Various Artists - Twentysomething

Author

Aaran Gicquel

Published

Thursday 5th January

ABC Music

So If you haven’t watched twentysomething on ABC yet its best you start hunting down the re-runs or the DVD ASAP. Heres the plot: Josh and Jess are best friends, housemates and twentysomething. Upon losing their jobs and being evicted they finally have to answer the question “So what are you going to do with yourselves?” the answer is to become their own bosses. The following episodes are filled with hilarity, sadness and the occasional “I’ve been so close to that before its not funny” scenario.

Okay so I have to admit the first thing I did when I put this into the CD player was open the fridge and make myself a tuna and cheese sandwich using anything that was spreadable as butter. Flipping over to the back cover there are no international bands in sight – the compilation has been almost completely sourced from bands on Triple J Unearthed. The ABC is surely doing their part in spades to promote and support Australian music and what better way is there to portray an Aussie story about finding your feet than with some local talent that are currently doing the same thing.

Twentysomething has a great energy and vibe, with a common theme about being newly independent, confused and lacking in general direction. They have also packed in some emotional lows and heartbreaking songs while mixing in the odd indie party anthem. “Run Wild” by Dead Letter Chorus fits in perfectly and makes your heart sing with pride and freedom. Paired with Loon Lake’s “Into the Office” sum up the early part of this compilation beautifully with jangly guitars and bouncy melodies.

Hit the middle few tracks you get Tales in Space “The Cause” which puts you in the mood for Big Scary’s heart wrenching “Falling Away”. But don’t worry the record pulls out of its emotional dip and proceeds enters indie dance-electronica territory. The standout track would have to be Alba Varden “Soul Digger”, complete with a great hook, a danceable groove and squeaky backing vocals that grapple with your inner animal and enforce an ‘I’ll do want I want’ attitude. Jinja Safari close the album with “Peter Pan”, and its hard to think of a more suitable ending for a journey of discovery, heartbreak and friendship.

If you’re twentysomething, or know someone who is, this just maybe the perfect summer gift. Lets face it: its better than wasting money on a So Fresh compilation frisbee. By no means is this compilation completely full of the hottest songs of 2011, and there is definitely some doses of filler here, but there are heaps of new Aussie bands on Twentysomething that you may just find a new favorite and, you never know – maybe it will help you find the answer behind “So what are we going to do with yourself?”