The Smallgoods - This isthe Show

Tue 14th Sep, 2004 in Music Reviews

This Is The Show – the latest seven-track release from Melbourne’s The Smallgoods - is a decidedly saccharine affair, displaying the band’s affinity for three-part harmony driven guitar pop. Irrefutably, guitar pop such as this does tend to portray itself as somewhat conventional and predictable, should the right level of obliqueness and experimentation not be achieved. Framed by the title track and closer The Reprise (effectively two parts of the one song on which Even’s Ashley Naylor joins the band on guitar), This Is The Show – while not truly groundbreaking itself - does present a band who in all likelihood will go on to augment the rock/pop genre.

The most outstanding track on the release, single Round And Around, encompasses manic keyboards and choppy, splicing guitars in a manner similar to that of Brisbane trio Sekiden. Musically skewed and dishevelled, Round And Around is kept simple enough for radio by the band’s gentle harmonies, to which the track’s current airplay can attest. This City’s Lights is also a highlight and while relying more heavily on a hook-laden chorus, it’s strengthened by mid-song guitar meandering and smooth basslines.

This Is The Show shows that The Smallgoods are capable of going far beyond the simple guitar-keyboard interplay on which pop is often based.