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Monday, December 5, 2011

REVIEW - JACK FLASH "Jack Flash" Self-released (2011)


Jack Flash “Jack Flash”
Self-released
Release date: October8th, 2011
Running time: 31:40, 10 tracks

When one writes about Australia, the readers immediately think of Melbourne and/or Sydney. Great bands hail from these big cities, but we should not forget that Australia is not only Victoria and New South Wales. Recently I have reviewed Mutiny Bay’s debut album. Mutiny Bay are from Brisbane, Queensland. Now I’m reviewing another band from Queensland, Toowoomba born oufit JackFlash.

After some EPs and singles, Jack Flash have just released their debut album. The CD (about how Australia was born and the different struggles that helped to build their country) is titled “Jack Flash”. But, perhaps, “Fight & Pride” would be more appropriate. Why? Just listen to tracks 1, 3, 4 and 5. All their lyrics contain those words. If you are not sure, then have a look to the artwork.

Musically the sound is based on fiddle and banjo and/or mandolin. The band states that their influences are acts as Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Redgum, The Pogues and The Bushwackers Band. To keep it simple, the music is more FM than DKM, but the lyrics are more DKM than FM. I say to keep it simple, since I feel that lyrically the band is a blend of Weddings Parties Anything and The Men They Couldn’t Hang. And, both musically and lyrically, I can hear echoes from the excellent Aussie band from the late eighties Midnight Oil.

Which tracks would I pick? “Battle of Eureka” (Australian country music), “Thievery” (when I’m listening to this track, The Roughneck RiotMutiny” comes to my mind) “Interlude” (more bands should include instrumental tracks on their albums, shouldn’t they?), “Shearers Strike” (if cow punk is a sub-genre, this tracks is sheep punk) and “A Convicts Tale

Mining, livestock, strikes … topics are typically Australian, and so is Jack Flash sound. Celtic punk? More than that. Colonial punk is an entity and Jack Flash self-titled album is one of its main exponents.


Tracklist:

01 – Rebel’s Revenge 2:53
02 – T.B.P. 2:26
03 – Battle of Eureka 3:10
04 – Reclaim 2:55
05 – Queensberry Rules 4:07
06 – Thievery 3:45
07 – Interlude 1:22
08 – Augathella Station 3:55
09 – Shearers Strike 3:04
10 – A Convicts Tale 3:59

http://www.jackflash.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/Jack-Flash/54397746525

http://twitter.com/jackflashband

Click to buy:


http://www.jackflash.com.au/shop/jack-flash-album/

Mp3 available on iTunes and CDbaby

Review by Kinksmarkham


1 comment:

  1. Great band. Another band I learned of thanks to you. Bought the CD last night.

    ReplyDelete