Slightly Odway

About

Released just three years after Jebediah formed during high school, <i>Slightly Odway</i> became an instant classic of Australian alt-rock. The Perth quartet were very much of their time, taking their name from a <i>The Simpsons</i> reference and matching singer/guitarist Kevin Mitchell’s bratty, nasal vocals with loose hooks and bristling swathes of distortion. Yet, the chemistry between Mitchell, his drummer brother Brett, lead guitarist Chris Daymond, and bassist Vanessa Thornton made for preternaturally great songwriting that has stood the test of time. “Jerks of Attention” may feel like it’s equally in conversation with Nirvana and You Am I, but it’s robust and refreshing enough to initiate Jebediah into such lofty ranks. And beyond the requisite balance between bright jangle and gnashing noise, this debut album packs lasting surprises like the tender standout “Harpoon”—cue the earnestly drawn-out refrain “Like a harpoon in my heart”—and the rap-riffing breakdown in “Teflon,” complete with record scratching. While Jebediah’s career later became overshadowed in part by Mitchell’s twangier second act as Bob Evans, this record remains a fairy-tale moment to which young Australian guitar bands might aspire. Three decades later, it’s now complemented with seven songs recorded for triple j’s Live at the Wireless series in 1997, along with some engaging B-sides and a clutch of scrappy demos for songs that never even saw release, including the hook-driven “Billy” and brooding “Green.” Amid that primordial ooze, you can hear how Jebediah drew out melody and pathos from the era’s prevailing angst and made a lasting statement about the confusion and excitement of being young.

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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