Rove Live album review - by Rove McManus


From the opening single Things Have Got to Change through to final track Judas Cart, Bastard Life or Clarity by Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts (or as I like to call them to save on space, TOFOG) have produced a fine album to wrap your auditory senses around.

Although, much to my disappointment, there is surprisingly little grunting to be found on the album, there are plenty of good hard-rockin' tracks such as Memorial Day and The Legend of Barry Kable which are tailor-made for people like myself who excel at air guitar to strum along to (tennis racquet optional).

Being the thorough reviewer that I am, I have also found myself taking careful note of the lyrics as well as the thumping tunes – try telling me that ain't thorough! For example, in Sail Those Same Oceans, lead singer Russell Crowe suggests, "You can stay awake tonight, thinking up a dozen names". Now, I tried that last night and could only come up with eight or nine, so this alone signifies to me why TOFOG are far greater people than I could ever aspire to be.

I actually keep asking them if I can join the band, even as a triangle player, but the boys assure me that "instruments of a shape-based nature or any other for that matter will not be required of you at any time in the history of this planet, thank you". I guess I can only hope they change their mind.

Until that day comes, I will have to remain resolved that the closest I will get to TOFOG is by listening to Bastard Life or Clarity whenever and wherever I can. Thank God it's such a darn good album.