The Hard Ons - “alfalfa males once summer is done conform or die”
June 15th 2010 09:53
Firstly, I have no idea what the title of this record means but it has to be a front runner for most creative title of the year! Secondly, it’s been a long time since I listened to the Hard Ons and I feel kind of unpatriotic for it. The Hard Ons are a Aussie institution. Belting out their brand of garage punk longer than most will realise.
“Alfalfa Males...” is what the Hard Ons have always been about. They mix it up and try not to conform to one style or genre. They happily copy the sound of bands that they love and do it without sounding like a cheap knock off. Tracks like ‘Feisty’ and ‘Cigarettes’ is pure garage rock in the vein of The Stooges. ‘Damp’, ‘Near The Casino’ and ‘Socialist’s Smoko’ sound like latter day Dark Throne with screamed tortured vocals over chainsaw guitars.
The band’s fondness for Black Flag (they have played with Henry Rollins in the past) is evident in tracks ‘In The End We Die Alone’, ‘Burn Everything’ and ‘Keep Talking My Eyes Aren’t Glazed Over Yet.’ Also is their love of old Butthole Surfers in ‘The 1st Element Is Sweat’ and ‘The Media Frenzy That Followed’ complete with samples of cricket commentary!!
In between the full on rock assault is softer, almost pop/punk love affairs in ‘I’m A Frozen Boy’, ‘Everybody Seems Out To Get You’ and ‘Pretend It’s Vanilla’. Which, while seemingly out of left field, still remains to sound like a Hard Ons track.
In the end the Hard Ons create music that foremost they enjoy and hope others will as well. They’ve never tried to go after popularity or ever try to mould their style to suit whatever the trend is currently on triple j. They play a mix of no bullshit rock...as simple as that. If you dig that, go buy this.
“Alfalfa Males...” is what the Hard Ons have always been about. They mix it up and try not to conform to one style or genre. They happily copy the sound of bands that they love and do it without sounding like a cheap knock off. Tracks like ‘Feisty’ and ‘Cigarettes’ is pure garage rock in the vein of The Stooges. ‘Damp’, ‘Near The Casino’ and ‘Socialist’s Smoko’ sound like latter day Dark Throne with screamed tortured vocals over chainsaw guitars.
The band’s fondness for Black Flag (they have played with Henry Rollins in the past) is evident in tracks ‘In The End We Die Alone’, ‘Burn Everything’ and ‘Keep Talking My Eyes Aren’t Glazed Over Yet.’ Also is their love of old Butthole Surfers in ‘The 1st Element Is Sweat’ and ‘The Media Frenzy That Followed’ complete with samples of cricket commentary!!
In between the full on rock assault is softer, almost pop/punk love affairs in ‘I’m A Frozen Boy’, ‘Everybody Seems Out To Get You’ and ‘Pretend It’s Vanilla’. Which, while seemingly out of left field, still remains to sound like a Hard Ons track.
In the end the Hard Ons create music that foremost they enjoy and hope others will as well. They’ve never tried to go after popularity or ever try to mould their style to suit whatever the trend is currently on triple j. They play a mix of no bullshit rock...as simple as that. If you dig that, go buy this.
| 108 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog