the next 14 songs stick to this formula, a gritty urban sound with simple beats and hooks that let the lyrics take the main stage.

The albums title track explains to the listener why Pegz is quitting recording.

He raps a about working 60 hours a week in a dull city and feeling burnt out, it appears managing Australia's biggest urbna record label and pursuing a recording career has taken its toll.

Though if the next track, "7 Days 6 Nights" is anything to go by, maybe it's Pegz's social life that has bought him undone.

"7 Days 6 Nights of animal instincts
A one way ticket traveling business
Random acts of passion and kinship
Backpacking through Paris in winter
Damage your liver with a Japanese stripper
And wake up in a national geographical picture"

"Block to Block" with the Funkoars and "No Attachments" follow this and keep the up tempo style going, both songs being about partying and living life, what most Australian hip - hop artists rap about really well.

The back end of the album is a bit of let down.

"I Don't Need Your Judgments" and "The Fight" are skippable tracks, but the witty back and forth with Muph on "Just Married" is excellent.

"Ali Shuffle", "Diligent Music" and "Before I Leave" round out an overall good album.

Any rap artist would be proud to produce an album of this quality any time in their career.

8 out of 10.

Album Review - Urthboy, The Signal

"The Signal" is Urthboy's second solo effort, following on from 2004's "Distant Sense Of Random Menace".

For many, Urthboy is better known as half of the MC team from The Herd, the other half being Ozi Batla, yet his solo work is some of the best in Aussie hip - hop, his first album was described by the now defunct music mag, The Brag as "The album Australian hip - hop had to have".

"The Signal", follows up from where "Distant Sense Of Random Menace" left off.

The album is pure Urthboy, when he's with The Herd, the red headed MC has to take a step back, but he's at his best when he's out front having fun and delivering rhymes at top speed.

The whole album is up tempo, the beats and loops are simple and well put together, allowing Urthy to take centre stage and show off perhaps the best flow in Australian hip - hop.

Unlike The Herd, on his own Urthboy can branch off from the politic rap they do so well, and in some places let him get his swagger on ala Scribe.

Throughout the album Urthy references his other love, sport.

"We follow on like Laxman and Dravid"

"It's like I haven't seen you since the Rabbitohs won"

"They might be the John Conrads and Steve Rogers"

This isn't to say that he's lost his political conscience, Urthboy indulges himself on "Clocks", a six minute verbal protesst that is just beaten by "We Get Around" for track of the album.

Though at his best when going flat chat, "Clocks" shows he can pull off a stripped back, slower sound.

The same can be said for the haunting "Black Dogs".

A reference to depression, you get the sense from the passion that he puts into this song that this topic is close to his heart.

Overall this album would have been the best hip - hop effort by an Australian by far in 2007, with only "Over Before It Began" with Mia Dyson being the only forgettable song on the CD.

9 out of 10.

Phil's Top 5 Australian Political Songs

Listening to the The Herd the other day it dawned on me that, proportionally Australia seems produces more musicians that are political than any other countries.

I don't mean political like Jamie Foxx or Beyonce at a Barack Obama rally, but political in their work.

Without even putting much effort into it how many political Australian musicians can you name?

The Herd, Midnight Oil, Kev Carmody, Redgum, Powderfinger, Blue King Brown, John Butler Trio, Xavier Rudd.

With this in mind, I've decided to come up with my 5 favourite Australian political songs.

5. Powderfinger "Like A Dog" 2001.

Though this came out in 2001, five years after John Howard was first elected, it was still one of the first songs to publicly attack the platform on which he campaigned on.

Though it was a bit of a trend setter, it was also a little contained. From a band such Powderfinger you come to expect a litte more outrage and anger.

4. Redgum - "I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Green Light)"* 1983

The lead singer of Redgum, John Schuman wrote this song after speaking to his brother in law about his experiences in the vietnam war.

Because of the depth of research Schuman put into writing this song it sounds as if Schuman himself had been there, not just some tacky grab for money.

Also the fact that all the royalties from this song go to the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia is highly commendable.

* I included The Herd's 2005 cover version in this as well, as it's pretty much the same thing.


3. Eric Bogle "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" 1971

Gallipoli is one of has almost a sacred spot in the hearts of most Australians and Bogle's song is one of the few that criticised the futility of the Gallipoli campaign.

Bogle's song has been praised for the haunting images it's lyrics conjure, and was voted one of the top 30 Australian Songs of all time by APRA.

The song has also had a lasting impression. The Herd heavily sampled the track for their song, "The Metres Gained" off their "The Sun Never Sets" album.

2. Midnight Oil "Beds Are burning" 1987

This list wouldn't be complete without a song from the Oils.

Though just about everyone of there songs could have made this list, "Beds Are Burning" is most probably their biggest and most recognised song, both in Australia and around the world.

The song examines Aboriginal land rights and openly called for Native Title to be acknowledged and for land to be given back to it's traditional owners.

"Beds Are Burning" was voted as the third best Australian song of all time, behind The Easybeats' "Friday On My Mind" and Daddy Cool's "Eagle Rock."

And who can forget the song being performed at the closing ceremony of the 200o Olympics, the Oils wearing shirts that said "SORRY" and John Howard watching on?

1. The Herd "77%" 2003

Some may say that the top spot in this list should go to the Oils on sheer weight of numbers, but The Herd are no slouches themselves.

The majority of there songs have a political bent, and "77%" is the best of them.

The song was released after the Howard Government's reaction to the MV Tampa issue, and it's title is taken from the supposed proportion of Australians who supported the government's action.

What makes this song great is that it doesn't tip toe around the issue, it goes at it like a bull at a gate.

Wake up. This country needs a f---ing shake-up.
Wake up. These c---s need a shake-up.
Talkback? Squawking hacks - won't relax
until Jonesy, Zemanek and Laws are all axed.
77 per cent of Aussies are racist
and if you're here, I'll say it to your faces.
Rich, redneck pricks still hold all the aces

Rather than use clever innuendo, MCs, Urthboy and Ozi Batla tell the audience straight up what they think.

Band With Weird Name Wins $30 000.

Melbourne rock band Eddy Current Suppression Ring have won the Australian Music Prize (AMP) for best album of 2008 for their album "Primary Colours".

Eddy Current Suppression Ring managed to beat The Presets and their all conquering album "Apocalypso".

Others on the shortlist included previous winners, The Drones and the forgotten Australian Dance?Electro band, Cut Copy. 

Am I The Only One Who Doesn't Think The Presets Are Our Lord And Saviour?

I do not like The Presets.

They annoy me.

I know that seems to be blasphemy in Australian music, but it's true.

For some reason they've been hailed as the inventors/saviours/gods of electro music in Australia and I can't understand why.

Can anybody really point out how they can be considered so much better than other Australian electro acts like Cut/Copy or Midnight Juggernauts?

Cut/Copy are actually easy to listen to, The Presets on the other hand seem to think that a loud bass line and some distorted vocals equals killer track. It doesn't.

"My People" is the audio equivalent of punching myself in the face. Repeatedly. Hard.

And it's not just the general public they've duped.

A quick look here shows the ridiculous amount of awards they won for "Apocalypso."

Now that's off my chest I'm going into a federal protection plan before thousands of angry Preset fans find me and force me to listen "Apocalypso" on repeat.

What Ever Happened To.......

Recently it's as if some pretty talented Aussie acts have just slipped off the edge of the Earth.

Lior - The alt-pop, mellow man had huge success with his "Autumn Flow" record but since then it's been lights out. It's a shame as well, he easily could have been the Australian Jack Johnson or Ben Harper.

Macromantics - The female MC had a ripper single with "Scorch" and a few other good efforts that showed some promise, but it's been a year or two now between drinks.

It's a pity to, the hip - hop world needs more talented female MCs.

The Valentinos - "Man With A Gun" is one of my favourite ever songs. Yet I'm hard pressed to name another release from this rock group.

They seemed to possess something else that other bands lack, but once again it looks like it could be bye byes.

Wolf & Cub - They were cool, they were new, they had two drummers, they sounded like Wolfmother.

The world should've been theirs but they quickly slipped into mediocrity.

Their Second album was a poor effort and if they don't turn it around with their next effort, then it's goodnight nurse.

In saying that, they do have the ability to match it with the likes of Wolfmother.

Aussie Hip-Hop On The Up.

With Australian Hip-Hop groups such as the Hilltop Hoods, Muph & Plutonic and Funkoars receiving more and more air time on radio stations around the country, especially Triple J, it appears there is hope that some may crack the lucrative American market.

RapReviews.com, one of the most respected Hip-Hop review sites in America has recently featured numerous Australin artists, with Muph & Plutonic, Pez, The Herd and many others receiving praise for recent albums.

Up and coming artists such as Drapht and A-Love have also recieved encouraging feedback.

Check out all the reviews at rapreviews.com.

G'day, Bonjour, Hello, Willkommen etc...

Welcome to Phil's Music Blog. A place where Phil will post thought provoking pieces on a variety of music subjects. Hopefully Phil will cease writing in the third person before someone actually reads this.