Everett True reviews Brisbane, pt 1: Epithets, Ben Salter

Thought I’d instigate a new series here, show my willingness to get involved with the Brisbane music community – the good, the bad and the grunge. Whatever. Bring it on. Each week, I’ll review whatever’s been bugging me the most in my inbox, and then I’ll review whichever resulting comments bug me the most.

THIS WEEK: we’re not off to a good start.

Epithets – Blacklisted
Post-rock is a horrible term. Meaningless. I didn’t like Tortoise when I first encountered them in Chicago around 1993. I liked Lift To Experience, under severe weather conditions, in Brighton – but can really do without the beards. Loved Lift To Experience for 10 seconds, actually. I keep quiet about Mogwai, because Stuart is a lovely fellow. I don’t like drums that think they’re more important than either the vocals or guitars. Equality for all, I say. Tagged as ‘minimalist’ but it really isn’t. I like a wash when I’m having one in the sink, but not otherwise. And I thought The Cure sucked after the first two singles.

There’s a free download at the linked site.

DISCLAIMER: I’m hoping Nick Smethurst, the man behind this, might write for Collapse Board one day soon.

Ben Salter – The Coward
I’m not sure what to say about this. Classic Australian soft rock … um … it’s not a genre I’m a fan of. At all. You could call it melancholy, the same way you could refer to the disused skate park in Red Hill as ‘defunct’. Don’t like what they’ve done to his voice. Drawn-out. Serious. Ponderous. Bearable because I know Ben. Unbearable if I didn’t (I’m projecting here). “It was originally called ‘Yellow’, “writes Ben, “but Coldplay then had a huge smash hit with a song called that, the bastards, so I have had to change it. It’s about girls, share housing and moclobemide.”

There’s a free download at the linked site.

DISCLAIMER: I’m hoping Ben Salter, the man behind this, might write for Collapse Board anonymously one day soon.

by Everett True

My name is Everett True. I am a music critic. This is what I do. I criticise music. The clue is in my job description – music critic. I do not consider myself a journalist, as I do not research or report hard news. I do not consider myself a commentator as I believe that everyone should be a participant. I criticise people and in return I am not surprised if other people criticise me. It is part of the whole deal of being in the public arena. I am Everett True. Believe in me and I have power like a God. Quit believing in me and I no longer exist.