Songs from the 86 Tram

Songs from the 86 Tram
Studio album by The Bedroom Philosopher
Released 16 April 2010 (Australia)
Recorded The Soft Centre, Melbourne
October–December 2009
Genre Musical comedy, pop folk, indie rock
Length 49:54
Label Shock
Producer Chris Scallan
The Bedroom Philosopher chronology
Brown and Orange
(2009)		 Songs from the 86 Tram
(2010)
Singles from Songs from the 86 Tram
  1. "Northcote (so Hungover)"
    Released: January 21, 2010

Songs from the 86 Tram is the ARIA[1]-nominated third full-length album by Australian musical comedian The Bedroom Philosopher, the performing persona of Justin Heazlewood and acts as a soundtrack to his award-winning live comedy show.[2] The album marks his first release on an established record label, Shock Records, and the first recording to feature his backing band The Awkwardstra.

Contents

Themes

The album is notable for its theme; narrating the lives of passengers on board a Melbourne tram, navigating the Route 86, from Bundoora to Docklands via Northcote, Collingwood and through the Melbourne CBD.

Heazlewood describes the album as being an exercise in character exploration: In comedy, bogans get made fun of all the time, and old people and junkies are all easy targets. I was interested in taking on demographics that are rarely satirised in any way.[3]

Noting a lack of art, new media or otherwise, exploring modern Australian identity or actively countering international cultural influence, Heazlewood notes the importance of 'Songs from the 86 Tram' as attempting to fill an underrepresented 'non-bogan Australian pride': From growing up with Sesame Street right through to any comedy on TV being British or American, I feel like we’re really up against it to forge any kind of uniquely Australian culture. And then we’ve got our own cultural cringe. We’re not that proud of ourselves. The line [on Sudanese] that Australia is basically just America with Milo and possums... at times that’s how I feel. It’s just a bunch of American shops and TV and music, so what are you left with? [4]

Reception

Reviews for the album have been wholly positive[5][6][7][8][9] with several noting his song Northcote (So Hungover) as exemplifying the first example of an emerging 'new Australian-American accent'.[10][11][12]

Track listing

All lyrics and music written by The Bedroom Philosopher, arrangements by Hugh Rabinovici and Chris Scallan, and played by The Bedroom Philosopher and his Awkwardstra:

  1. "Middle Aged Mum" – 4:20
  2. "We are Tramily" – 4:01
  3. "Sudanese" – 2:33
  4. "Trishine" - 2:14
  5. "Interlewd" – 0:32
  6. "Northcote (So Hungover)" – 3:44
  7. "Irish Girl" – 3:04
  8. "Tram Inspector" – 3:30
  9. "Man on a Tram" – 1:12
  10. "Song to Nod Off To" – 4:23
  11. "In My Day (Nan)" – 2:37
  12. "New Media" – 4:13
  13. "Old Man at End" – 5:01

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "ARIA Nominations Announced". 2010-09-28. http://www.ariaawards.com.au/about-fine-arts-awards.php. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 
  2. ^ "Songs From The 86 Tram, Comedy Festival 2010". http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2010/season/shows/the-bedroom-philosopher-songs-from-the-86-tram. Retrieved 2010-04-04. 
  3. ^ Strange, Jason (2010-03-31). "The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram". Orble.com.au. http://www.deathtoyourspeakers.com/interview-the-bedroom-philosopher/. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
  4. ^ Wallen, Doug. "The Bedroom Philosopher - interview - Interviews". Thevine.com.au. http://www.thevine.com.au/music/interviews/the-bedroom-philosopher-_-interview.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
  5. ^ Pilven, Jack (2010-04-22). "The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram". Rave Magazine. http://www.ravereview.com.au/adelaide/cd-reviews/96-the-bedroom-philosopher-songs-from-the-86-tram/. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 
  6. ^ Carlino, Luke (2010-04-20). "The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram". MusicFeeds.com.au. http://musicfeeds.com.au/album/the-bedroom-philosopher-songs-from-the-86-tram/. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 
  7. ^ Doyle, Georgia (2010-08-29). "The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram". Beat Magazine. http://www.beat.com.au/content/bedroom-philosopher-songs-86-tram-0. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 
  8. ^ "The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs from the 86 Tram". Orble. 2010-04-18. http://www.orble.com/the-bedroom-philosopher-songs-from-the-86-tram/. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
  9. ^ Al Janabi, Faye (2010-05-13). "The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram". The AU Review. http://www.theaureview.com/albums/the-bedroom-philosopher-songs-from-the-86-tram-2010-lp/. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 
  10. ^ Hayward, Jesse (2010-04-01). "The Bedroom Philosopher – Struth Be Told - Music News, Reviews, Interviews and Culture". Music Feeds. http://musicfeeds.com.au/features/the-bedroom-philosopher-struth-be-told/. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
  11. ^ Modra, Penny. "Comedy Fest, the Bedroom Philosopher, Songs from the 86 Tram - Out". ThreeThousand. http://www.threethousand.com.au/out/comedy-fest-the-bedroom-philosopher-songs-from-the-86-tram/. Retrieved 2010-04-28. 
  12. ^ Michael Bodey (2010-04-13). "Stop it, you jokers, you're killing me". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/stop-it-you-jokers-youre-killing-me/story-e6frg8n6-1225852913268. Retrieved 2010-04-28.