Named after Gough (The Whitlams in general)

Member Name: buster19761976

Product:	The Whitlams in general
Date:	24/04/02 (158 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Catchy varied stuff, Talented musicians

Disadvantages: Too varied for some, Rare in UK, Earliest stuff not too great

First, if you are expecting an list of albums with reviews, then don't read on - I don't do that. I will try to pass on an idea of why you might like The Whitlams, or why you might well not.

The Whitlams are a band with a history. They started as a three piece playing in Sydney pubs, and spent most of their time at The Sandringham (The Sando), which forms a recurring theme in their songs. This Australian line-up has changed over the years for reasons that I'll explain in a moment.

The lead singer, and remaining founder member, Tim Freedman is now the driving force behind the band, taking on most of the writing responsibilities and acting as the public face of the band. He plays solo gigs, and has been involved in other bands. He started in music aged just 15 and was soon a familiar face around Sydney, singing with various bands including 'Itchy Feet' who clocked up a few Australian minor hits. He developed The Whitlams after meeting a chap called Stevie Plunder whose band 'The Plunderers' supported Tim's band. Andy Lewis joined up with them and the drummer-less band began playing in The Sando.

The first album followed soon. Called 'Introducing The Whitlams' it was a short album full of quirky little tunes with a humorous edge. Some of the early Whitlams stuff sounds very 'Rock 'n' Roll' and doesn't sit easily in the modern music scene. This worked for the band though, and they built up a strong, loyal following.

A couple of years and 400 shows on (mainly using a drummer called Stu Eadie) they released the album 'Undeniably The Whitlams'. This is probably their finest work and shows a great combination in Freedman and Plunder. There are quirky country like songs, and rich pop/rock tunes. One of the songs called 'I Make Hamburgers' had a fair amount of commercial success and The Whitlams started to get airtime on the major radio stations. The tour followe
d and success beckoned, but something was about to happen which would reshape The Whitlam's forever.

Founder member 'Stevie Plunder' was found dead at the bottom of Wentworth Falls, near Sydney on Australia Day in 1996. After some time, Tim Freedman decided to continue the band and keep the name (which incidentally was coined after an Australian Prime minister). There followed the most commercially successful album for the band. Influenced hugely by the death of Plunder, Tim Freedman collated the songs for 'Eternal Nightcap'. The first track 'No Aphrodisiac' caught the imagination of the radio and TV stations, and The Whitlams became a major Australian act.

Andy Lewis had left the band before 'Undeniably' was released, and also tragically died in the year 2000. The band line up remained similar to 'Eternal Nightcap' for the next album, titled 'Love This City'. The style for this is more sumptuous, and the single 'Blow Up The Pokies', a comment on the blanket coverage of so-called 'poker machines' and the effect they have had on the public and the pubs, went to number one in Australia.

The Whitlams are a personable band with a lot of character. Their style varies so much that it is difficult to categorise them, though they bear similarities to Ben Folds Five, Counting Crows, Mike and The Mechanics, The Beatles and many other bands. If you listen to 'Eternal Nightcap', you'll struggle not to like at least one song, and it might even be the 30's swingbeat style 'You Sound Like Louis Burdett'!.

Catching them live can be difficult as they stick to America, Canada and Australia though Tim Freedman is touring London in May. They play the summer festivals in Oz so if you're out there then look 'em up.

I enjoy listening to all their albums, and am looking forward to the release of their new un-named album in June/July this year, a
nd you can be sure of a DooYoo op soon after. In the meantime, I'd recommend that you seek out 'Eternal Nightcap' and give it a try for starters.

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