Gin Club - Deathwish
by Dixie Ernill
published: 2 / 12 / 2010
Label:
Plus One Records
Format: CD
intro
Eclectic, but uninspiring fourth album from Brisbane-based country rockers, the Gin Club
Queensland's the Gin Club are a strange musical beast with seven permanent members sharing lead vocal duties and often swapping instruments when playing live. As such they aren't straight forward to pin down and current album 'Deathwish', their fourth, is no different, which makes for an interestingly eclectic listen, but ultimately one that is difficult to fall head over heels for. Lazily they have been compared to iconic fellow Australians the Go Betweens, but in truth other than being from the same country it is hard to see the similarity. To my ears they seem more similar to Augie March, the Triffids or the Church, but sadly on the strength of this album are not quite as good as any of the above. My only previous encounter with the band's music is a couple of fine cuts from their previous LP, 'Junk', in the shape of 'Ten Paces Away' and the heartfelt ballad 'You Me and the Sea', but nothing on 'Deathwish' quite matches up. I, however, have a soft spot for Australia and in particular, Queensland, having spent a couple of Christmases there in recent years and can see why the Gin Club could go down well in the likes of Bangalow or Byron Bay. Their songs seem to switch between middle of the road rock, such as 'Eternity', 'Pennies' or 'Rain', harmony rich folk numbers ('Say You Will' and 'Book of Poison') and understated ballads like 'Slow Down' and the female fronted 'Milli Vanilli'. The title track even hints at the National, which is certainly a plus. In the warmer climes of Australia I would give this album a solid 7 out of 10, but in the cold and damp of Northern England, it only registers a disappointed 5
Track Listing:-
1 Pennies2 Say You Will
3 Rain
4 Deathwish
5 Choppin' Wood
6 Book Of Poison
7 Slow Down
8 Do Right
9 Eternity
10 Milli Vanilli
11 Gone
12 I Am My Own Partner
13 Shake Hands
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
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