Pacific Avenue – Flowers (BMG) (Album Review) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pacific Avenue, a shoal of friends originating in 2017 from a NSW idyllic coastal surf town of Gerringong, focussed around two failed buskers heavily influenced by their contemporary Australian Indie Rock sound, the likes of Jet, Powderfinger and Silverchair, rooted in the history of The Rolling Stones, The Stooges and not forgetting Aussie past heavyweights like Hoodoo Gurus, Radio Birdman and, dare I say, You Am I.

They spent the 10s doing the hard yard playing live, releasing tracks and a single CD EP  Strawberry Skies in 2019 that wowed many, and were just about to release their debut when Covid hit. After the bleak days, and after a stream of popular singles, they released Flowers this month.

Ensconced heavily in the vein of Aussie Alternative Rock, kick-off track Spin Me Like Your Records’ is a fun danceable introduction to the album, very bright like classic Hoodoo Gurus in their heyday, while Strawberry Skies is much more a Dylanesque folk song that increases the energy (and the 70’s guitar influence) and Leaving for London is a rollicking Aussie indie rock tune in the vein of Paul Kelly or early Go-Betweens.

Easy Love has a pop vibe to it, and had me remembering the heyday of post-grunge bands like Blind Melon and Temple of the Dog, the trademark energy still a driving force. Someone’s Asking is one of two compulsory ballads, great songs for easy listening radio (it will keep the record company happy) Give It Up For Yourself is reminiscent of The Rolling Stones aka Their Satanic Majesties Request as is the album’s final song Lay Me Down.

In reviewing this album, I’ve gotten out of kilter with the track order, but in this modern world, that’s not unusual in the digital medium. Flowers is a fun album, full of energy, hooks and good quality indie Aussie rock. I reckon these guys will go down a treat at Kiwi Summer Festivals and I suspect we will see them soon (if they haven’t already) in this post covid world. However, the millennial moustaches thing is just off-putting (I think I’m showing my age now)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Simon Coffey

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