A bit of a mad one from right out of left field is the latest offering from Australia’s punk rock sensations Amyl & The Sniffers, and to be fair, it’s live, where they’ve really excelled with their sloppy punk n roll. Waving a big middle finger to anyone and everyone who ever doubted them, they have only ever danced to their own drum beat, and with this latest offering they’re doing the same. Stripping things down with a cowpunk live in front of a handful of people album taken from a movie, it’s raw as fuck, and the songs are fast and loose.

From the low-key opener ‘Big Dreams’, the tone is set once the drums and Bass join in; it’s off like a wonky rocket. A band quite happy to strip everything bare and let it all hang out, and that’s what makes this a winner. Amy hasn’t got the best voice in punk rock, but she’s got one of the best attitudes and delivers in spades and can be absolutely captivating. ‘Hertz’ is a good example, total conviction in what she’s doing and having a ball delivering it.

The production is even wonky and not for the purists or audiophiles amongst us, but it is for anyone wanting something out of the ordinary and captivating and delivered with the fun that’s intended. Something of a stocking filler for sure and a stopgap before the serious business of delivering the next album. I love the intro on ‘Jerkin’ and the pitch is perfect; we all know who she’s talking about, spot on, sister, right on the money.

It’s a theme running through the record. Fun! Something that’s sometimes missing; rock n roll is meant to be enjoyed. Sure, there can be a serious message at times, but rock n roll has always been risky, from Elvis and Little Richard to the Stones and the Punk explosion bands have always taken risks and put a smile on people’s faces doing it, and Amyl and the Sniffers hit the spot. Amy sings on ‘Chewing Gum’, and we get the very early ‘Caltex Cowgirl’; could have fallen off Johnny Thunders ‘Hurt Me’ wheras ‘Snakes’ is just mental. The Cover, ‘Lights On The Hill’, is solid before the shindig is signed off with ‘Bag Of Cocaine’, the newest song from the band that skates into Pogues territory, which is never a bad thing.

Thirteen songs, rowdy, beer-soaked, and fun is the name of the game, and as the sleeve notes say, play this ruckus to your mates and kick up a stink when listening. Enjoy! I did.

Buy Here