Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By The Superjesus, Warner Music 2018.
Here’s another in the series of anniversary releases I’ll be presenting over the next few weeks and it’s one of my favourite albums.
Twentyyears ago The Superjesus debut album, Sumo, hit number two on the ARIA Chart and now it has been re-released in an anniversary edition including additional material.
The re-issued CD version of Sumo comes with bonus tracks sourced from Triple J’s Live At The Wireless archive, as well as a super heavy, never heard before, studio recorded cover of Kylie Minogue’s Confide In Me.
It was through their performances on The Big Day Out festivals in the 90s that The Superjesus gained national recognition and a solid fan base.
Their heavy rock sound and the mesmerising vocals of charismatic front woman Sarah McLeod created their point of difference and revisiting this album has reinforced just what a good band they were, and still are.
Before the release of Sumo in 1998 The Superjesus had produced two well received EPs and started to make a name for themselves on the live music circuit, but with Sumo everything changed.
Sarah McLeod says: “When Sumo came out everything went big time. It was terrifying and exciting all at once… To be sitting here talking about it (Sumo) 20 years later, knowing that it was an important part of Australian music history and affected so many people along the way… it feels like an incredible achievement.”
The Superjesus have hit the road with an Australia wide tour to support the re-release of Sumo.
They are an incredible live act, amongst the best I’ve ever seen, so I highly recommend you make a bird of catching them if they come near your town. (Make sure you take your ear plugs).
