Skegss – ‘Pacific Highway Music’ album review: pure songwriting with a strong hit of wisdom
THE SKINNY: Skegss might now be a two-piece, but Ben Reed and Jonny Lani have not lost any of their unique potency. On their latest album, Pacific Highway Music, they supply 11 tracks that, while more explicitly reflective than much of their previous material, are brimming with astute punk perspicuity. This is reinforced by their habitual knack for a hook, a pool they have continuously fished but appears to still be abundant.
Skegss have never claimed to be trying to invent the wheel; that’s just not what their band is about. On the third album, their captivating blend of punk and indie not only brings forth the sun inherent to their native Australia as always, with many of these songs fit for stage diving, but they also demonstrate just how firm their grip on the craft of songwriting is once more. They’ve even thrown a dash of synthy textures in the mix to freshen it up.
While the tracks are ostensibly simple, Pacific Highway Music is exceptionally potent. It is just as capable of pulling core memories out of the psyche and causing a moment of gleeful reflection as it is providing moments of immense philosophical substance that make you re-evaluate where you are in life. Reed masterfully suggests we stop ruminating on the past and instead look to the future to enjoy the smaller things in life, which, in a world so obsessed with itself and how it appears to others, is greatly valuable.
Aside from these moments of pure weight, the duo craft a series of undeniably catchy songs, underpinned by a collective spirit not often heard in modern music, as well as their customary hooky riffs, big choruses, and, at points, a more expansive sonic character than before. To put it simply, this is proper music at its most unadulterated, and should be enjoyed as such.
For fans of: Shoeys, surfing, and reconnecting with long-lost pals.
A concluding comment from your mate who lived in Australia for four months six years ago: “Man, I love Skegss! I saw them in a bar in Byron Bay, and it was lit bro.”
Pacific Highway Music track by track
Release Date: October 18th | Label: Loma Vista | Producer: Paul Butler
‘Tradewinds’: Opening with a heady, sparse palette, one of the band’s classic riffs gradually emerges before they blast into the nostalgic body. Featuring Reed’s husky vocals, a catchy melody and an animated beat, it’s vintage Skegss. [4/5]
‘High Beaming’: From one infectious track to another, Skegss have a knack for songs that drive themselves into the mind. It’s ideal for road trips with loved ones, pre-drinks with friends, or hazy afters. It also contains some sage wisdom – “Life is never easy”, but do your best. [4/5]
‘I Think I Can Fly’: Kicking off with the introspective but animated strums, this is the kind of track that elicits old memories that were buried deep in the mind, of youth and happier days, as well as more recent ones that make you realise how contented with life you should be. [3.5/5]
‘Brain On The Highway’: Skegss have mastered toeing the line between happiness and melancholy on Pacific Highway Music, as the general essence of this track confirms. A distinct thread of sadness courses throughout this song, but it’s offset by a big chorus that dances closely with the minor chords that drive it, creating a substantial sonic character. [3.5/5]
‘Stuck In Cheyenne’: A return to a more driving rhythm. This song gradually envelops you as the overdriven guitar lines and textures protrude through the mix, consolidating the jangling chord progression. While based on being stuck in a town in America, it reminds me of the many seemingly endless days I spent cruising with my friends when the world appeared nothing but hopeful. Such is the power of music. [4/5]
‘Spaceman’: The best song on the album. It expertly builds up to a chorus that hits the sweet spot, with Reed’s chorus vocals, slightly distorted chords and those subtly brilliant slides linking up with the first syllables of the line, “I am so far from space, man” – just beautiful. The finale is also exquisite. [4.5/5]
‘Batten Down The Hatches’: When you listen to songs like this, you hear exactly why Skegss are such a resonant band for so many. Their tracks are personal but universal and provide a means of rich sensory abandon for fans. The simple chord progressions remain, but it’s the spirit of the band that sets them apart. [3.5/5]
‘Aeroplane Heart’: Punky and energetic, while Skegss may now be a two-piece, fans will be lapping this one up, whether it be the chorus, the catchy riff or the head-banging solo where Reed rips. [3.5/5]
‘Out Of My Head’: I absolutely love the main riff in this; it’s uncomplicated but so effective, once again casting the mind back on a life lived to the fullest, for better or worse. Furthermore, “Gotta get outta my head and make my own bed,” is exactly the kind of potent poetry that makes Skegss a great band, and Reed an underrated songwriter. [4/5]
‘It Is’: “It is so god damn beautiful”, Reed sings about a maudlin day, offering a significantly sobering point for those who may have encountered the black dog. It’s a brilliantly frank and defiant reminder that no matter how bad things might often seem, there is often happiness to be found in just living and not thinking about extraneous issues that really don’t matter. [3.5/5]
‘Kelly Heroes’: A perfect way to conclude. To end so splendidly, the duo institutes a stoned, laid-back groove, wherein we travel with them on the album’s titular Pacific Highway back in Australia. Perfect for a summer’s day or other less sun-blessed ones where you need a pick-me-up. [4/5]
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