by Julianne Akers (@JulianneEAkers)
Melbourne’s Alien Nosejob does it all, and its sole member Jake Robertson shows off this ability, and shines while doing it, on his sixth, most recent album, The Derivative Sounds Of…Or…A Dog Always Returns To Its Vomit. That mouthful of words does not even begin to portray the wide range of musical styles Robertson touts on his fall 2023 release. The record channels everything from 60s style garage punk to jangle and power pop. A western, but not quite Americana, mystique hovers over the record, most notably in “Zipped Up,” featuring a cinematic rattling sound reminiscent of a lone rock-and-roller-turned-cowboy wandering the dusty roads.
“The Smile” begins with a steady strum pattern that is swiftly overtaken by synthesizer and organ parts, capturing the innate bleakness of this record, which is not to say it isn’t full of life. “The Punisher Was Cool” follows that uneasiness where Robertson sings about a sort of hellscape with repeated references to smoke and fire. He burns this into memory by singing (and yelling), “Sweat was pourin’ out / And doubt was creepin’ in / Why are you looking at me? / Why are you talking to me?... What am I doing in this place? / I’ve gotta get out of this place.”
“Stories of Love” leans into a punk persona with hints of 60s-surf-rock-esque guitar riffs. The songwriting on this track features romantic analogies with just enough edge – “You move me like a tectonic plate / You fit me just like a latex glove / You grip me hard cause we’re in love.” His vocals dance around the mic, but the instrumentals do all the real talking. “Second Chance” slides in with some fuzzy guitar and semi-groovy bass rhythms with angsty vocals that feel like Robertson’s putting his foot down.
The final track, “Errors of the Past,” seals the deal with dominant chord progressions and clashing drums, proving that this record is a mashup of unexpected genres that blend together so perfectly, with none of the daring leaps done for show, but songs that are real and authentic, in all their glory.