You Am I - Convicts

Tue 9th May, 2006 in Music Reviews

Since 1992, You Am I has been one of Australia’s most seminal bands, carving its image into most of the national/international rock sensations that followed. Setting the record with three consecutive number one albums and winning a slew of ARIA awards,  all signals pointed to big things.Yet a metaphoric clown car of bad luck and worse timing prevented world domination and since the release of the last album Deliverance in 2002, this ragged quartet has become more known for their lows than their highs. Dumped, drunken, and divided, ye of little faith would have written them off. Yet, the seventh album from the weary yet wise band pulls on all experiences to achieve a return worth the wait.

Aptly entitled Convicts, You Am I’s return is a flury of activity and the results sound similar. Recorded in sixteen days, the band throws down everything they have in short punky bursts coming in at just over thirty six minutes in length. An edge that has arguably been lacking from the past few albums has comeback to form a sound combining the rock of #4 with the raw edge of Sound as Ever and the lyrical story-telling of Hourly Daily.

The first track, ‘Thank God I’ve Hit the Bottom’, starts the album off on a corker of a foot. Coming in at a quick one minute fifty two, the song is indicative of the whole short and sweet LP. Its round chord progressions are artfully punctuated by the well-callused Rogers, oiled from years of cigarettes and vodka. The power of his vocals are shown throughout this track and the whole album, and while it is not technically perfect by all means there is a defined strength and character that can more than carry any song. When thread over the feedback filled first track, ’Thank God…’ is one of the stand-out tracks on the album.

And a You Am I album wouldn’t be right without the unique and intuitive vocals written by frontman Tim Rogers. Few bands have ever mentioned Christmas lists, paradiddles, life in the ACT, and pizza faces in the same album, but they miss out because it is one of You Am I’s strengths.  Lyrics like “I’ve got dime bags stacked up like trophy wives” in ‘Thank God…’ and “with friends like you I could throw away my TV” in ‘Friends Like You’, show the band haven’t lost their sense of humour and can provide good fodder in rowdy pub choirs. On the other hand, lines from ‘Secrets’: “I gave you the last thing that’s truly mine/but your secrets are safe with me” and ‘The Sweet Life’: “For the sweet high life and those long goodbyes/Do I have to pay such a price”  will help soundtrack any break-up.

Since the side-project of Rogers, The Temperance Union, is a more subdued affair that swaps the guitar rock for a more alt-country twinge and steals most of the ballads from Rogers’ repertoire, Convicts has been filled with You Am I best balls out rock ‘n’ roll.  And while ‘Secrets and Thuggery’ begin to remind fans of ‘Heavy Heart’ or ‘Damage’ the rhythm section builds it back towards the pace of the others. 

Drummer Rusty Hopkinson and bassist Andy Kent show why their services have been in constant demand elsewhere.  In the lapse between albums Hopkinson has been filling in on the sticks for other rock legends Radio Birdman and Kent recorded the bass for the latest Vines album. Their work on this album leaves little doubt as to why they are the best in the business. Like old favourites Hourly Daily and Hi-Fi Way it is possible to listen to the underlying beats throughout the whole records without getting bored.

Convicts is an undoubtedly strong return from a legendary band. Yet every month with so many records produced that receive play and are then forgotten, it must be understood how rare it is for albums like Hourly Daily and Hi-Fi Way to still have such a strong following after ten years. With such a high standard behind them, the only criticism of this album can be found in that it is doubtful that Convicts will have the same impact ten years in the future. While only time can be sure, I do not hear any songs that equal the power of ‘Purple Sneakers’ or ‘Berlin Chair’ here and while it is You Am I themselves that have set such high standards, it is difficult to see them being met.

Yet after four rocky years, the band has pulled themselves back from the brink and delivered an edgy album with a strong flow and memorable melodies. It’s thirty six minutes of what You Am I do best and while it’s only rock ‘n’ roll, I bloody well like it.