Features December 5, 2016

This Record Changed My Life: Allan Smithy

On the eve of his East Coast mini-tour in support of debut EP I See A Palm Tree, self-professed Nostalgia-Australiana artist Allan Smithytakes TMN through the record that changed his life.

JEBEDIAH
SLIGHTLYODWAY

When I was 11 years old my friend and I found 50 bucks while walking back to my house from school. It was a heap of money at the time and I’m pretty sure I cried. We split it down the middle and that afternoon I went to HMV and bought my first album, which was Slightly Odway by Jebediah (I bought it because I liked the cover artwork).

Up until this point in my life all I had to listen to was a pretty shitty mix-tape that I had made by taping my favourite songs from Ugly Phil and Jackie-O’s Top 30 Countdown. Because I would almost always miss the start of the song, or start recording from the wrong spot or forget to stop recording, it was a pretty turbulent listening experience so when I finally listened to my first LP start to finish it completely blew my mind. It was like upgrading from my first car (which had virtually no suspension) to the car I drive now – much smoother and way better.

I put some serious hours into that CD and would listen to it every night until it became so scratched it was unplayable (I also sat on the jewel case in the car and broke it – cried again.) There are so many good songs on it: Harpoon, Leaving Home, Military Strongmen, Invaders, and Teflon, and they flow together so well. When I listen to it now it truly is an LP and not just a collection of songs. It has great contrast between the songs and also has this awesome sing-a-long at the end. And what’s the cherry on top, what’s the pièce derésistance? The flipping easter eggat the very end of the album. Do they even do that anymore?!

I think what makes it such a great album for me is the associations I have with it. It takes me back to such a specific time and place that when I listen to it now it’s like a double whammy. I am listening to these incredible songs that fit together so seamlessly while also travelling back through the process of buying and experiencing my first album. When I make my first album this will be what I am aiming for. It’s just so damn good.