Apple of Life - Dom Mariani (Alive Naturalsound)

From the tumbling drums and Spector-lite touches of opener “Breakaway” to the keening country pop of single “Jangleland”, this album is classic Dom Mariani.

In a long career spanning The Stems, Majestic Kelp, the Someloves, Datura 4 and DM3, the man has never stumbled. “Apple of Life” adds another sparkling gem to the back catalogue.

Mariani’s travels have taken myriad twists and turns but strong songwriting has always been the axis on which his journey turns. So it is with “Apple of Life”, which mines the usual seams of powerpop and rock but this time adding strong country touches. Glimpses of ‘70s pop and New Wave peek through and gives the record its own distinctive edge.  

Faith & Fumes – Brian McCarty (Electric Lab Recordings)

So there I was at some Indiana Sunday night punk rock juice bar, circa ‘87-ish, half blinded by strobe lights and taking liberal pulls from my handy flask. I was probably wearing some kinda gloomy trench coat, a NY Dolls T-shirt from High Street in Columbus (either from Mothra or Magnolia Thunderpussy), ripped jeans with band logos sharpied on them, combat boots, lots of hair spray and bad Cure kid makeup.

I'd just gotten outta juvie, where they'd stuck me in solitary for a month, for lippin' off to the kind of creep who thought that juvenile corrections seemed like a worthy calling, and that month alone made me even weirder and more stubbornly determined to escape the never ending abuse and behavior modification bootcamping of those plantation states.

The band on stage were doing some kinda crazy, confetti colored, frenzied clash between Hanoi Rocks and the NY Dolls with bubble gummy Ramones choruses and atomic energy. The songs I think I remember from back then were about defending free speech, freedom of the press, choosing one's own preferred lifestyle, and fighting the P.M.R.C. and Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority ("Smut") and struggling to find a redemptive romance while being stuck working low wage blue collar jobs ("Gasboy"). I think they were already playing "Downtown Nowhere" that night, too, which became a big favorite among our small group of peers. Always adored, "You Threw Me Away", as well. I could instantly relate to everything they were doing.

I missed the 2024 deadline for a Top 10 because I struggled to recall 10 things musically that gave me a lift. I came up with five and gave up. I saw a bunch of live stuff that really gave me the shits so that doesn’t count. Says more about me than the music scene.

Although I could put together a list of 10 excellent music things this year, I thought I’d take a different tack and go all academic on you because the thing that has been most on my mind this year is all the bands hating on Spotify and jumping off it. Partly because of its piss poor payment to, and chronic exploitation of, musicians.

Spotify isn’t alone in this. Although at the bottom end of pay per streams they are in stellar company with YouTube Music, Apple, Amazon and Deezer. But the main reasons artists are boycotting Spotify is because of Daniel Ek’s investment in Helsing, a German AI drone defence company. Purportedly established to boost the defence of European Democracies in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

-three 
_{The. moment "Punk Grandma" placed number in the 4ZZZ Hot 100}

1. “Punk Grandma” being voted number 3 in the 2024 4ZZZ Hot 100!

The countdown was held in The Triffid and our song was in the running. It was great fun for Mick and me to hang out with fellow local musicians and friends!!

2. Playing live
Mick Medew and Ursula will have played 16 times this year, 14 times as the four-piece and twice as the duo. Shows for the 4 were in Newcastle, Sydney, Gold Coast (supporting The Johnnys), The Triffid (supporting The Painters and Dockers where Jeremy Oxley got up and sang “Happy Man” with them), a 30^th birthday in Goodna, twice at Banshees in Ipswich, instore at Sonic Sherpa, at the Lovejoy reunion at The Junk Bar, two gigs with The Boondall Boys, and our single launch at The Cave Inn (where we had a pizza named after the band for November).

Give Me Another Hœur Please God - Woolworths Flu Shot (Self released)

There is nothing more pathetic than boomers who lament there are no decent bands anymore.

Sure, they’re not as bad as the ones who go on about shitty, awful tribute cover bands populated by burned-out has-beens, or those people who think |godawful vineyard gigs with heritage acts responsible for the worst Australian music of the 1980s are somehow relevant.

Don’t listen to any of them. Some of the edgiest, toughest and most inventive bands are Gen Z. OK, it’s sometimes like panning for gold to find the nuggets of wildness, but they are out there.

It was a Wednesday night a few weeks ago when I dropped into the legendary and edgy Nimbin Hotel in Far Northern New South Wales. I entered to the sound of blisteringly loud noise as the bar’s floorboards shook.

“Black Milk 35^th Anniversary”
The Beasts
with guests Rob Younger, Hellen Rose, Richie Weed & John Schofield
+ The Johnnys
+ Richie Weed and The Strays
+ Unsound
The Factory Theatre, Marrickvile, NSW
Friday, December 12, 2025

Words & Pictures: THE BARMAN

When the definitive mainstream version of the history of Australian rock and roll finally is penned, the Beasts of Bourbon are unlikely to get their dues. History is written by the victors and its telling needs to be simplistic if it’s to have the desired effect of "moving units".

I once shopped a manuscript of a Radio Birdman member (no, not Chris) to a bunch of publishers to be told by one of the biggies that they saw no market for it because the band’s fans couldn’t read.

Despite dancing with a broad audience in the early ‘90s, the Beasts of Bourbon narrative is just too convoluted, edgy and unconventional to suit straight publishers. Not that this need be a deterrent to enlightened ones. 

_{Colin Gray (right) with Kim Salmon.}

It’s been another productive year at Vicious Kitten Records with new album releases by Kevin K & The Bowery Kats, Pillbox NYC and (next month) the new album by Melbourne outfit Girl Monstar, who have reformed and recorded a new album after a 30 year hiatus!

Before I get to my top 10, I want to acknowledge the efforts of two cats who are responsible for the incredible sound and artwork on the Vicious Kitten releases – being sound wiz Ernie O at his Urban Fringe Compound, and the best graphic artist in the biz, Mark Rubenstein. I cannot recommend these two guys enough. If you need creative design/art for your project in 2026, Mark is your man. In terms of rock ‘n’ roll highpoints for the year just gone, it’s challenging to narrow it down to 10, but here goes……..

1. Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier - "Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier"
Chris Klondike Masuak returned in 2025 with renewed fire in the belly and creative juices overflowing to deliver one of THE rock albums of the year. Masuak has released many killer solo albums – but this is arguably his magnum opus. That’s not a statement I make lightly either, given the high calibre of material on 2019's "Address To The Nation" and 2016's "Brujita" albums in particular. I’ve stated many times that as a solo artist the rock 'n' roll he is crafting stands on its on merit and is on par with the output of any of his previous bands. Dog Soldier goes one better. The songs are killer, the playing is first rate, the sound is sonically superb thanks to mastering guru Ernie O and the album artwork is terrific. This is the complete rock ‘n’ roll package and one of THE Australian albums of 2025. Check it here.

2. Anne McCue & The Cubists – "Wholly Roller Coaster"
Once championed by the likes of Lucinda Williams and Nancy Wilson, Nashville based Australian singer/songwriter/guitarist Anne McCue has released several great albums of inspired blues-oriented roots rock over recent years, but in 2025 she has gone one better with the release of "Wholly Roller Coaster". This is an album of stunning psych pop with a nod to "Sgt Peppers..." and swirling surrealism that stands as of the best releases of the year for mine. An amalgam of kaleidoscopic pop and lyrical themes that focus on the wonder of life, this is one you need to hear. It’s out on vinyl too.  Check it here.

3. Smoked Salmon – "Smoked Salmon"
I can’t recall if this was released late last year or early 2025, yet Kim Salmon did a run of shows in March this year to support the album’s release and live, particularly with Claire Birchall doing a lot of the lifting, it was another musical high point for the year. "Hey Hey Narcissus", "Hell In A Handbasket" and the killer "How Did They Ever Manage" are just three highpoints from an outstanding album, with the enigmatic Kim Salmon again coming up with the goods. Check it here.

4. Peter Simpson – "Good Times Gone Bad"
A conventional mainstream music profile counts for a lot. It means you can release an album and an established fanbase will both hear and or purchase it. Media marketing also creates awareness and means it may reach new ears and sales. Despite a rock pedigree extending back some four decades, (including the Dubrovniks), Sydney based singer-songwriter Peter Simpson is neither a household name or part of the mainstream. In 2025, he did however, release an album of stellar garage rock that should, in a just world, elevate his musical profile to that aforementioned mainstream status – it’s that good. Littered with strong hooks and catchy melodies, this is one of THE Oz releases of 2025 and one you need to hear.  Check it here.

5. The Naked Lunch – "Wish You Well"
The Naked Lunch released a stupendous album of supreme power pop in 2023 called "Real Gone". They have a new six track CD out called 'Wish You Well' that goes one better. A ton of hooks, pop sensibilities and killer riffs. This is their third release since 2020 and if you haven't yet got on board - you need to! With a lineup whose pedigree includes Steve Beves (Melting Skyscrapers), Tony 'The Kid’ Roberston of The Hitmen/New Christs/Hitmen DTK, Tony Jukic of Hitmen DTK and Murray Shephard of the Screaming Tribesmen, Fun Things and Hitmen DTK – you know there is musical muscle behind the material – and what great material it is. "Wishing Well" and "Sammy’s Made My Day" are just two of my faves, yet the entire six tracks are killer. Check it here. 

6. Pilots Of Baalbek + The Undermines, Dissent Bar, Canberra 12 July 2025
A night of incendiary Rock Action on a freezing Canberra winter night from the two best bands in the nation’s capital. Pilots of Baalbek have two great albums out and a style that fuses retro vibes with modern power resulting in a sound that is quite their own. Their last album, "By The Seat Of Our Pants", is essential, and its on LP as well. The Undermines slayed all with their legitimate stamp of high energy rock that draws from the Motor City to the New Christs and then some. They released a four-track EP this year called "Holy Fool" and its essential. Check out the Pilots here, and the Undermines here.

7. Hollywood Brats – "Hung Like Stallions"
There have been some notable rock ‘n’ rollers important to me pass on this year - including David Johansen, Rick Derringer, Honest John Plain of The Boys and Andrew Mattheson of the Hollywood Brats. Although the Brats only released the one album before splintering off to The Boys and London SS in the mid-'70s, both that album and legit-star frontman Andrew Matthewson laid the blueprint that so many would follow. There's a cool label out of Norway called Big Dipper Records doing their best to reissue and release new material from some of Norway’s best – and this year they released an album of previously unreleased material by the Hollywood Brats called "Hung Like Stallions" and it has all the swagger and raunch ‘n’ roll that defined the Brats. 100% recommended.

8. Ricky Byrd - "NYC Made"
Most well known as guitar-slinger for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts for a decade (until '91), Ricky Byrd released his fourth solo album this year and its his most interesting, most personal album to date. A proud Bronx native raised in Queens and a lifelong Yankees fan, Byrd pays homage to the soundtrack of his youth with this album, with influences from the Raspberries to The Who to The Stones to The Yardbirds and Sam Cooke. It’s a rock-solid album with plenty of memorable and catchy tunes, including ‘Transistor Radio Childhood’, and the Mott The Hoople-like ‘Glamdemic’ Blues’. Great record this one! Check it here 

9. Richard Davies and the Dissidents - "High Times & Misdemeanours"
The sophomore album from Richard Davies is stunning. He is one of a handful or UK artists I consider essential listening. Slyder Smith is another, so too the incredible Marc Valentine if you dig contemporary power pop done right with a nod to the past. Both these guys have new singles out that are worth checking out. Anyway, Davies cut his teeth with underrated London alt-country/ Americana outfit The Snakes and released his debut album in 2020. His new album betters it, and channels Southside Johnny & The Ashbury Jukes, Tom Petty and Ian Hunter to great effect. He is one hell of a singer-songwriter with High Times & Misdemeanours one hell of an album. The powerful cover of Divinyls' "Human On The Inside" reason enough alone to check it out.

10. Tyla J. Pallas - Gilding the Lily
The brand-new album from Tyla (the Dogs D'amour) was released in in 2025 and it’s a monster, with 18 tracks and a range of styles – from pirate ballads to romantic hobo tunes to gritty and raw blooze numbers characterised by whiskey-soaked vocals and a ton of heart – there’s a legitimacy and originality to Tyla that makes him unique. He is still a cult fave in the UK, yet hopefully (optimistically even) Gilding The Lily may see him tour beyond Blighty and out to this old colony one day. We live in hope! Check it here.

Here’s my top 10 live shows from 2025, in chronological order: 

1.  The Schizophonics: La La La’s, Wollongong & Factory Theatre, Marrickville – January  
I was fortunate enough to catch The Schizophonics twice in January. A cracking rock band fronted by an over medicated hyperactive octopus, Pat Beers. They had the entire audience smiling their whole set both nights. Most excellent! 

2.  The D4: Mary’s Underground, Sydney – February 
I’ve dug the The D4 since their first album, 20 odd years ago, so there was no way I was missing their first Sydney show in yonks. Gotta admit to being a bit nervous though, would thThis Woy Woy line-up is Outtaspaceey still have it? Would they be a good as I remember?? Yeah they fuckin were!! Ripping set! Killer Rock n roll with all the hits! Dion thrashed his geetar at the end ensuring no encore, perfect! 

3. Sun Ra Archestra: Factory Theatre, Marrickville – March 
Sun Ra’s free jazz is soothing for me, so this show was a must. A 20-odd ensemble of musicians playing spaced out free jazz in psychedelic outfits - memorising! The 70-year-old band leader doing backflips at the end was the icing on top.