Pinky Beecroft & TheWhite Russians -Somethin' SomewhereBetter

Thu 18th Sep, 2008 in Music Reviews

Pinky Beecroft not only sees himself as weird, but many people (particularly Machine Gun Fellatio fans) would also confirm this. He sees music as his life raft and on the debut album for Pinky Beecroft and The White Russians, he has found himself in the position of having his dream band: a rockin’ four-piece taking a new direction through different music. And while this is predominantly true for the album, there are still some of MGF’s oddball lyrics present in the songs (and that is only to be expected as the same guy is penning them).

Somethin’ Somewhere Better is named so because it reflects Pinky’s post-MGF life. But with his fellow bandmates Christian McBride (drums), Nick Stewart (guitars) and Ben T (bass) the intention was in fact, to recreate Cold Chisel’s East, with the role of Jimmy Barnes to be played by Angus and Julia Stone.

The album opens with Prosperity’s Purposes – simply Pinky and his band having a quick natter about the record. Scarlett is the record’s first ‘song’ and it sees grungy Nirvana-esque guitars played with a twist of lime by Pinky and Co. in a kitsch, lounge bar. Sunflowers is an epic piano-based track and a six-part murder mystery of similar ilk to Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Meanwhile, Someone For Everyone is an all-encompassing rock song with opening lines that will put a smile on your face: “He works in TV/ TV repairs.”

Another piano ballad is offered with Floor and this track is all about pussy, as Pinky juxtaposes lyrics about his cat with words that are the antithesis of Skyhooks’ You Just Like Me Cos I’m Good In Bed. Unsent Letter is a resonant and effective pop/rock song that seems to be winning over many fans, such that it could be performed by any group of stadium-rockers. However, the pulsing rock of This Hangover is a complete contrast. It is still a good sprawling rock song full of surprises where Pinky likens a hangover to a beautiful woman, war, a lesson and an antiquity. Finally, Pinky delivers an acoustic/country-inspired cover of Call Me from the midst of the desert.

On Somethin’ Somewhere Better Beecroft and Co. have mixed soft piano, personable lyrics, outright kitsch, rock and epic songs. Just as Pinky declares in the opening lyrics that he thinks he would like to try shoplifting, he has certainly “lifted” a few styles on here and made them his own.