Cheap Trick, Devo, Blondie, The Police, Foo Fighters, QOTSA, KISS, AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Aerosmith, Slade, Rose Tattoo, Adam Gilchrist, Alice Cooper, The Beach Boys, Shane Warne, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Horsehead, David Bowie, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Sounds Like
The Androids
‘Outta Ya Mind’
Heady rush. Speed and post punk sass. Melbourne’s ‘The Andriods’ fuse a contemporary freshness with strong traces of commendable retro; a rare place, these days, where were a ferocious enthusiasm for life on some kind of edge is married to a sense of melody that survives even the most frantic riffing.
There’s a simplicity here that now seems rare. You might see it in the song titles – there is even a ‘Whole Lotta Love’, for Chrissake, which is accompanied by ‘2 Cool For School’, ‘On the Radio’, ‘Teenage Romeo’, ‘You’re So Hardcore’ and the highly self explanatory title track. Those believing that a certain naiveté is strongly hinted here would certainly have a point. I do not know the exact geographical locale of ‘The Androids’ but, listening to this lively collection, I can’t help but think of some lost chick lined beach where beery barbies last deep into the night and small town disputes bubble and fizz in the undertone. This is a place where Ramones meet Undertones, where Dickies meet Green Day; a place where Avril Lavigne might dream.
What is curious is the fact that such a band should be largely ignored in the UK, which is a scene desperate for a band that achieves a simplistic vision with such a natural elegance. In a land where post teen loitering appears to be locked in the staid expression on McFly, we should be welcoming a band such as The Androids, who add a cinematic vision – and a genuine talent for primal melody – to juvenile thrash.
The answer may lie in the unhappy dismissal the UK appears to hold for the vast and various scenes from the big Australian cities. When one thinks of the punk legacy, from The Saints, Radio Birdman to half of AC/DC, arguably the greatest unpretentious rock out band of all time, it seems off to see bands like The Androids cast adrift.
I have played this, in the car, in front rooms, at discos and it always forces a smile. That’s the true retro nature of this exceptional album…carrying the listener to the beauty of lost innocence. And, boy, in these austere days of belt tightening realism, do we need to relax a little. Chill out, slap on Androids and enjoy the view. - Mick Middles (The Guardian) (largest daily newspaper in UK)
After a three year break, The Androids return to the fast lane with a thumping rock radio song called Whole Lotta Love. It is typical of The Androids style; draw the listener in with a gorgeous singalong pop melody and then slam in some party-wrecking guitar chords. Right from the start of their career, The Androids had one basic philosophy: take no prisoners (but have fun while you;re doing it).
Whole Lotta Love is the first single off their second album Outta Ya Mind, which is due in winter.
It coincides with The Androids return to live action. They're opening on P!NK's 33 shows until June, and then launch their own headliner tours around the country. Trips to the UK, Europe and the United States are being negotiated.
So how did The Androids' new single share its title with that Led Zeppelin anthem which launched the term heavy metal?
Explains band singer, guitarist and songwriter Tim Henwood, "I was playing guitar with Rogue Traders who of course had that huge hit Voodoo Child. I was explaining to James Ash of the Traders how Jimi Hendrix had a song with that title, and he had no idea! He's such an avid dance music fan that he'd never heard the Hendrix song.
"I thought that was so hilarious, so I decided I'd write a song with a title of another well known rock anthem. It was purely a flippant thing. I meant to change the title but never got around to it. I wrote it with James Kempster, with whom I played in Mark Seymour's band."
Tim adds, "Led Zeppelin's version was about sex. Mine is about loving other people and breaking down barriers."
Don't take for granted what you got in your life
Who do you turn to when nothing feels right
Someone who holds you and makes you believe
It's alright, it's alright
People telling you what's right and what's wrong
You've been hearing it for way too long
Don't spend your whole life thinking you don't belong
It's alright
We gotta whole lotta love!"
The Outta Ya Mind album sees The Androids focus on their strengths. The world of The Androids is a land of teen angels with dirty faces, where the kids are always alright, and Kiss, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Slade and Cheap Trick rule the jukebox.
The band burst onto the scene a few years ago with the single Do It With Madonna from their self titled debut album. They were formed by Tim Henwood and drummer Marty Grech. Both had begun to play around Melbourne clubs in their early teens and become best of friends.
Tim also played with The Superjesus for a time, and co-wrote the bulk of their Jet Age album. He quit to devote his time to The Androids, which also includes bassist Matt Tomlinson and guitarist Sam Grayson.
Their Androids's reputation for aggressive take-no-prisoners live shows hit saw them play their dream gig; opening for their idols Kiss in Melbourne. When Do It With Madonna became a Top 10 hit in Britain, the band toured there to huge success. "We were getting mobbed on the street," Tim remembers. They played the Millennium Dome to a crowd of 80,000.
Remembers Marty, "The Androids really found ourselves during that UK tour. We had the best time of our lives."
But things went quiet afterwards, while The Androids unplugged themselves from their former record label, management and record production team. During that time, Tim went off to play with Rogue Traders, Marty bought a bar and Matt and Sam played with other groups. They also began working on a second album, which they scrapped when they realised it was probably too self indulgent.
But in early 2006, all the planets began aligning again. They signed with a new record label in SonyBMG and new management with Peppermint Blue. Going back to reacting to their instincts gave The Androids a will to survive. Work on Outta Ya Mind started in Melbourne's Sing Sing studios. Co-producing with Tim was U.S. producer Klaus Derendorf, who previously worked with Aerosmith and Santana.
The sessions sizzled so much that recording and mixing was completed in four weeks.
"We knew we wanted to make a contemporary rock album that we could take back to the world," says Tim."We had 30 songs to choose from - almost three albums' worth - and each one of those songs had to justify their existence on the record."
Since you guys are my friends I though you might want to check out the hot new Vagrants vids from the recent Hi Fi Bar gig http://www.youtube.com/thevagrants
Also 10 songs live recorded live at The HI Fi on Myspace at www.myspace.com/thevagrantslive
Just wanted to let you know that you still have a couple of weeks to download our new EP, "We Never Like You Anyway", for free off our myspace page. Hope your having a nice chill monday.
To all our myspace friends only (wont be offered through the store!!!) we are offering a huge 40% discount off all ESP and LTD guitars...If you purchase a 200 400 500 or a 1000 Series Guitar you will also recieve a FREE GRM Guitar Rig Mobile valued at $299, cya soon :P
Hi, Great to have you as a friend!! Best wishes, Mike (Brett Huckfield's promo team). PS Please check out Brett's debut release 'Here Again' (available on iTunes, Amazon, Napster etc.) Hope you enjoy the music!!
Hiya, Thanks for the add I hope if you get a sec to stop by my profile & check out my new video for my first single just released called 'Give It Up', you enjoy & thankyou in advance for taking the time Best musical wishes
We'll be watching by the light of the moon. We'll be playing by all of the rules while becoming the wolf after midnight. By day we'll bulk up and hang by the pool with long wet hair that looks so cool. We'll be howling by the light of the moon While biting your neck after midnight.
No, no, no, no, no... Not just the one gig in Bendigo?? Couldn't believe when I saw an update saying you guys and Boom Crash Opera were playing!? Melbourne?! x
Hey!! Your Dallas Tv Producer Jt checking in here.. YOU MUST!! Check out the new videos in my videos!!!!..lol.. "Everybody Hates Chris-Sko" A Musical and Visual compisition of different productions and "Who The Fuck is Lil Flip"? Let me know what ya think!!!!! Peace
Hey guys thanks for accepting me. My dad used to do security when u were still at PC3. U might remember him, Peter Russell? Big guy, bald Goatee? But thanks 4 the addy! PS; He still has ur signed copies of ur first two and the band b4 Androids. See u
