Classic Albums: The Soft ‘N’ Sexy Sound by Dave Graney ‘N’ The Coral Snakes

So just the other day I got an email about The Bad Seeds gig tomorrow night and it’s says be early, they is no support band. It got me thinking and anyway back in late 1994 I when to my first Cave gig, the support band was Dave Graney ‘N’ The Coral Snakes. So entering as number 43 post to my own Classic Albums list is Dave and his band at the time. That gig was my intro to him, it was at the high of mid-90’s indie music. I guess I could pick another album by him, is this one still a big album for him? I don’t know? He does have a huge back catalogue to listen too but this album it does have a very special place for me. I still remember he played a lot of these that night and still following Dave Graney‘s work to this day. Last time I seen him live it was over east last year but he and Clare were the drums and bass in Harry Howard‘s band, who’s Rowland S. Howard brother.

He’s done a least one or two shows reforming the Coral Snakes last year and the next month they’re playing at NGV in Melbourne and Adelaide Festival. I do wish I could see that but I guess it’s a perfect time to write something like this and maybe someone will book a show in the west.

I did say two days ago I didn’t like Soft Rock style of music but could this album be a weird or odd version of that and total Aussie take on it too. It’s unlike any Aussie indie rock of that time, labelled Art Rock sometimes whatever that means? The album title is kind-of referencing that style of music too, I guess or just taking the piss.

Dave is the first artist from South Australia here on my list, born in Mount Gambier but The Soft ‘N’ Sexy Sound was recorded in Melbourne where he now calls home. His very first and early band called The Moodists was on the very fist blog post about the comp album named Tales of the Aussie Underground. Dave got a long list of bands he’s the front man off but always with life long partner, wife and drummer Clare Moore. Also the two of them did a cover of Tex Perkins’ This Is Forever on another various artist album I’ve blogged about here Where Joy Kill Sorrow.

At that very first gig some didn’t get it, I remember the guy standing next to me saying “What the hell is this guy singing about?” while Morrison Floorshow was being played and I told him “It seems to be about the lead singer of The Australia Doors cover band” and the guy was just shaking his head and asking “why?” or something but to me Graney’s lyrics are pure genius. I’ve found a few video clips, all seem to be live but I do remember at least one promo clip but I can’t find it? Anyway Dave’s a great performer and if you get a chance to see did live jump at it, OK?

I think my most fav track from the album is Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Where I Hide which about kind-of about a secret agent or spy as a rock band front man or something, I can’t begin to explain it so please just listen to it.

Dave Graney ‘N’ The Coral Snakes when on to do one more album together called The Devil Drives before they moved on to other projects/albums. Can I call it an underrated gem even if he did win an ARIA award for it the following year but Graney was never really apart of the whole mainstream Aussie music scene. He is his own scene!

The Soft ‘N’ Sexy Sound track listing and times:

1. The Birds And The Goats – 4:55

2. I’m Gonna Live In My Own Big World – 3:11

3. Apollo 69 – 4:58

4. I’m Not Afraid To Be Heavy – 4:27

5. Deep Inside A Song – 4:32

6. The Pre Revolutionary Scene – 3:50

7. Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Where I Hide – 5:51

8. Salty Girls – 5:08

9. Outward Bound – 3:29

10. Scorched Earth Love Affair – 5:59

11. Morrison Floorshow – 6:24

12. Dandies Are Never Unbuttoned – 8:40

Here’s the link to all my Classic Albums, so far. Today I’ve dot point everything and try to remember each album year of release. I’ve only just started really just getting going and I’ll keep adding albums until I get to, I don’t know? I never said a number I’m almost up to 50 but what should it be 100, 500, 1000? The idea is simply to list all my favourite albums and then write something about them because with the dyslexia it might help to keep writing, to write about something I love!

Tales From The Australian Underground (1976-1990) Volume 1 & 2 by Various Artists [2003]
Station To Station by David Bowie [1976]
Unplugged In New York by Nirvana [1994]
Rust In Peace by Megadeth [1990]
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs by Marty Robbins [1957]
Henry’s Dream by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds [1992]
Whatever You Love, You Are by Dirty Three [2000]
Gala Mill by The Drones [2005]
Black Monk Time by The Monks [1966]
Ex Tropical by Lost Animal [2011]
Work (Work, Work) by HTRK [2011]
In The Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra [1955]
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn by Pink Floyd [1967]
Songs Of Love And Hate by Leonard Cohen [1971]
Warm Leatherette by Grace Jones [1980]
The White House by The Dead C [1995]
Silence Is Sexy by Einstürzende Neubauten [2000]
Lulu by Lou Reed & Metallica [2011]
Kaira by Toumani Diabaté [1988]
Kings Of The Wild Frontier by Adam And The Ants [1980]
Drowning In The Fountain Of Youth by Dan Kelly And The Alpha Males [2006]
Aerial by Kate Bush [2005]
The Future by Leonard Cohen [1992]
Rock For Light by Bad Brains [1983]
Last Splash by The Breeders [1993]
Sex by The Necks [1989]
Emergency Ward by Nina Simone [1972]
Paradise by My Disco [2007]
Batman by Prince [1989]
Sings Christmas Carols by Mark Kozelek [2014]
What Are Rock Stars Doing Today by Magic Dirt [2000]
Love Of Life by Swans [1992]
Big Name, No Blankets by Warumpi Band [1985]
Blue Valentine by Tom Waits [1978]
In The Pines by The Triffids [1986]
Where Joy Kills Sorrow by Various Artists [1997]
TV Sky by The Young Gods [1992]
King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime by Faith No More [1995]
Jean Lee And The Yellow Dog by Ed Kuepper [2007]
Law Of Nature by Laughing Clowns [1984]
(I’m) Stranded by The Saints [1977]
Super Ape by Lee “Scratch” Perry & The Upsetters [1976]