Dirty Jeans: The Rise of Australian Alternative Rock

Dirty Jeans: The Rise of Australian Alternative Rock kicks in with ‘My Pal’ – the ultimate Australian ‘outsider’ anthem written by then 16-year-old Joel Silbersher, who lamented, “You’re my only friend, you don’t even like me”.

This album is equal parts compilation and time capsule, with liner notes by Adalita and Au Go Go’s Bruce Milne. The 25 songs cover a time when Australia’s music scene was flourishing: pubs with live music on every corner, street press, fanzines, a still-relevant MySpace, all-ages shows, in-stores, thriving independent record stores and labels, and the arrival of the Big Day Out and Homebake – festivals that most acts on this compilation have played at.

The collection celebrates the rise of alternative rock from bands that attained cult level success. For many of the artists, these songs are their highpoints – a time in which they shone – while being labelled ‘influential’ or ‘critically acclaimed’ but without the saturated commercial success.

The collection features variations of the rock genre. From the brit jangle of Even to the murky barrage of The Mark Of Cain and everything in-between – punk, hardcore, balladry, and the unique nasal sounds of Jebediah.

Dirty Jeans will trigger fond memories for fans that were around to witness firsthand the rise of Australian rock. For those who weren’t, this album provides a cohesive blast of distorted chords, charging guitars, and mosh-friendly choruses.

Listen to ‘First Time’ by The Mark Of Cain from Dirty Jeans: The Rise of Australian Alternative Rock here:

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