The Thousands

From scrappy pop band to slightly less scrappy pop band. The growing interest in these Melbourne guys – Tom H, Tom R and Leon – helps sustain hope in the local music scene. While Tom H’s deep baritone timbre on earlier 7” releases had many likening Woollen Kits to Beat Happening (a descriptor that has been unfairly overused) new songs such as ‘Always’ and ‘Be Your Friend’ are brilliant in their simplicity.

If it was early nineties Spin magazine would no doubt be calling this ‘slacker’ rock and yes it has a loose and relaxed feel but there is also an honest charm to the dual vocal harmonies and snappy drumming. The opener ‘Sloan’ is about a junkie who used to come into Tom R’s cafe. ‘University Narcolepsy’ is an ode to all who have fallen asleep during a lecture.

The guys used to tell me that they had a stronger following in Sydney then they did in their home town but a song like ‘For You‘ is too good for regionalism. It’s universal in its awesomeness! File under ‘Great Aussie pop albums’ and place in the milk crate alongside your Twerps, Royal Headache and Dick Diver records.