Triple J Hottest 100 Australian albums of all time: Why "mainstream" radio is crap

Yes. I called Triple J mainstream. These days it's basically a feeder station for Austereo. If a band makes it "big" on Triple J, it becomes high rotation on the other networks. And Triple J is almost fully a playlist station now. You can turn it on at any time and hear mostly the same stuff. The same crap stuff.

But the farce that has my blood boiling is the Hottest 100 Australian albums of all time. This is where we, the voting public, got to choose the best albums to ever come out of this country of amazing music.

You can read the results here. And while you do, imagine me hanging my head in shame. Maybe even shaking it slowly side to side looking wisftul.

Did you digest that list? Do you feel shame at some of it? I know I do. Before I rant any further, here's my contributions to the vote, and why:

Carpathian - Isolation (for a country of great hardcore, this album truly stood out and showed what we know at all of the local shows we go to)
Gerling - Children of Telepathic Experiences
Gerling - When Young Terrorists Chase the Sun (These two albums still get played by me a lot, pure gutiar pop (with a bit of electronica too)
Grinspoon - Guide to Better Living (It's the album that started it all, even if they sing about dead cats. Three times)
I Heart Hiroshima - Tuff Teef (raw indie-pop, experimenting with a non-traditional band format and having some catchy hooks)
INXS - Kick (One of the greatest Australian albums ever, massive international success combining funk and rock)
Living End, The - The Living End (punkabilly at it's best. How many of us didn't shout out the lyrics of Prisoner of Society to any teachers/power figures after this album?)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Murder Ballads (not his best work, but probably the most successful album from Australia's king of goth, culture, art, music and basically everything. It even almost made me like Kylie Minogue)
Silverchair - Frogstomp (it's where it all started. The angsty teens)
Testeagles - Non Comprehendus (joke vote, at this point there wasn't many albums left in their list I'd consider. And 12 years on I still love this album with it's weird nu-metal vibe)

Right, so here's what's wrong with the list that actually made it:

1. Nick Cave only got 2 mentions, all in the bottom 50. He has a body of musical work that should elevate him above legend status, to some musical-god status. But no, he gets shunned.
2. The following bands should not be in it at all: Gypsy and the Cat, Sleepy Jackson, Art vs Science, Karnivool, Birds of Tokyo, Temper Trap, Empire of the Sun, Tame Impala, Josh Pyke and Angus and Julia Stone. They are good bands on their own merits (well, some of them), but the albums aren't old enough to be "BEST OF ALL TIME"
3. The Saints. Number 80? No. Top 30 at the worst.
4. Cold Chisel at number 65. Sure, this isn't the Triple M countdown, but Cold Chisel did a lot more for Australian music than nearly any other band.
   
5. Some of the bands are right, but the albums are so wrong. Spiderbait? Ivy is awesome, but where's Grand Slam, the album that made them almost as popular as their later days Black Betty cover? How did Something For Kate's breakthrough (and most stunning) album Beautiful Sharks end up 32 spots below it's more recent and meh release? How did Sarah Blasko's newest album end up higher than her amazing debut?
   

Actually, you know what? I quit this rant. I could keep going on and on and on and on. Does this make me a musical elitist? Probably. I think the problem is that the Triple J public have short term memories and short attention spans. The public being those that vote and participate. Those of us that grew up on Triple J and miss the days of old left years ago. That's why I love 4ZZZ. They'll play anything and everything if you just ask nicely. And they're not afraid to play something new and out there that doesn't pander to the general audience.

But for something completely different, I agree with their number 1. Powderfinger's Odyssey Number 5 is just a great album in its whole. I imported it to the USA when I lived over there. That's how much I liked it.

(Oh, and PS, any Triple J hate does not extend to Short Fast Loud. I love that show and Stu covers all the bases with the diversity and constant shifting of his weekly playlist)

Hardcore dancers: a rant

It seems I've been ranting a lot lately, probably because of me being an old jaded man. But as I sit here, 16 hours later, with a swollen face, a black eye and a ringing headache that hasn't fucking quit since last night, I figured this rant is allowed.

Hardcore dancers, fight dancers, mosh lords, whatever you want to call yourselves, show a little respect for your fellow punters please.

I say it a lot, hardcore and punk fans are some of the best in the world. No matter what, there'll always be a few people dancing and really getting into the music. It's great to see people feel something at a gig and be motivated enough to move around. I've got nothing against your dancing. I think it's hilarious to watch and bloody stupid to participate in, but you know what, I don't care. Enjoy yourselves. That's what we're supposed to be doing at a gig.

I'll move aside, I'll give you room. However, when you impede on other's people's private space and start involving and trying to hit people who are actively avoiding it, then you become nothing more than a dickhead.

Swinging fists, flying feet, it's ridiculous to think it's going to do anything but cause damage if it connects with someone.

Last night I saw Cruel Hand/Phantoms at Sun Distortion Studio. It was a great show. As expected, during Phantoms, the pit opened up. Well as much as it can in a room with only about 5 metres width. No problems, I got out of the way. I took the animations you see in this rant now. It was all fine, you only involved those that wanted in (although my camera, and JHat's too, seemed to get close to getting hit a few times).

But during Cruel Hand, that's when shit turned nasty. I was pushed right up next to the merch desk, leaning against the wall. It's as far away as I could get in that corner. Not an ideal place to take photos, but I would think out of the way, as there were a few people in front of me. Oh, how wrong I was. A few songs in and you assholes decided to push everyone out of the way and go wall-to-wall. Next thing I know, a fist comes flying across my face, hitting me hard. I went down. I was groggy. I had no idea where I was for a few seconds.

I couldn't get away, I was just trying to watch the band and take a few photos out of your way, and you had to come at me. I ended up with a bloody nose, a black eye, a swollen face and a fucking headache that won't quit. That's what I get for trying to stay out of the way and enjoy a show. You probably don't realize that you did it to me, but it happens a lot.

A couple years ago I was sitting at the back of a crowd at the Big Day Out watching Enter Shikari. Nowhere near the pit, probably 30 to 40 metres back just standing around. The next thing I know, a crowd surfer lands on my head, and as I stand up some asshole fight-dancer swings his fists right into my gentleman's area. The rest of the day was a blur. I was out of it completely. According to someone that saw me afterwards, I was just sitting on the edge of the highway looking lost and confused after the festival.

So seriously, if you're going to fight dance, at least keep it to yourselves. We give you room and don't chastise you, why can't you show the equal respect and do it back?!