Album Of The Week- The Powder Monkeys,Time Wounds All Heels

Joe Matera of Australian guitar magazine called this album 'criminally under rated'.That's a nice place to start,but that still doesn't quite go far enough.

Forming from the splinters of legendary Geelong punk band Bored! ,The Powder Monkeys were a band let down by the business side of music,screwed over by Mr 10%. Their second album, Time Wounds All Heels is a killer piece of music that fell through the cracks of success,and yet is still renowned as one of the best Australian rock albums of its time.One only needs to look at the walls of the Tote to know that the reputation of this band remains to this day.
Right from the opening beat of 'In The Doldrums' to the finishing moments of '2000 Sins', Time Wounds is a thunderous,hair raising image of a band that belonged on the stage. Timmy Jack Ray's drumming just doesn't stop- every half a second there's a snare fill,or a great big tom roll that sets a blistering pace. The crunchy riffs of John Nolan are matched by brilliant lead work,and growl of front man Tim Hemmensly's bass is echoed in his gutteral,snarling vocals,forever preaching his cause.
This album was not recorded by a hot shot producer in L.A,with an un-limited label budget for rock'n'roll excesses.Far from it,this was recorded in the heart of the institute for old people and cowboys,the ABC studios in Melbourne,produced by Chris Thompson.The results are jaw dropping.Big drums,thick bass and killer guitar sounds.The list of people who have used a Les Paul and Marshall Plexi is endless,but none of them can top the guitar sounds on this album.A prime example of a producer bringing that extra ingredient to a band,to make this album sound phenomenal.
Unfortunately, the Powder Monkeys coincided with a heroin epidemic that gripped the Melbourne arts community,and tragically, Tim Hemmensly died of a heroin overdose in 2003.
A powerful album that's definitely one of my most recommended,regardless of musical taste.You might be hard pressed to find a copy, but you could probably find a download on the internet downloading hurts record labels.Should you find a CD,skim through the liner notes for 'Simon Hawkins-Roadie Extraordinaire'.Such was the financial struggle of the band that his copy doesn't have a sleeve,although I'm assured it's on there.
And if you still aren't convinced that this really is the best thing since sliced bread:
Straight Until Morning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7CV2qjid1U
Wasn't Born Yesterday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVm19F3HY00
2,000 Sins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjeFnDmwhGM&feature=relmfu

Support drummer Timmy Jack Ray's current band 'The Roobs'
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Roobs/219602248063178?fref=ts