My Top Australian Albums

The Age has compiled a list of Australia's best rock albums to commemorate 50 years of Oz rock. They've landmarked Johnny O’Keefe’s The Wild One, which came out on July 5th 1958, as the song that kicked it all off.

Here's my top 10 oz albums

You Am I ...Saturday Night 'Round 10'

Everyone puts down Hourly Daily or High Fi Way as their You Am I favourites but this is my pick. You Am I are a hundred times better live, and this album which was recorded in a warehouse in Richmond, captures the special energy that the band have on stage.

The Loved Ones--Magic Box

I discovered the song 'The Loved One' when INXS covered it on Kick. When my old man heard me playing it over and over again, he hunted through his old records and dredged up the original single by The Loved Ones. I thought it was fantastic and still do. They're kind of like an Australian version of The Animals--only better. Gerry Humphries must have the deepest vocals in Rock and Roll.

Magic Dirt--Young and Full of the Devil

Psychedelic feedback drenched melodies--seesawing between catchy and weird. They've gone a bit poppy for me with their last few albums but this album gets the balance just right.

The Scientists--Blood Red River

Raw and swampy. These guys influenced Mudhoney and heaps of other grunge bands. Kim Salmon has been slaving away on the oz music scene for decades with little recognition--he definitely deserves a guernsey.

Nick Cave--Murder Ballads

A dark and interesting concept and fantastic songs. The collaborations with PJ Harvey and Kylie work really well.

Beasts of Bourbon--Black Milk

I wasn't sure which Beasts album to pick but this is as dirty and sleazy as they get. You feel like you need a wash after you've heard this.

Snout Circle High and Wide

Superb pop songs and strange beatnik lyrics. Australia's Beck.

Dirty Three Ocean Songs

This one was also hard to pick. All of their material is brilliant. This album really captures feelings of tides, waves and sand.

The Cruel Sea The Honeymoon is Over

Really infectious. The instrumentals get you shakin' it and Tex will get you singing along... "Gonna send you back from wherever the hell it was you came, then I'm gonna get this tattoo changed to another girl's name."

Darren Hanlon Fingertips and Mountaintops

This album hasn't left my CD player for about a year. Really catching melodies and funny but poignant lyrics..."Because love is just a lazy generalisation that we use for 100 different feelings and as many situations going through each others pockets is not like us and flattery will get you somewhere and your happiness is just a chemical" (From Happiness is Just a Chemical)