AOTY x/25
Release Date: 07/19/24
Article Writer: Wyatt Turner
We all remember February 17th, 1975, yes? The day Australia invented music with AC/DC’s release of High Voltage. Or at least so they thought. The rest of the world already had music, but in their isolation, Australia had no way of knowing. Nonetheless, in the eyes of this writer (circa 1998), there hasn’t been, nor will there ever be, an equivalent cultural juncture.
Enter Jay Watson and Ambrose Kenny-Smith—two iconic right hand men. Jay, a touring member for Tame Impala (AcTuAlLy It’S jUsT oNe GuY), co-founder of Pond, and solo artist under the name GUM (huge Gumby guy). Ambrose, son of the late harmonica legend Broderick Smith, multi-instrumentalist for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and frontman for The Murlocs. At the end of the day, two white boys who love funk, and would always prefer to boogie.
Their 2024 crossing of the streams—Ill Times—is yet another reason to thank the good lord for AC/DC (albeit taken down a separate path). It’s glam. Extremely polished. Downright ass-shakable. My favorite psych-funk-pop-rock record of the year. I’ve got permanent wrinkles from how often this record makes me throw on a disgusting bass face, specifically on the title track, Old Transistor Radio, and should-have-been single Minor Setback. Even at their least innovative, their cover of Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions’s Fool For You, and clear reference to The Turtles’s Happy Together on track Emu Rock feel like a celebration of their inspiration, rather than a caricature of it.
Despite losing steam on the back half, GUM brings his instantly recognizable production to every inch of the record, paired perfectly with the beautiful, soulful, scratching, and kinda fucked vocals of Ambrose Kenny-Smith. While not as influential of a moment in time as February 17th, 1975, I’m curious to see if these two plan to partner again, and how much I can make my ass clap if these songs find themselves in a live setting.
8.5 Roos out of 10