Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Phil Jamieson, Global Robot Records 2022.
Phil Jamieson, the front man for Grinspoon, possesses one of the most recognisable voices in Australian rock music.
As the lead singer for Grinspoon he dominated our airwaves for 25 years and now he has released his debut solo album Somebody Else, which dropped mid last year.
Trouble is the first single from the album and it’s a beauty.
It’s a classic piece of Aussie pub rock, up-tempo and edgy with staccato guitars, a driving insistent beat, bubbling synths, and of course that unmistakable voice.
It’s a perfect introduction to the album and it comes with a great film clip.
The single was co-produced by You Am I’s lead guitarist Davey Lane which goes some way to explaining the potent guitar sound that drives the song forward.
The album has been out for almost a year and it’s true to say that it’s so far been a sleeper.
To date it’s reached number 51 on the ARIA charts but the album deserves to climb much higher.
The single is rockier than the title track, Somebody Else, which has a funky bass line and lovely mix that contains plenty of space.
This is not Grinspoon but another direction for Phil, and one that he revels in.
It’s lighter and poppier than the spoon but still with an alternative slant. We’re not talking bubble-gum, there’s no sticky sweetness, it still has that hard edge we expect from a Phil Jamieson release.
Phil pushes his voice into octaves he rarely ventured into with Grinspoon using his falsetto range frequently. And there’s a lighter melodic touch.
There are some really strong songs on the album. Indeed, as good as Trouble is I don’t think it’s the best cut on the disc.
Rebecca is a standout. It’s lyrically and musically strong. Emotional but not sentimental.
When you consider the quality of the tracks on this album it’s a wonder that it hasn’t flown up the charts. Give it a listen, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
