One of Australia’s biggest never-say-die bands has gone ahead and said it – 2014 marks Bluejuice’s final year after time as perennial underdogs, festival heroes and complete genre rebels.
A greatest hits package of sorts has been rushed out in accordance with their farewell tour – and, like most compilations of its kind, it’s questionable in its tracklisting. It’s anyone’s guess as to why the band’s breakthrough radio hit, ‘Unemployed’, was ignored, yet the execrable ‘George Costanza’ was added in. As a matter of fact, both of the band’s EPs have been left out, meaning that a complete retrospective is off the cards.
Still, there’s plenty to remind you of why Bluejuice were such fun to begin with, from the brassy energy of ‘Vitriol’ and ‘The Reductionist’ to the strangely touching balladry of ‘On My Own’ and ‘Aspen, New York’. Final single ‘I’ll Go Crazy’ also serves as a bittersweet taster as to what could have been for a fourth LP.
A patchy but overall fitting send-off to a truly unique beast in the Australian music spectrum. Goodnight, sweet princes. The party just won’t be the same without you around.
3.5/5.
Retrospectableis out Friday September 26 through Dew Process.
