Classic Aussie Rock on Full Throttle
Aussie Petty Fan | 09/18/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Now most of you folk outside Australia would remember this rock band for their smash hit "I Touch Myself" and possibly one of their finest songs from their last album, 1996's Underworld, that was used on Melrose Place, "I'm Jealous". You may want to go back a little further to the early 80's when Mark, Chrissy and their band broke onto the Aussie scene sharing venues with another emerging giant, INXS.
The Divinyls quickly established themselves as a unique rock/new wave act with Chrissy's sexy and quirky and distinctive vocals and presence as rocks wild woman. She went to see ACDC and saw Angus, and after that she donned the sexy school uniform with suspenders and that became as big a trademark as he wild vocals that are just as good as Suzi Quatro, Stevie Nicks, Blondie or Chrissy Hynde, but Amphlett never got as much attention and respect as she eventually found.
I will go through the songs for those of you not too familiar with some of the bands stuff.....
As the title of my review suggests, the rock of the first song "Boys in Town" comes at you full throttle. It is a classic rock song here in Australia perhaps about Chrissy's struggle with the rock scene, which was by and large a mans world.
Next is the song "Science Fiction", which underlines Chrissy's range in her voice. She sounds as sexy as Kylie Minogue here and the little inflections she gets with her vocals add to this new wave/catchy pop song.
"Siren" is a fast paced new wave song with some nice guitar work. Mark and Chrissy take turns with the lead vocal.
"Only Lonely" was another significant hit for the band. This signalled the emergance of melodies in their music and is a good mid tempo rocker.
This next song rocks. "Casual Encounter" is a song with some sexual connotations. It also had attitude and a few nice key changes. At this stage Chrissy's personality was stamped all over the bands songs. This song still sounds fresh.
"Good Die Young" isn't as good as the rest of the songs. The next song is more like it.
Chrissy absolutely shines on "In My Life" which rocks and has one of their most catchiest choruses and a hilariously spoken bridge by Amphlett. This sort of song would be a smash today if a band came out with it.
"Pleasure and Pain" was their biggest hit to date in 1985. It is classic Amphlett. It never looks backwards, is direct with question "please don't ask me, how I've been getting off?" You may remember the song with the chorus "It's a fine line between pleasure and pain, you've done it once you can do it again, what ever youve done dont try to explain, its a fine, fine, line between pleasure and pain"
By this stage you start to piece together who was the inspiration behind Kath's boganish voice "look at moy kimmy" from the TV series, Kath and Kim.
"Sleeping Beauty" was one of their rare ballads and is more commerical and pop than their previous rock and new wave sound. Here the band is more restrained, this was a good radio hit.
"Tempermental" rocks but not in the raw and desperate way as their earlier stuff, it sounds a little too produced for traditional Divinylites but it's not a bad song.
"Back To The Wall" was the best song from the 1988 Tempermental album. It's a rock ballad with some very melodic guitar from Mr McEntee and a soothing vocal from Chrissy.
Next is "Hey Little Boy" a cheeky song sung with a laugh and a sneer. It is the opposite of Hey Little Girl and is an infectious song with the "ooh ooh"
"Punxsie" is a ballad and its quite good. It is probably an obscure song but it was a minor hit over here.
"I Touch Myself" if you are reading this still, you know all about this song. It was a worldwide hit at a time where the band were at its International peak fame wise. The video was controversial filmed in a convent. It is a sexy song. Funnily enough some loyal fans though the band had sold out at the time but looking back it gained them alot more attention and we laugh when people call the Divinyls a one hit wonder, something they clearly weren't.
It is sad to think that their best stuff came after this when contractual and financial difficulties prevented this band hitting it even bigger with their album that BMG would only release in Australia.
"Love School" is a darker ballad with chiming guitar and is the direction musically in which this band would follow until disbanding in 1996.
"Make Out Alright" was a minor hit in the US and you may remember it. It is a good song, not as good as "I Touch Myself" but deserving of being a hit.
Now comes the good stuff.
The harrowing "I'm On Your Side" is a standout song. It is a ballad with Chrissy's amazing voice accompanied by an acoustic guitar, it is unadulted and straight from her heart.
Oh, the band did a song for "Buffy" it was the Rascals cover, "Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Anymore". I love key change and Chrissy's vocals are fantastic. This song was a massive radio hit in Australia.
"I'm Jealous" is a heartwrenching song. "what she got that I don't" "I'm liable to do anything, I might kick her face in" Sings Chrissy is one of her best vocal peformances. The song pulls no punches, is hard hitting, and you have guessed it, Chrissy is jealous. This is their best song in my opinion. It starts somber but then bang! it rocks. The guitar work is great throughout with Mark picking an acoustic and a Rickenbaker getting that full ringing sound. Make no mistake, this song could have hit #1 in the US. But the legal and financial wrangle prevented it getting a proper American release at the time.
The last song, from the same album, Underworld, "Human on the Inside" was the 3rd or 4th hit here from the album. It is very catchy, and honest.
This is a great collection from The Divinyls, and alot of songs you may not have heard, but let me tell you, check it out, especially the last few songs from what I rate their best album, which sadly was their last as a band.
Recently the band were inducted in the Aussie Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This greatest hits package celebrates their contribution as one of our finest rock bands.
"
Desperate is better
Michael J. Mathes | Chicago | 06/19/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is an good start but you can do better. Their first disc "Desperate" is by far a five star disc, pure attitude that's what makes this a great disc but very hard to find."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1