Short Stack - Television

"Let's pretend there's nothing good on television"

So I had a nice surprise over the weekend. Not only did formerly broken-up Short Stack release a new single out of nowhere, but I learned that they'd also released their previously cancelled third album as a treat for the fans late last year. So, as a fan who thought the band was totally finished, I was suddenly flooded with new Short Stack music. Luckily, it all seems to be a continuation of their excellent second album rather than a falling back to the teen punk of their earlier stuff. Television is a refreshing piece of radio rock and also the lead single for another upcoming album, titled Homecoming. It's all very exciting suddenly!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Diviney - You're So Cool

"You are the best I've ever had"

I love surprises, and this is definitely a great one. Now, it may not be a surprise to those who follow the band more closely than I do, but I had no idea that Shaun Diviney, leader of Australia's Short Stack, was releasing a solo album. Short Stack were responsible for one of my absolute favorite albums of 2010. I still play it today. Unfortunately, the band have since disbanded, but if this song is any indication, I'm not too upset. Diviney's solo work sounds a bit different from SS, but it's a welcome progression. I feel like he kind of went from Billy Idol to INXS. It's still in the wheelhouse for his charismatic voice, but the sound is brighter and dancier than before. You're So Cool is a HIT, perfect for the Summer and perfect for radio. Embrace it people, please! I need more music from him, because I am totally in love with this track.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Learn more about his music here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles of 2011: 30-26

30. Short Stack - Heartbreak Made Me A Killer



An album highlight and one of their best singles. It's like all of their best sounds thrown together into one song.

29. Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (ft. Rizzle Kicks)



Represents his shift from X-Factor runner-up to proper popstar. This was inescapable this Summer, and rightfully so.

28. The Sound Of Arrows - Nova



After an extended break, The Sound Of Arrows returned with this taster from their debut album. It got me 1000% more excited.

27. Adele - Someone Like You



The year's most moving ballad. Even after being played to death in every country, it still carries its bite.

26. Lady Gaga - Born This Way




Her anthem, and undeniably a massive part of 2011. This is what happens when a pop song becomes more than a pop song and enters the public consciousness.

Short Stack - Are You Afraid Of The Dark

"Lips like a vampire"

When I first started this blog, I'd spend the entire month of October sharing Halloween songs. I want to revisit that a little this year and post a few here and there for the next few weeks. Short Stack's 2010 album, Welcome To Bat Country, is a great listen all the way through for Halloween, and this is one of the many highlights. It's an enormous song with one hell of a punchy chorus. Plus, the middle eight with its stabbing strings and processed, Nightmare Before Christmas-esque vocals, is perfect for this time of the year. Listening to this song again has made me fall in love with it all over.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Short Stack - Bang Bang Sexy

"Meet me on the dancefloor"

I can't believe I didn't know about this song before this weekend. Short Stack reinvented themselves last year and released one of my absolute favorite albums of 2010. Now they've released a new single as a stopgap between albums, and it's more of the same (ie: excellent). They're continuing in their modern-day billy Idol sound, though this time it's even poppier with a definite dance funk edge. Shaun's voice remains one of the most charismatic rock snarls in the current music landscape. It's his delivery that takes this song up a notch and makes it so addictive. The melody itself is incredibly simple, but the groove is undeniable from the start. I wonder if this will end up being a harbinger of their sound for the next album. It certainly seems like a natural progression. The band also have a live DVD/documentary out soon. Cool!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the song here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Music Video: Short Stack - Heartbreak Made Me A Killer

This is bound to be one of my favorite singles of 2011. It was already one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite albums of last year (that's a lot of favorites). I can't overstate how much I've grown to love this band. I think the video's an odd match with the song (and wish they would have stuck to the sci-fi/action story they had going with the previous ones), but I am so happy this was chosen as a single. If there's any justice in the world, it'll be a huge hit for them. And I'm loving their new look.

Top 20 Albums of 2010: 4-3

Before I get into these final albums, I’ve got to note that the top four this year were the closest they’ve ever been. I switched the order around several times before settling on this. Each, in their own right, is pretty perfect.

4. Short Stack - This Is Bat Country



In a year where many of my favorites disappointed, this upstart Aussie band, previously known for less-than-spectacular punk-pop, released the best album of the Fall. It was that rare thing that appealed to me almost immediately, melding elements of rock, pop, punk and dance into a truly addictive cocktail. My top album of the year features the best vocals of 2010, but Short Stack may very well have the best performance. There’s charisma and sleaze oozing out of every second of these songs. The production’s top notch, go-for-broke stuff. And the songs… I can’t say enough about them.

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3. Scissor Sisters - Night Work



Though the pop world didn’t seem as enthused as I was, Scissor Sisters returned this year with what could be their best album to date. They’re the one obsession of mine that didn’t disappoint in 2010. In fact, as I grew to understand the album, I realized that it was better than anything I could have hoped for. Remarkably consistent, produced to perfection (again, but Stuart Price) and the ballsiest record of the year. While it may not have the singles of their debut, it’s that rare thing in 2010: an honest-to-god, don’t-skip-a-track album. They don’t come along very often anymore, but when they do it’s quite stirring.

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Top 50 Singles of 2010: 10-6

10. Darin - Lovekiller



The top ten kicks off with the biggest, cheesiest pop moment of 2010. There is no resisting the overblown goodness of this track. Darin hit it out of the park with this one. The video’s wonderfully over-the-top, too.

9. Kylie Minogue - All The Lovers



The comeback single she’s been searching for for years. It was so magical that it overshadowed everything else on the album. Her biggest late-career highlight.

8. Scissor Sisters - Fire With Fire



A soaring festival anthem that deserved more success than it found. Jake sounds his best on tracks like this. No band does melodic, radio pop better than Scissor Sisters.

7. Mcfly & Taio Cruz - Shine A Light



I never expected that, this late in their career, Mcfly could pull off a pop track like this. It hits you from the first listen and cements itself in your memory. The I Gotta Feeling of 2010.

6. Short Stack - Planets



On first listen, I didn’t think this was anything special. Then I came back to it… and back… and back. And I’m still listening to it constantly months later. Everything came together here.

Top 50 Singles of 2010: 25-21

25. Gravitonas - Kites



Alexander Bard’s new band’s first single proved to be their best--a slowly building electro-rock grind that becomes more immense with each passing second.

24. Ola Svensson - All Over The World



He came back this year with two tracks worthy of standing beside his best work. This easily could have been the Summer’s anthem had it been released sooner.

23. Hurts - Better Than Love



I’ve known of this song for a couple of years now in its original demo form and it was such a treat to hear it as a single in 2010. This is the kind of uptempo track Hurts should be releasing more of.

22. Short Stack - We Dance To A Different Disco, Honey



I was skeptical that Planets was a one-off and these guys would revert back to their old, annoying sound, but then this came out and blew me away. A brilliant example of radio alt-rock at its best.

21. Ola Svensson - Unstoppable (The Return Of Natalie)



My favorite entry in this year's Melodifestivalen, delivered by one of the most consistent popstars in Sweden. The piano riff is absolutely insidious. But it’s that chorus that seals the deal.

Track-by-Track: Short Stack - This Is Bat Country

I get the impression from reviews and editorial coverage that Short Stack are one of the planet’s most critically hated bands. I’m not sure what they did to deserve this, other than being an easy target for bitter listeners. Sure, their debut, for the most part, was nothing special and completely derivative (aka: the exact type of emo-rock I moaned about when Fall Out Boy popularized it a few years ago), but every band deserves a second chance. And I’m here to make an audacious (and possibly unpopular?) announcement. Short Stack have released one of the best albums of 2010. Yep, one of the best. It takes me back to when rock music was fun. Huge choruses, even bigger guitar riffs, and charisma to spare.

1. Bat Country - A chugging, atmospheric opener that sets the gothic tone (though not sound) of the album. It's not my favorite uptempo on the album, but it's a great introduction to the album as a whole. And I'll probably mention it again, but Shaun deserves major props for his vocals. They're just dripping attitude the entire time. 9/10

2. The Cross - A short piano intro to the next track (the same that's heard in the music video). No scores for interludes, though.

3. Planets - A huge hit for them, and deservedly so. To be honest, this song didn't fully hit me until about the third listen. After that, it stuck and still hasn't faded in my opinion. It's a real standout of their new sound. Big guitar riffs, choirs (or at least choir-processed vocals) and a real glam swagger. 10/10

4. Are You Afraid Of The Dark - Massive overload of the systems. This is just awesome. It's got a real sleazy funk to it and the final forty seconds rock harder than anything I've heard all year. It's an anthem tailor made for stadiums. It's even got a bit of an industrial Marilyn Manson vibe to it in the chorus (in the best way possible). 10/10

5. Werewolves - A string-laden ballad that's at once a little silly and pretty touching. The chorus is addictive from the get-go (especially the amusing howls), and although it could easily be a novelty track, the symphonic backing's anything but throwaway. It's a hit waiting to happen, and could function as a metaphor for many listeners. 10/10

6. The Cannons - Another short interlude. Specifically, the chant that features at the beginning of the Disco video.

7. We Dance To A Different Disco, Honey - This is already on its way to being massive and, like Planets, it took me a few listens to warm up to. But it's a total standout -- an adrenaline pumping dance-rock anthem. It's got the energy of a full-blown riot and may just end up functioning as the band's catchphrase and rallying cry. 10/10

8. The Mercury - The first of two song fragments featured on the deluxe version of the album. A slow-burning, dramatic My Chemical Romance-type sound.

9. Heartbreak Made Me A Killer - Another absolute highlight. This is as poppy as the album gets, with a huge Queen-inspired hook and an 80's sleaze disco beat. One of the best melodies on the album. Shaun absolutely shines here. The vocal delivery is what makes this really work. He's a star, plain and simple. 10/10

10. Wendy - The big, 80's power ballad of the album. This sounds a lot like Poison (the Every Rose Has Its Thorn era) and has a ridiculously cheesy (aka: awesome) drum fill towards the middle. As clichéd as it sounds, a total lighters in the air moment. 10/10

11. Sweet December - A successful single last year, this is the closest the band veer towards their old sound on this album. It's a dynamite pop/rock track, though. Great, great melody. There's something very Swedish-sounding about this (think The Sounds, The Ark, etc.) 10/10

12. Ruby Red - This suffers a bit coming off of the string of songs before it, mostly because it sounds like the poor man's Wendy. It's not immediately the most impressive ballad, but that's not saying it's bad (in fact, the big chorus is pretty impressive). It's just not quite as good as the rest. 8/10

13. The Thunder - A short interlude of heavy drums, which leads perfectly into...

14. Jack The Ripper - Back on track, and with a vengeance. This gothy track is big on percussion and attitude. It's one of the simplest melodies (and shortest running times) on the album, but also one of the most effective. Totally single worthy. So, so cool. 10/10

15. Sweet Emergency - The second short song fragment. I prefer it to the first. It's nothing completely necessary, but provides a nice segue into the next track.

16. Die Young, Stay Pretty - This is an odd one. It almost has a Sweeney Todd feel to it. Definitely dramatic and theatrical, though it sounds substantially older than the rest of the album -- like a weird old gothic folksong. 9/10

17. Nothing At All - A big ballad to close the album. The strings and vocals are turned up to full tilt on this one. It's still not as good as some of the earlier ballads, but it's grown on me a lot from the first listen. The chorus really gets under your skin. 9/10

Album Grade: 9.6/10

Short Stack - Heartbreak Made Me A Killer

"Never was a fun boy"

Yes!! I have been waiting quite impatiently for this album for the past month or so and it's finally been released (and doesn't disappoint). Short Stack have transformed themselves from bratty emo threesome to something far more interesting. Their three singles already released from this album have been uniformly fantastic (and bound to feature on my top singles of the year list). They've got a sleazy disco-rock-punk hybrid going on that reminds me a little of Billy Idol's 80's music. While frontman Shaun Diviney may not always be the strongest of singers, he's got an undeniable charisma in his vocals that make these songs irresistible. Heartbreak Made Me A Killer is definitely a standout. The hook is Queen does disco, while the rest of the song alternates between spoken bits and a soaring melodic refrain. It's all very silly but ridiculously fun. And this is only one standout from an album full of them.

Short Stack - Heartbreak Made Me A Killer by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Short Stack - Sweet December

"The station played our favorite songs"

I know I posted a track from these guys just last week, and I usually don't like to harp on a specific band too many times in a short period, but as I've combed through Short Stack's discography I've realized that I missed an awesome single from late last year. Sweet December is the kind of song that started this blog in the first place. It reminds me of the Scandinavian synth/glam/rock that first inspired my interest in music from overseas. I knew from the stomping opening that I'd love this song, and luckily it only gets better as the gargantuan chorus kicks in. This track will also be on their upcoming second album, which I am very excited for (after not being too impressed with their first one). Regardless of what you think about this band or genre, I urge you to give this a listen. It's a completely rousing anthem--a real "hit from another planet" (if that planet is Australia, where this reached top 10). It's been banging around my head all week.

Short Stack - Sweet December by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Short Stack - Electric Romantics

"I'm killing romance in the name of love"

While Mcfly have been working on their new sci-fi oriented sound, another youthful pop/punk band may have beaten them to it. This band is Australia's Short Stack, and they are now officially amazing. They weren't amazing on their debut album (well, maybe a couple of songs were...), but they've shifted from trendy radio rock to something more symphonic. Grander, bigger. their new single Planets (first from the upcoming album) is a fantastic jump in quality, and well worth checking out. But it's this track, one of the b-sides on the EP, that has me buzzing about the album. I love everything about it. The rollicking guitar, the anthemic chorus, and the where-will-they-go-next verses. In a way, it sounds like something Green Day would've come up with for American Idiot, though it's definitely on the "pop" side of rock. I am officially obsessed, now. Sometimes it only takes one song.

Short Stack - Electric Romantics by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.