As our collective news fatigue lingers, the frustrations of daily living become amplified. Stubbing your toe on the corner of your bed. Having a single scrape of Vegemite left for the toast you made. Trying to leave the house but forgetting your mask twice and having to clean up a half eaten gecko left by your cat. Romero’s new single, ‘Troublemaker’, is a golden old soul that smoothes out the bumps of at-home frustrations and reassures you on the existential path ahead.
The Melbourne bands’ swagger continues to inhibit a demilitarised island; where folks lay down their arms, rejoice around a hook, and stretch their legs in a haven away from the information overload of 2020. This time around, Romero collects restlessness and angst as alms, to be thrown in the air in a serenade of euphoria, as a chimera of positivity and nervous energy emerges.
The song traverses a sonic divorce between the melodic master strokes of both classic & modern age power pop records, whilst evoking an emotional response of the brill-building soundscapes of the 50s and 60s. The chorus presents us with a ‘minor-lift’; its immediacy making any other track descriptors redundant.
‘Troublemaker’ is a record to sing along to even when the shower runs cold.
It’s harsh out there; have a tantrum and a life crisis. See you on the other side.
lyrics
Hey you with the platinum blonde hair
Troublemaker
I cross the line if I see you standing there
Troublemaker
I’m seeing double in the light of the reflection
Troublemaker
And this development is causing my aggression
Troublemaker
I know that you have good taste
Hell, we might have to
I'm not relying on a sense of affection
Troublemaker
Who’s getting all the attention
Troublemaker
What about if I told you it don’t feel right
Troublemaker
Anytime of the day or night troublemaker
I know that you have good taste
Hell, we might have to
Have to cut ties, to cut ties
Off the shirt he wear
Bring a needle and a thread
I cross my heart and I hope to hell that we
Cut ties, have to cut ties
Off the shirt he wear
Bring a needle and a thread
I cross my heart and I hope to hell that we
It's everywhere in my peripheral vision
Troublemaker
I’m seeing red I guess I caught the condition
Troublemaker
What about when I told you it don’t feel right
Troublemaker
You get yours ‘cause I’ve got mine.. I’ve got mine
Troublemaker
I know that you have good taste
Hell, we might have to
Have to cut ties, to cut ties
Off the shirt he wear
Bring a needle and a thread
I cross my heart and I hope to hell that we
Cut ties, have to cut ties
Off the shirt he wear
Bring a needle and a thread
I cross my heart and I hope to hell that we… Oooh
credits
from Troublemaker,
track released November 18, 2020
Vocals: Alanna Oliver
Guitar: Adam Johnstone
Guitar: Fergus Sinclair
Bass: Justin ‘Murry’ Tawil
Drums: Dave Johnstone
Recorded & Mixed by Idge at Soundpark
Mastered by Mikey Young
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A fantastic album. I can see why they didn't continue under the name The Evens, as it's a different sound with the bass added. Coriky is the Evens + Joe Lally from Fugazi on bass. If you can imagine The Evens with a slightly more funky, aggressive sound like Fugazi... that's what you get! And there's no way that can ever go wrong. What a great debut album!! smiledozer