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ALBUM REVIEW, THE AGE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
June 8, 2007
Oh We Do Like To Be beside the Seaside
The Vasco Era (Universal) 4/5
Confronting, demanding, insistent, in your face, this is not the kind of record you'd put on in the background for mates coming over for Scrabble and a few bevvies. The long-player debut from this Apollo Bay trio is up there with Bleach and Ten for amazing first efforts, and commands attention. The rhythm section of Michael Fitzgerald on drums and Ted O'Neil on bass is by turns bombastic and bludgeoning and also wonderfully creative and propulsive. Brother Sid O'Neil on guitar punches and snarls, rarely but effectively venturing out of the heavy groove for an exclamatory lead break. Production is flawless, heavy without being ponderous, dense on the bottom but with enough room on top for Sid's words to resonate. There are 10 song titles, all starting with the word "When", but really it's just one monstrous howl of rage and pain, sorrow and bitter irony. Even on the two slower numbers, Sid's singing is fraught with intense emotion, vocal cords scraped raw as he spits out the deeply personal story of loss and betrayal. And even though it ends on a happy note, this powerful, passionate work can be hard going.
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Order your copy of 'Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside' here.