I’m almost certain I heard exactly zero songs by You Am I back in their ‘90s heyday. To a typical Yank like myself, it may seem odd to refer to a You Am I heyday at all, but they were apparently quite a hit back home in Australia, having scored three consecutive number one albums; in the U.S. they registered hardly a whisper. (Someone in the label’s promotions department must have bungled somehow, because they had a clear “in” with the U.S. alt-rock market—Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo produced their first two albums.)
It’s a shame, because they are dammed solid, a power-pop band with tasty hooks and guitar crunch and infectious melodies. Singer and guitarist Tim Rogers sings his evocative lyrics with conviction. To my ears, the overall vibe lies somewhere between the ragged sound of the Replacements and Big Star.
You Am I is one of the many bands I’ve discovered in the retrospective listening project that has since become this website. On AcclaimedMusic.net’s combined rankings, where I first heard of the band, You Am I’s sophomore album, Hi Fi Way, was placed as the 47th best album of 1995. I’d guess if anyone stateside had even heard of it, that ranking would be much higher.
Here’s a sampler. I’ve gone a little over my standard CD-length playlist here because, well, when else is a Yank like me gonna listen to You Am I?
Cover Art:
- Hi Fi Way and Porridge & Hotsauce (inner sleeve): Source, Discogs.com, Fair use.
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