Share LEAD US TO THE OCEANS - The Coalminers Sect (Sect Recordings)
Hailing from Western Australia, The Coalminers Sect have self produced this ten track album. They have sunk their hopes and dreams of fame and fortune on two hundred copies. I imagine they'll give most of them away in hope of a review or airplay. It's a difficult row to hoe. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I don't know about that. This disc is paved in plenty of good intentions but I wouldn't go so far as to describe it as anything close to hell. For the most part it's pretty good. No. In fact I'd go so far as to say the guitars are actually better than pretty damn good. I know plenty of better known bands who would be envious.
Lyrically, there is no rocket science to be had here but there is simple raw emotion and that more than makes amends. Musically, the song writing is appropriate and, in places, even reminiscent of Brisbane band "The Hits". Garage psychedelia collides with American proto-grunge, the Gun Club and a touch of Johnny Thunders for good measure. Unfortunately, the songs do have that annoying nineties tendency to throw in an awkward chord just to make a point. Chucking in a B flat when you know it should be an A was clever the first time you heard it but the charm of that trick wore thin quickly.
I guess we also have to talk about the vocals. Well there is the point that snakes really enter paradise. Singer Jason Cleary isn't awful but he's not that great either. It's kind of like hearing the recorded works of Pete Townsend or Keith Richards. All the moves are technically in the right place but it's just a little unconvincing and monotone. It sounds like a demo waiting for a real singer.
"Set You Free" hints at an asthmatic Sonic Youth. "Mean Side" plays with country pop and is probably the best song of the collection. Kelly Cleary's backing vocals suggest she should perhaps be pushed more to the fore at a risk of emulating Kim Gordon.
Now, I'm not going to heap a pile of shit on this disc because it certainly has its good points. That said, I certainly wouldn't buy it. I imagine I'd happily sit through a set of them playing this live. The trouble is, a record needs more than that. You may want to check their MySpace page, particularly if you make a habit of disagreeing with my reviews. - Bob Short
1/2
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