Published on Music Universe 21.11.11
www.musicuniverse.com.au
My first memory of The Vasco Era was at an underage gig back in ’04 (I was sixteen at the time). It was quite memorable show for two reasons: one, it was my first real introduction to the live music scene (the quintessential, “revolutionary” teenage experience). Secondly: the headlining act was The Vasco Era. It wasn’t until 2007 that they released their debut Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside before the critically acclaimed Lucille, yet have laid-low ever since. Until now, that is.
It’s quite admirable for any musician to stay entirely true to their chosen musical genre, especially in the ever-evolving market. Indubitably, The Vasco Era’s latest offering is a straight up mix of rock and roll and grunge. The opener ‘Na Na Na Na’ is a solid prelim for the rambling one-liners to come on the rest of the record, such as ‘I joined the mile high club all by myself but it don’t count cos’ I’m left handed and I use my right’. Adding to the vehement tunes throughout the record is lead vocalist Sid’s grunge-y delivery. Their blistering first single from the record ‘Child Bearing Hips’ is loud and anthemic heightened by Sid’s vocals, modulating from slurred verses to towering choruses before ending with his signature grunge-scream.
Their unique grunge-y depth continues on ‘Avatar Blues’ along with their cryptic lyricism (most notably ‘why is a naturopath smoking rolled-up cigarettes?’). The tempo remains somewhat steady and slow (in comparison to the rest) right throughout for the fifth track ‘Chemicals Run Out’, a welcoming pace drop. Yet by the time the track is over, I find myself hankering for what they do best, which is rock. It just so happens that, fittingly, the best track off the record is ‘Rock and Roll Is The Only Thing That Makes Me Feel Good’, oscillating between hasty chest-voice verses to a chorus bellowing in perfect pitch. That track defies the odds by proving that even now, there is still a place for the type of grunge-rock that many would consider passé (cue your ‘It Smells Like Team Spirit’ mosh).
The Vasco Era have come out of hiding to produce one hell of a stellar record, one guaranteed to add numbers to their already sizable cult following. 
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