18.
The John Butler Trio
Grand National

Politically charged, multi-layered indie rock from down under. John Butler (and the other two randoms involved) offer up an eclectic album, albeit one that remains accessible throughout. There are elements of reggae and ska here, but also folk and jazz. All of which is hinged on Butler’s often frenetic, and always technically astounding, guitar playing (Rocco Deluca should face him in a ‘slide-bar off’ – winner takes all). The lyrics are no where near as polemic or interesting as Butler thinks they are, of course. Equally, whilst it is nice that all the packaging is recycled, the fact that the band harp on about it in the inlay is posturing hippy bollocks. Those gripes aside, there is plenty to admire here. ‘Better Than’ takes a simple lick and builds it up into a heartfelt sing-a-long about human potential, ‘Funky Tonight’ is five and a half minutes of breakneck acoustic guitar insanity (fingers of fire!), ‘Gov Did Nothing’ is funk-tastic, and ‘Caroline’ is a bittersweet gem. Huge in their native Australia, they should certainly be given some airplay here, because this is quality stuff.