Triffids - Wide Open Road: The Best of the Triffids
by Jon Rogers
published: 26 / 4 / 2010
Label:
Domino Records
Format: CD
intro
Excellent compilation and also introduction to highly regarded 80's Australian band the Triffids
Perhaps it is a reflection on the geography of the vast country itself and its location to other English-speaking nations but Australia has a reputation for big-sounding rock anthems that just sound, well, big. Think of AC/DC’s stadium-pleasing heavy rock and INXS’ radio-friendly melodies. Then there’s Kylie Minogue’s cutsey pop. Of course there are exceptions like the Birthday Party and Nick Cave, the Saints and the Go-Betweens as well as more obscure (at least to British ears) groups like the Scientists, the Moodists and Hunters and Collectors. The Triffids, although being highly-praised during their lifetime by the critics, couldn’t really breakout of that cult status tag. Much beloved by those in the know but largely ignored by everyone else. Singer and leader David McComb, who was the focal point of the group, had an uneasy relationship with that canonical element of Aussie music. That sheer panoramic vastness was perfectly captured in ‘Wide Open Road’ with its big chorus and grandiose production but McComb was much more interested in personal nuances rather than making big, grandstanding gestures, using his acute sense of songwriting ability to craft heartfelt songs, usually tinted with a sense of disappointment. ‘Beautiful Waste’ and ‘Lonely Search’ captures that perfectly. McComb’s great talent was an ability to write beautiful pop melodies with a writer’s eye for observation and detail, much like Flannery O’Connor. Great, powerful songs, keenly observed and detailed. This compilation, essentially a taster for the deluxe box set ‘Come Ride With Me’ – or perhaps an alternative for those who can’t fork out the price of a box set that contains ten CDs – gives a great introduction to the band from Perth, giving a broad overview of them. Fans will obviously bemoan the fact that their own personal favourite has been overlooked but ‘Wide Open Road’ gives a good sampler and wets the appetite for more. It might be a cliché but great songwriting has that timeless quality but now with hindsight The Triffids production rather dates them. On songs like ‘The Seabirds’ there’s that slow build up and there’s just too much going on at times: a touch of strings here, a dramatic pause there. Which hints at a spot of over-production and perhaps a sense of a band just trying a bit too hard. But that was the production style at the time. ‘Wide Open Road’ acts as a calling card, an introduction to a band that drew on post-punk roots like Nick Cave as well as the more melodic The Go-Betweens and had the ability to just write beautiful songs. What more do you need?
Track Listing:-
1 Wide Open Road2 Red Pony
3 Reverie
4 Beautiful Waste
5 Hell Of A Summer
6 Property is Condemned
7 Raining Pleasure
8 The Seabirds
9 Lonely Stretch
10 Stolen Property
11 Kathy Knows
12 Bury Me Deep In Love
13 A Trick Of The Light
14 Jerdacuttup Man
15 Too Hot To Move, Too Hot To Think
16 Goodbye Little Boy
17 New Years Greetings
18 Save What You Can
Label Links:-
http://www.dominorecordco.com/https://www.facebook.com/DominoRecordCo
https://twitter.com/DominoRecordCo
https://www.youtube.com/user/DominoRecords
https://plus.google.com/+DominoRecords
interviews |
Interview (2006) |
Underrated in their lifetime 80's Australian group the Triffids are in the process of having all six of their albums reissued. John Clarkson talks to he group's pedal steel player and historian Graham Lee about the band's legacy |
profiles |
In the Pines/Calenture (2007) |
John Clarkson examines the reissues and legacy of Australian group the Triffids'1986 and 1987 albums, 'In the Pines' and 'Calenture' |
live reviews |
Barbican, London, 9/4/2010 |
Little known in their original lifetime in the 1980's but now much acclaimed, Anthony Strutt at the Barbican in London sees the surviving member of Australian group the Triffids play a heartfelt, but over lengthy tribute to their former and late singer David McComb |
favourite album |
Born Sandy Devotional (2006) |
In the latest in our 'Re : View' series, in which our writers re-examine albums from the past, John Clarkson looks at Australian group the Triffids' haunting 1986 masterpiece 'Born Sandy Devotional', which has just been reissued |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Flaming Stars - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Kula Shaker - Natural MagickIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for Bread
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Inutili - A Love Supreme
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart