Mt.Vic.Matt
One of my new favourite discoveries, this is getting a lot of plays around here, along with their equally excellent 2020 album: Serve To Serve Again. It’s aussie garage rock of the highest order IMO…check them out!
Favorite track: Hold The Line.
joyisresistance
Their best record yet in my book; even more than worth the wait. Listening to this band grow has been an absolute joy. Difficult to pick a favourite because it's packed with rippers.
Favorite track: Impact of Wisdom.
tinman73
More good solid post punk tunes aussie stylee. Not as catchy as the last 2-3 offerings. But hey, as primus once said, 'they can't all be zingers' right?
Keep up the fight lads!
Geelong’s favourite sons Vintage Crop return this winter with their much-anticipated fourth album, ‘Kibitzer’. Running with the ball that 2020’s “Serve To Serve Again” punted forward, this album marks another energetic break towards the goal for Vintage Crop. ‘Kibitzer’ sees the band define their field of play, more melodic at times, still bruising, forever droll. These ten tracks of ‘snappy as elastic’ punk are packed with tensile riffs, hefty beats and witty refrains of everyman curiosity.
‘Kibitzer’ was written in quick response to their critically lauded ‘Serve To Serve Again’ album. Harsh guitars, a brutish rhythm section and a knack for always having the right words at hand are still abundant, but this time Vintage Crop’s songs expand upon their forceful nature with greater harmonic arrangement. It was recorded by Jasper Jolley in one single session on a former apple orchard in Geelong, a backdrop that mirrors the band’s own organic growth whilst highlighting their willingness to approach capturing their own sound their own way. The album was then mixed and mastered by Mikey Young.
‘Kibitzer’ delves into themes of identity, resilience and acceptance; some of the more upbeat notions that the band have dealt with to date. ‘Casting Calls’ opens the record, slamming through the speakers with gusto and setting the tone for the following 30 minutes. “It’s rolling, we’re rolling, we’re winding back the tape, we’re getting better with each take” sings lead songwriter Jack Cherry. Accepting your limitations and taking pride in your work are key themes on ‘Kibitzer’. In fact ideas around learning, growing and being able to take things in your stride are strongly felt through their entire body of work. These themes hit home with the album’s title too, with Cherry feeling that ‘Kibitzer’ is an apt way to describe a lot of the band’s focus. “I feel like a lot of our lyrics over the years have been our unsolicited opinions on other people’s situations, the very definition of the word Kibitzer. So for this record we wanted to lean into that tendency by acknowledging it and even go as far as stamping it on the album cover.”
Musically the band have expanded their palette on this album; exploring a world of rhythmic harmony and newfound vocal melodies. There’s also greater lyrical elaboration and considered song structures at play. ‘The Duke’ is a mob of rollicking chants and heavy hitting, catchy to the core. ‘The Bloody War’ is a more sanguine reflection of tumbling drums, struck chords and shrill keyboard warble. “He’s got the keys to the universe and they’re hanging from his belt loop, his wit is as quick as lightning, his disapproving gaze is the thunder that follows” pipes Cherry on ‘Double Slants’, guitars chiming through the hubbub. ‘Hold The Line’ turns the wry amusement of dealing with cold callers into a fidgety anthem of knowing frustration. Whilst ‘Switched Off’ even welcomes the introduction of horns (courtesy of Heidi Peel) to the group’s repertoire, ushering in an unexpected serenity into their tough sound.
’Kibitzer’ is the giant leap forward Vintage Crop have been striving for; but you don’t need our unsolicited opinion on that, listen yourself, “put it on repeat”! ‘Kibitzer’ is proudly released by Anti Fade records & Upset The Rhythm on LP and digitally on June 24th.
credits
released June 24, 2022
All songs by Vintage Crop. Recorded by Jasper Jolly. Mixed and mastered by Mikey Young.
Winter McQuinn mixes soft rock and psychedelic folk for a sound reminiscent of classic pop purveyors like Cut Worms and the Lemon Twigs. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 16, 2024
These ballisticaly loaded tunes purposely deny a certain closure that is intended to keep one hitting the replay button. Well played Smirk, well played. jfpOne23