Album Review: The Smith Street Band - Throw Me In The River

Forget for a minute that The Smith Street Band have worked their collective arses off over the last few years playing to everyone, everywhere (well not really, but these Melbournites have definitely earned some serious frequent flyer points).

Forget for a minute the band possesses a charismatic frontman in Wil Wagner, an everyman turned urban poet whose poignant tales of living in the big city have resonated with a large audience. You can even forget that the band have continued to churn out an impressive array of new material, meaning no one has time to get bored before the next set of tunes is upon them.

No – none of these reasons really explain why The Smith Street Band has enjoyed such a meteoric rise. Instead, the answer lies in a simpler fact: these guys write catchy-arse folk-punk rock tunes, and Throw Me In The River does nothing to break the streak.

Although there’s nothing as immediately memorable here as, say, Young Drunk or Sigourney Weaver, this is an album that demands repeat listens. East London Summer and It’s Alright, I Understand will have bodies jumping at any number of joyous future live outings, and on Surrey Dive and Calgary Girls, Wagner continues his deep-seated need to bare his soul to strangers.

If you liked the band’s last few records you’re going to love this one. Spin Throw Me In The River and prepare to have your faith in humanity restored, because when sounds of The Smith Street Band hit your ears you can’t help but smile.