
Issue No 13		14 May 1999

Review

Ten Songs to Revolution

By Peter Zangari

We ask Labor Council's resident music critic to name the ten songs that define the nineties.

(1) NINE INCH NAILS- HEAD LIKE A HOLE

Trent Reznor was the Godfather of all things Industrial way before the gimmicky Marilyn Manson or Korny bands arrived on the scene. If you want an example of power and hatred, then no body does it better than Nine Inch Nails with the punch line: "I'd rather die than give you control". That line itself sounded too revolutionary for the class of the early 90's but today has obvious significance when you hear about failed former Victorian comedians cum business entrepreneurs trying to take control of worker's lives in the new information age. Your right Trent, I'd rather die than give them control.

(2) MASSIVE ATTACK- UNFINISHED SYMPATHY

This Bristol based group basically created the Trip Hop movement. This particular style of music fused electronic loops, hip hop breaks and soulful melodies with jazzed chords and big string sections, paving the way for the soundtrack of a generation. This song was from the album 'Blue Lines' back in 1991. Over the years, Massive Attack has worked with many artists, producing, remixing and re-inventing sounds like no other.

(3) NIRVANA-LITHIUM

In a scream of pop star angst the world of Kurt Cobain came to a grinding halt in April 1994. The singer/guitarist/songwriter was found dead in his apartment. The twenty-something millionaire alternative rock god shot himself in the head early one morning after enduring months of depression. This song sticks out because I saw Nirvana play a sweaty and overcrowded Hordern Pavilion in 1992 at the first ever Big Day Out. How many of us knew on that day that Kurt would never return to these shores again?

(4) ITCH-E AND SCRATCH-E - SWEETNESS AND LIGHT

Homegrown electronic music at its best. This outfit from Melbourne gave us the sweetest techno anthem for the middle nineteen nineties. Haunting samples together with a pouncing bassline make this track a definite inclusion in anyone's serious review of the 1990's music scene. These guys now go by the name of Boo Boo, Mace and Nutcase and are still churning out quality Australian beats.

(5) SMASHING PUMPKINS - DISARM

Lead singer Billy Corgan sums up Post Cold War reality in this song from the album 'Siamese Dream' by saying- "The killer in me is the killer in you". Actually, this song has nothing to do with International Relations . Instead, the Smashing Pumpkins circa 1993 were in the midst of World Domination. Pity that they went downhill from there. Their last two releases have been disappointing and go to show that most bands these days have the best formula for producing a quality album but don't have the depth to follow it up.

(6) PORTISHEAD - SOUR TIMES

The arrival of British outfit Portishead on the Trip Hop scene in 1994 marked the slow acceptance of electronic music into the mainstream. Portishead's music was a blend of melancholic, soulful melodies, hip hop beats and cool soundtrack music. Singer Beth Gibbons has one of the most unique voices which sparked a million imitators in the past few years. This song was the first single from the debut album 'Dummy', a must have in the collection.

(7) JEFF BUCKLEY- LAST GOODBYE

The death of Mr. Buckley came all too soon in May 1997. The son of tragic 70's folk singer Tim Buckley, his 1995 release 'Last Goodbye' was probably too prophetical for any fan in Australia. The song features Buckley as the master composer and falsetto singer doing what he did best. There was a double CD of unreleased Buckley demo's that came out in 1998 which was nowhere near as good as his debut album 'Grace' which is truly indicative of the strength of his musical ability.

(8) KEITH JARRETT - LA SCALA

This CD is a recording of Afro-American Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett's 1997 concert at the famous Milan Opera House. The whole concert is improvised and yet another outstanding piece of contemporary music history. The master instrumentalist takes the listener on a journey and continues on from his previous works. If you haven't heard the jazz pianists work before, one place to start would be the 'K�ln Concert' from 1975 which is now available on the ECM label. That particular CD is quite superb to say the least because it featured the first black-american musician in the early 1970's to play a packed out crowd in Germany.

(9) LAMB- GORECKI

From Britain, this Drum and Bass duo knows how to pack a punch. All that I can remember is hearing this killer track for the first time at the Vibes on a Summer's day Festival at Bondi in 1997, the day that the Wiseguys and Propellerheads first played in Australia. Starting off with an eery vocal, this track develops in to a huge beatfest. Check out their self-titled debut for more.

(10) POWDERFINGER- THE DAY YOU COME

From the album 'Internationalist' this single has a number of political undertones. It was written about the rise of the conservative Hansonite agenda in the past few years and its effect on Australian society.With a haunting chorus that grows on you, this track has to go down as one of 1998's greatest singles.

  A load of crap? You do better. Send us your ten best. A bit of politics is the only requirement. We might think of a prize if we get a few!

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  Issue 13 contents

Interview: Really Caring
Sam Moait will be sending a message from the 48,000 nurses who she represents when she takes her seat at the Drug Summit

Unions: Kicking the Habit
The architect of a trade union drug and alcohol program has revealed his own battle with drugs motivated him to help other workers kick the habit.

History: Remembering BHP: Memory and Industrial Heritage
The announcement of the intended closure of BHP�s Newcastle steelworks heightened the awareness that industrial heritage is more than derelict sites of production.

Review: Ten Songs to Revolution
We ask Labor Council's resident music critic to name the ten songs that define the nineties.

International: Union Lifts Lid on Rio Tinto Shame File
The global campaign against mining giant Rio Tinto has been stepped up with a new report alleging abuses of human rights, environmental and safety standards.

» Unions Warn Carr: Bosses Can�t Veto Second Wave

» Labor Council Backs Harm Minimisation

» Aquilina Urged to Talk as Students Offered Teaching Jobs

» Cutting Through the Budget Crap

» LHMU Demands Y2K Protection for Workers

» Cops Eye Airport Beat

» Spanish Workers Warned on Tax Agents

» Unions to March on Journey of Healing on May 26

» NSW Young Labor Turns 50!