Just last week I started listening to old Powderfinger stuff again. I don't think they ever really made it in the states, but they're one of the big bands down here.

Powderfinger are an aussie five-piece. Bernard Fanning is the singer, and he has such a distinctive voice. It's great.

The main album that I've been listening to is their fourth album, 'Odyssey Number Five'. At the time of it's release, it was just an instant classic. There were some big singles from that album, 'My Happiness', 'Like A Dog', 'My Kind Of Scene' and 'These Days'. Check 'em out!

But on this album, it's the non-singles that really make this album. I'd say there's not one bad song. 'The Metre', 'Up & Down & Back Again', 'We Should Be Together Now' and 'Thrilloilogy' are personal favourites.

Then I dug out their third album, 'Internationalist' and listened to it in the car today. I can't believe this came out 10 years ago. I was in my final year of high school! I feel old now! When it came out, it was perceived as a bit weird. 'The Day You Come' was the first single, and was really different to their previous stuff. Normally we don't like speaker fart, but this sound is used in a middle 8 sort of section, and is a really distinctive part of the song.

Listening to this album more closely, it's amazing how many different guitar sounds they used. They all sound vaguely single-coil through fender amp, but the range of tone is huge. The rhythm guitar on 'Belter' sounds almost like trumpets or some sort of horns. It's a good lesson in blending guitar sounds in a 5 piece band.

And then listening to what the guitarists are playing, wow ... it really has to be heard. Both are playing little melodies and trills to sparkle up the sound a bit, with the bass holding the basic chord note. If that makes sense. On some songs, there are fills and solos that sound like a kid who has picked up a guitar for the first time ... but what they're playing works so well for the songs.