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Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts by Jud Block When I first heard that single, strident trumpet note rise to the surface in the opening of Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts debut release, Bastard Life or Clarity, I immediately knew this wasn't going to be the usual foray into roots rock. And I wasn't mistaken; hell, I guess I still have the random lucid moment now and then. The band hails from the land of Paul Kelly, also known as Australia, and they combine an intriguing mix of 80s new wave, pop, and rustic bar rock to create a sound that borders American roots rock, but still maintains a distinct Aussie quality. If they'd added a little didgerido to the equation, who knows? This just might have qualified as part of the groundwork for Aussiecana. Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts is comprised of Garth Adam (Bass), Dean Cochran (lead guitar), Russell Crowe (vocals, guitar), Dave Kelly (drums), Stewart Kirwan (trumpet, vocals), and Dave Wilkins (guitar, vocals). Not surprisingly - - especially when considering, as Kinky Friedman or one of his cohorts said (I think), Texans are the closest thing to Australians we have in this country - - TOFOG's first real U.S. popularity began in Austin, Texas. And since, in my opinion, Austin and New Orleans contain two of the most knowledgeable music crowds in the country, to be accepted in either town is usually a good indication that you can play. The Austinites are rarely wrong, and their streak continues with Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts. The first noticeable feature of TOFOG's sound is the vocal similarity Crowe has at times to David Bowie, especially when Bowie sings in a lower register. It's not an imitation, you're not going to put on the CD and think it must be Bowie's latest project, but there is a parallel. The song that first caught my attention on the disc was the second track, "Memorial Day." It has a slightly melancholy undercurrent to it, which seems appropriate when considering what the day actually stands for; in fact, it provides a much needed reminder that the day is more than an excuse for an extended weekend. Look at the green grass Come every April "Hold You" is all about lust and the pursuit of the unattainable object. It conjures the feeling of when sober desperation becomes drunken possibility; slightly dangerous, primal, and exhilirating. This time is no different If you knew what I was thinking Crowe, who either wrote or co-wrote all ten of the tracks, delves into the socially conscious side of things with "The Legend of Barry Kable." It's about the brutality of addiction and life on the streets. If Bukowski had been Irish, he may have found this one at the bottom of one of his bottles. Painter and Docker, piss-head and boxer Well he'd ride with me, spit on me, "Somebody Else's Princess" is what pub rock would sound like if it had been written by members of The Cult and Sisters of Mercy. Hard rockin', slightly ominous, and enough sexual tension to kill most fundamentalists. Just add ethanol, and you've got yourself a volatile concoction. Red hair deep blue eyes Take me away I'm splitting out of my skin Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts might get publicity, but more than not it will
be for all the wrong reasons. They are a talented group who have a made
a CD that deserves to be taken on its own merit, outside of cinematic
considerations. If you don't know what I'm referring to, good; if you
do, put aside your prejudices, and pick up a copy of Bastard Life or Clarity.
Aside from having the best title of the year, it's also some damn fine
music from down under. by Jud Block
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