Alien Nosejob – ‘Turns the Colour of Bad Shit’ album review: bringing new life to DIY garage punk
THE SKINNY: Some albums take years to perfect, with artists going to extensive lengths to make sure that every little detail is completely without flaw. On the other end of the spectrum, the accessible nature of music-making in the modern age has given rise to a variety of DIY artists capable of pumping out multiple albums per year. Hailing from Australia, Alien Nosejob is just one example of these prolific and tireless artists, and his latest record, Turns the Colour of Bad Shit, comes only ten months after his previous effort.
As a member of multiple DIY bands in Victoria, namely Hierophants, Leather Towel, Modal Melodies, Smarts, The Frowning Clouds, and, most notably, Ausmuteants, you would be forgiven for thinking that Jake Robertson’s thirst for songwriting and performance has been well and truly quenched. However, Robertson spends his downtime writing and recording music for his side project, Alien Nosejob, under which he has released a total of seven albums thus far. Turns the Colour of Bad Shit is the most recent instalment in his solo discography, and it might just be his most infectious release yet.
Awash with fuzzy guitar tones, innovative recording and production techniques, as well as a staunch DIY ethos, Robertson’s latest record is an absolute triumph for garage punk. At this point in time, the garage punk genre is incredibly oversaturated, and so it can often be difficult to find new angles and themes to explore without sounding derivative or generic. In contrast, Alien Nosejob is effective in breathing new life into the scene, tackling a variety of different topics ranging from authority to nepotism over the course of a ten-track record. Each track is delivered with unwavering energy, power, and passion, which makes the album very difficult to dislike.
You certainly get the sense, upon listening to Turns the Colour of Bad Shit, that Robertson is incredibly dedicated to his craft. Although the record is imbued with his own unique sense of humour and satirical lyricism, at the heart of Alien Nosejob is a deep-rooted need for musical expression. Robertson makes music for himself, solely because he has thoughts and emotions that he can express through a creative medium.
At no point on this record does he make an effort to make the songs more palatable for mainstream audiences or tone down the severity of his message to make the efforts more universal. It seems as though Robertson is making music predominantly for his own enjoyment, and that is an incredibly beautiful thing.
For fans of: Supporting your local music scene by going to grassroots venues and spending the entire time in the smoking area, not listening to any of the bands.
A concluding comment from Ben’s housemate: “I mean, it’s a pretty decent album, but I’m not going around actively advertising the fact that I’d listen to an artist called ‘Alien Nosejob.’”
Turns the Colour of Bad Shit track-by-track:
Release date: September 20th | Producer: Jake Robertson | Label: Drunken Sailor/Anti Fade/Total Punk
‘Bird Strike’: There is no dead air when it comes to Alien Nosejob, and Roberston wastes no time in diving right into the aggressive, fun, and fuzzy garage punk at the heart of this album. His strained vocals act as a perfect accompaniment to the synth on this particular song, which sets the tone for the album to come. [3.5/5]
‘Trapped in Time’: Taking audiences on a raucous, adrenaline-fueled sonic joyride, ‘Trapped In Time’ espouses Robertson’s ability to create chaotic yet infectious garage punk blended with a variety of different genres. The horns on this song, for instance, border on old-school ska at points; a refreshing change in the sound of Alien Nosejob. [4/5]
‘The Ostrich’: Awash with guitar-led angst and easily digestible lyrics, this track represents all that garage punk should be. Okay, it might not be the most groundbreaking song ever written, but it effectively conveys a certain attitude and emotion with a seemingly effortless lack of grace. [4/5]
‘MAU’: Despite having a distinct and unwavering sound, somehow Alien Nosejob is effective in preventing his music from sounding too overly repetitive. On the surface, this song is fairly similar to the previous instalment, but each and every song conveys a different meaning and emotion, which is incredibly impressive, particularly for a DIY punk project. [3.5/5]
‘Living on a Crust’: Although this is the shortest track from across this record, ‘Living on a Crust’ certainly packs a punch. Paying homage to old-school punk and garage rock, the song is endearingly DIY; the guitar tones alone are worth the price of the record. [4/5]
‘Annoying Riffs’: Denouncing the phoniness and banality of mainstream music trends and local scenes, Robertson’s attack on the music businesses showcases both his unique sense of humour and his dedication to originality and DIY ethics with Alien Nosejob. [4.5/5]
‘Gone to Gowings’: At three minutes long, this one of the longer efforts from this album, but it certainly does not feel like it. Due to Robertson’s blitzkrieg guitar playing and confrontational vocal performances, the track flies by in a haze of garage anger – praise be the repeat button. [4.5/5]
‘It’s So Easy’: Taking aim at nepotism, privilege, inherited wealth, and a variety of other issues that are rife throughout the music industry, this song acts as something of a rallying cry for working class and DIY artists to challenge those privileged attitudes within music. [4/5]
‘Another Uniform’: Many of the themes explored on this record are fairly commonplace within punk music, but Alien Nosejob manages to present these themes – authority, in this case – in interesting new ways, which are certainly worth commending. [3.5/5]
‘Medical Treatment’: It is a good job that this album is only ten tracks long; Roertson has barely lifted off the accelerator thro=ughout and, in all honesty, it is fairly knackering from a listening perspective. Nevertheless, there is something to be said for the euphoria of mosh-induced exhaustion. [3.5/5]
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