Interview with Royal Headache
Someday a biologist will research what vitamins or magical bacteria Australians and New Zealanders consume that lead their nations to dominate the world’s catchy-punk landscape. Until the secret comes out, heads will nod and feet will tap to the latest Sydney-based phenom, Royal Headache. Recorded by Mikey Young of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Royal Headache’s self-titled debut has the clear, backwards-harking analog sound familiar to ECSR fans, but don’t expect any extended Stooges-style jam-outs here. Lead singer Shogun has a classically heartstrings-tugging power-pop voice with a quaver that recalls the Undertones’ Feargal Sharkey; the band bangs out two-minute gems that might evoke Powerpearls hits, the Jam, or... fuck it, let’s dance. RH selected some compatriots (among others) for their Listed. They’ll be touring the U.S. throughout the next month.
1. Big Star – Radio City
No one has ever been this badass at guitar. Alex Chilton is probably my favorite guitarist of all time, these are his guitar songs (that’s a bit dumb but it makes sense if you know the first two Big Star records). The first record is probably everyone’s favorite because it sounds pretty, but this is better. It is tougher, not that it’s tough like a biker bar brawl, but you know, tough like the Rolling Stones when they stopped with haircuts. But the main thing is these songs have more heart than anything you’ll ever hear — this motherfucker, it’s like Dan from Roseanne sitting in a bar drinking because he lost his job and he’s got a retarded Midwest misfit family to raise. Real human shit. (Joe)
2. X – X-Aspirations
This is probably the greatest record to ever come out of Australia. It’s like hardcore for Rose Tattoo fans. Tough and wild, almost no chops but so much power. It is embraced as a seminal punk record but these guys never saw themselves as a punk band. Therefore it’s even better because it seems completely unaware of itself. It can’t exist any other way, there’s no pose it’s just rough outlaw rock and roll. (Joe)
3. Ed Kuepper - Electrical Storm
Ed’s debut solo full length after The Saints, The Aints and The Laughing Clowns. I love the amazing languid delivery of this record. It just sways along in its own drunkenly earnest way. Electrical Storm contains a number of moody down-tempo ballads, dispersed between the more upbeat rockers. The shadow of Mr. Kuepper still looms as one of the greatest and most distinctive guitarists to emerge from our shores. The tones and execution of this record has definitely influenced my other band Camperdown & Out. (Shorty)
4. Television Personalities - …And Don’t The Kids Just Love It
The first Television Personalities LP released in 1981. This album is pretty much perfect in my books. There is a brilliant simplicity in both the melody and instrumentation, but a great urgency in the delivery. Dan Treacy’s musical lens was skewed through a youth of living in housing commission buildings, and a penchant for ‘60s mod and psychedelia. His lyrics were not full of forced political sloganeering, or abstract art school smarter-than-you waffle. Each song provided a soundtrack for small observations about existing. Songs that often fantasized about hopes and dreams of a better life. Sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but always endearing. The best pop songs only come straight from the heart. (Shorty)
5. Rikk Agnew - All by Myself
Anyone with half a clue knows that Rikk Agnew wrote ALL of the Adolescents’ best songs. They clearly became a far less exciting prospect after he left. Myself is an extension of his Adolescents era output but with freedom and total control to really fly. "Falling Out," "Surfside" and "Yur 2 Late" are, in my opinion, some of the best punk songs written in America in the early 1980s. This album contains two of the elements which are a constant in most Royal Headache songs- melody and urgency. (Shorty)
6. The Go-Betweens - Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express
Although I am a fan of most of the Go-Betweens back catalogue, I feel that this fourth LP is their most consistent and cohesive album. I revisit Liberty Bell more regularly than I do the others. Everyone in Australia knows this band. They craft distinctly poetic Australian pop songs which could provide the soundtrack to every good Peter Carey or Robert Drewe novel. I decided few years ago now that I want "Apology Accepted" to be played at my funeral. (Shorty)
7. The Flys - Love and a Molotov Cocktail
The Flys were a great short-lived punk/mod/pop outfit out of Coventry, England. The "Love and a Molotov Cocktail" single was released 1977 or ‘78, I think. All three songs "Civilization," "Can I Crash Here?" and the title track are bonafide smash hits. Their following debut LP was good, but never quite reached the heights of this 7-inch. (Shorty)
8. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Eddy Current Suppression Ring
This record came out at an important time for me. I’ll admit I was a little burnt out on most local music. Not that it was necessarily bad, but I can perhaps attribute those sentiments to my headspace at the time. Previously, I had heard the ECSR singles which had me excited, but I wasn’t prepared for the impact of this record. This album hit me hard! It literally did not leave my record player for almost a year. It was easily the most exciting thing happening in the country. I don’t think I’d be going overboard as stating that this album is comparable in cultural importance in modern times as Stranded was in 1977. (Shorty)
9. Kitchens Floor - Loneliness is a Dirty Mattress
When I think of contemporary independent music from Brisbane, this LP is the first thing that springs to mind. I believe that it captures and exemplifies all that is musically important from that city. Loneliness contains 11 completely muted and fragmented pop songs. The whole record is delivered with this savage fragility which is so gut-wrenchingly honest. You just can’t ignore it. I love Kitchens Floor. (Shorty)
10. The Replacements - Let It Be
This record is like The Sandlot kids. They’re not the best baseball players in the world, they don’t have uniforms, they’re not pretty but they made your favorite movie of all time. Every time you watch it you’re gonna feel nostalgic for somewhere you didn’t even exist. I can’t explain it, but this is the one of the greatest records of all time. That doesn’t mean they’re the best songs you’ll ever hear (they probably will be). I know this record is a mess but you can’t help but love it. Something happens and all logic leaves. This is one of the greatest bands of all time, even though you know it’s not true. When you wish classic rock FM sounded more punk, you’ve been searching for this. (Shorty)
