<Ultimo - The Beasts (Slick Productions)

"Ultimo" by The Beasts is the final nail in the Beasts of Bourbon's recording coffin.  As Tex Perkins told bandmates in an email proposing its release, the title's definitions include -Finale, Conclusivo, Defenitivo, The Last.

As if you didn't know, The Beasts comprise former members of the Beasts of Bourbon and were conceived to record one more time with an ailing Spencer P Jones while honouring fallen bass player Brian Hooper. The "Still Here" album was spawned and toured before The Beasts lost drummer Tony Pola, also to cancer.

Re-convening with founding Beasts of Bourbon drummer James Baker, now also terminally ill, doing more shows was a way of connecting the historical dots and keeping him on the planet. Call it musical therapy. A couple of gigs led to an extensive national tour earlier this year.

Starcrazy – Starcrazy (self released)

As the lights fade on 2024, it would have been a travesty not to review “Starcrazy” in full instead of just including the album in a Top Ten list. Glam rock with a touch of Van Halen isn’t the usual fare around these parts but stay with us because the debut LP for this Sydney band is one sweet ride.

My first glimpse of Starcrazy in the wild was during capacity-constrained COVID, in the confines of The MoshPit, the cosiest drive bar in Sydney. The band were then aged in their early to mid-20s. I remember being in awe at their skill levels but being confused by the range of their set and thinking how great they would be if they worked out their band identity.

Prime Cu*ts – Meatbeaters (Heavy Medication)

Over 24 years and five albums Adelaide’s Meatbeaters have never minced words, so seeing how the rest of the world takes to their good, honest low brow Aussie humour on this ball-tearing compilation from Polish label Heavy Medication is going to be a hoot.

Eleven slices of Meatbeaters high-energy over two sides of vinyl and subtlety isn’t anywhere to be seen. That should be no surprise from a band that’s named past long players “Crusty Seamen” or “Carry On Tuggin’”. Yes, it's Yob Rock, but it’s not just about beer (drinkin’) and skittles – there’s also a song (“Spit Roast”) about being pilled-up.

Call The Dogs – The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs (Heavy Medication)

Their youthful days of diving across tables and sliding down the length of venue bars are probably behind them but they still matter: If The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs have made a bad record, well, you know the email address. The veteran LA outfit gets off the chain again on this four-song 10-incher, their first release since the stellar “One More Drink” album of 2021, and it hits the spot as well as any dive bar cocktail.

These days sax player Geoff Yeaton is firmly integrated into the line-up and adds an extra dimension to the Cheetahs’ trademark high-energy Detroit sound. The title tune is as good an example of that, featuring some stabbing guitarwork from lead vocalist Frank Meyer and Bruce Duff.  

Settle Down – Crankees (Evil Tone)

The album does not fuck around so the review shall not: Sydney’s Crankees encapsulate kicking against suburban ennui like Eddy Current Supression Ring did 20 years ago, but won’t attract the same adoration because they don’t come from Melbourne.

Where ECSR complained about boredom and negative ATM balances with what, at times, seemed like resigned ambivalence, Crankees sound, well, cranky. It’s punk rock that never tries too hard. The other truth is that “Settle Down” deserves to be heard further afield.

In The Zone - Mick Medew and Ursula (I-94 Bar Records)

Hello I-94 Barflies. Well folks, The Farmhouse has been rocking this past week because I’ve been listening to the new Mick Medew and Ursula “In The Zone”. What a follow up to “Love Is Calling”.

“In The Zone” is classic Mick but what makes this so interesting is how Ms Ursula has taken over some of the songwriting duties to come up with some bloody classic tunes

Mick and Ursula have been joined in the studio by Mick’s Mesmerisers bandmate, the wonderful Lois Andrews, on bass guitar and newcomer Stuart McLaughlin on drums. Ex-Mesmeriser Brian Mann also lent a hand on production while contributing some guitar, drums, bass and vocal parts.