Grinspoon's Top Ten Songs Ranked

Long ago, in an area called Lismore, four lads in their late teens came together to jam in their local. From there, they decided their chemistry was worth putting forward to triple j’s Unearthed competition.

The year was 1995, and this was the beginning of Grinspoon. They were hungry after their Unearthed win and ready to see where else this newly formed group would take them. Grinspoon epitomises the Australian music success story, with their ballads forever tattooed in the minds of millennials and fans orbiting rock, grunge and pop rock for the last 27 years.

This month, Grinspoon returned with their first album in twelve years, whatever, whatever, and with it, announced an incredible 45-date tour. Dropping the supercharged single Unknown Pretenders with the announcement, frontman Phil Jamieson said of the new LP:

It’s with a curious trepidation but ultimately a feeling of unfulfilled wonderment that we reach into the caverns of our beings for a new journey of recorded endeavours, one which we are proud but tentatively a little scared of releasing.

It turns out that they had nothing to be afraid of - whatever, whatever is an instant classic.

To distil their discography and 13-time ARIA-nominated record down to just ten songs is criminal, but alas, we have a job to do! In no particular order, we give you ten of Grinspoon’s most cracking tracks.

10. Comeback, Six To Midnight

Comeback was the first single to be released from Grinspoon’s sixth album, Six To Midnight and brought an upbeat flavour that was an instant earworm to rock fans as well as the mainstream.

Six To Midnight earned the band a nomination for Engineer of the Year, and you might remember the cardboard animation featured in the Comeback music video. The heavy lyrics tell a narrative of a young girl who falls on hard times, ends up in rehab, and then sells herself to make money, with the chorus repeating, “Don’t call this a comeback”.

9. Don’t Change (INXS Cover)

It's controversial, but Grinspoon’s cover of INXS’s Don’t Change makes us hesitate when wondering which version we think is best. The cover debuted on Rove Live in 2003, closing out their performance.

The performance was so well received that it became a staple on their set lists for years in the future, with Phil perfectly embodying the understated vocals of this much-loved track by fellow Australian rock legends INXS. Grinspoon has been measured in their choice of covers over the years, and the legacy of this track is proof that they understand their range and know what their fans want.

8. Unknown Pretenders, whatever, whatever

Unknown Pretenders was the first taste of Grinspoon’s eighth and most recent album, whatever whatever, and it did not miss. This track could have easily slipped into any of the group's earlier albums, as it has that high energy, fun rock sound with the music video showing the lads slaying at an indoor warehouse-style gig. The YouTube comments on this track from its May release perfectly sum up the excitement from fans, celebrating them being back and having stuck to their roots and putting out music worthy of their stellar discography to date.

7. Never Say Never, whatever, whatever

Grinspoon are no strangers to taking a break, having taken many throughout their nearly 30-year reign, but the group took their longest yet with 12 years between their last album, Six To Midnight and whatever, whatever.

Never Say Never was released just last month, and it's like no time has passed, with the same sound and riffs drenching the track. The lyrics are more cryptic than we have seen in previous hits, but this may reflect the new perspective that the group has gained in the last decade.

6. Just Ace, Guide To Better Living

Just Ace was Grinspoon’s fourth-ever single released from their debut Guide To Better Living album. It’s an upbeat, playful 1:45-minute track, and the music video acts as a time capsule from 1998 when the group was fresh on the scene.

With a young 21-year-old Phil fronting the performance, the group’s look and sound are ahead of its time. The track's lyrics follow the disjointed account of a young man unsure where a friend has gone and what time of year it is, vaguely bothered by the police. Grinspoon would go on to design beautiful lyrical stories in later albums, but you cannot argue with the carefree, fun vibe of Just Ace.

5. Hard Act To Follow, Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills

Hard Act To Follow is another hit from Grinspoon’s Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills album, and if you didn’t sing the title of the track in your head just now, you are lying.

Hard Act To Follow reached #16 in the 2004 triple j’s Hottest 100 and closed the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The track is still every bit the grungey anthem it was at the time of release, and with the group present at multiple music festivals from the 2000s to 2010s, hearing Hard Act To Follow at Big Day Out was as close to a spiritual experience as many will get. The music video clip shows the group playing in a run-down bar bathroom, playing within their cubicles, and various partygoers on either side going about a wild night out.

4. Better Off Alone, Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills

Better Off Alone was released in 2004 and was one of many award-winning tracks from Grinspoon's fourth album, Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills. You could say that this track walked so that many indie rock bands after them could run, with the lyrics and vocals slow and emotionally heavy. Interest in the track sat squarely between rock fans and mainstream, with the catchy chorus and emotive message resonating far and wide. The song peaked at #30 on the ARIA’s Singles Chart and #26 on triple j’s Hottest 100 in 2004.

3. Lost Control, New Detention

The slower pace of Chemical Heart was not an indication that the rest of the New Detention album would follow suit. Lost Control is a familiar track to many, especially those partial to a pump-up song and the best example of Australian punk in the early noughties.

The track is punchy and quick, with the slow down coming in the chorus of “We've already lost control, Already lost control” and then ramped up with great urgency again. The music video is what you would expect from this high-energy track, with the band performing on a stage at the beach to a sweaty, manic moshpit and bikini-clad women on the sand. This track is a welcome addition to any party soundtrack.

2. Champion, Guide To Better Living

1997 was when Grinspoon released their first album, Guide To Better Living, just three years after their jamming at a Lismore pub turned into a group formation and took out the Unearthed title. Within the 16-track album are several heavy-hitting bangers, and five singles went on to make the top 50 ARIA’s Single Chart, but first - a moment for Champion.

This fire track starts with Phil Jamieson yelling, “So you want to be a champion?” followed by an iconic electric guitar, bass and drum reprise. Whether you are watching Champion perform at the time of release or a decade later at a music festival, Phil’s grunge roots and adolescent angst are hard not to feel in this track.

1. Chemical Heart, New Detention

The electric guitar intro to Chemical Heart will transport anyone back to the early naughties, with this 4:43 minute song showing the effortless talent of the four bandmates.

Released on Grinspoon’s third album, New Detention, Chemical Heart demonstrated that grunge-inspired rock could, in fact, be slowed down without losing their heavy instrumentals. The track was nominated for ARIA’s Single of the Year in 2002. When the genre was moving towards shock-value video clips like blink 182’s predominantly nude What’s My Age Again clip just three years before, the Chemical Heart video was set in a modest, white hotel room with bandmates playing in separate rooms. This was one of many examples of the group taking their own direction with every album release.

Grinspoon has announced a 45-show tour to take whatever, whatever on the road across Australia starting in September. For tickets or more information, visit grinspoon.com.au/. 

GRINSPOON

whatever, whenever, wherever tour with special guests Press Club

Presented by Triple M

TUE 17 SEP | BALLINA RSL, NORTHERN RIVERS | NSW

WED 18 SEP |SOPO- SOUTHPORT RSL, GOLD COAST NRTH | QLD

FRI 20 SEP | THE TIVOLI THEATRE, BRISBANE | QLD

SAT 21 SEP | THE POWERHOUSE, TOOWOOMBA | QLD

SUN 22 SEP | MIAMI MARKETTA LANEWAY, GOLD COAST | QLD

TUE 24 SEP | THE DAG PUB, D’AGUILAR | QLD

WED 25 SEP | BROTHERS SPORTS CLUB, BUNDABERG | QLD

FRI 27 SEP | HARVEY RD TAVERN, GLADSTONE | QLD

SAT 28 SEP | GREAT WESTERN HOTEL, ROCKHAMPTON | QLD

TUE 1 OCT | SEABREEZE HOTEL, MACKAY | QLD

WED 2 OCT | MAGNUMS HOTEL, AIRLIE BEACH | QLD

FRI 4 OCT | QUEENS BEACH HOTEL, BOWEN | QLD

SAT 5 OCT | DALRYMPLE HOTEL, TOWNSVILLE | QLD

MON 7 OCT | HINCHINBROOK SHIRE HALL, INGHAM | QLD

FRI 11 OCT | BURDEKIN MEMORIAL HALL, AYR | QLD

SAT 12 OCT | BROTHERS SPORTS CLUB, CAIRNS | QLD

WED 16 OCT | THE STATION, BIRTINYA, SUNSHINE COAST | QLD

FRI 18 OCT | RACEHORSE HOTEL, IPSWICH | QLD

SAT 19 OCT | THE PRINCESS THEATRE, WOOLLOONGABBA | QLD

SUN 20 OCT | DISTILLERY RD, BEENLEIGH | QLD

TUE 22 OCT | METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY | NSW

FRI 25 OCT | SAWTELL RSL, COFFS HARBOUR | NSW

SAT 26 OCT | WEST TAMWORTH LGS, TAMWORTH | NSW

SUN 27 OCT | FINNIAN’S TAVERN, PORT MACQUARIE | NSW

TUE 29 OCT | UNI – BAR ON THE HILL, NEWCASTLE | NSW

WED 30 OCT | DRIFTERS WHARF, GOSFORD | NSW

FRI 1 NOV | SYDNEY COLISEUM, ROOTY HILL | NSW

SAT 2 NOV | THE CUBE, CAMPBELLTOWN | NSW

SUN 3 NOV | WAVES TOWRADGI BCH HTL, WOLLONGONG | NSW

TUE 05 NOV | 170 RUSSELL ST, MELBOURNE | VIC

FRI 8 NOV | BRIDGEWAY HOTEL, POORAKA, ADELAIDE | SA

SAT 9 NOV | THE GOV , ADELAIDE | SA

SUN 10 NOV | NORTHERN SOUND SYSTEM EVENT CENTRE, ELIZABETH | SA

TUE 12 NOV | COMMERCIAL HOTEL, SOUTH MORANG | VIC

WED 13 NOV | VILLAGE GREEN, MULGRAVE | VIC

FRI 15 NOV | PIER BANDROOM, FRANKSTON | VIC

SAT 16 NOV | ALL SEASONS, BENDIGO | VIC

SUN 17 NOV | BARWON HEADS HOTEL, SURF COAST | VIC

THU 21 NOV | DISCOVERY, DARWIN | NT

FRI 22 NOV | NOONAMAH TAVERN BEER GARDEN AMPHITHEATRE | NT

TUE 26 NOV | ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH | WA

FRI 29 NOV | MUNDARING WEIR HTL AMPHITHEATRE, MUNDARING | WA

TUE 05 NOV | COUNTRY CLUB TASMANIA, LAUNCESTON | TAS

WED 4 DEC | FRANKIE J’s, DEVONPORT | TAS

FRI 06 DEC | ODEON THEATRE, HOBART | TAS