Slightly Odway

Last updated

Slightly Odway
Slightly Odway.jpg
Studio album by
Jebediah
Released8 September 1997 (1997-09-08)
RecordedMarch–May 1997
Genre Alternative rock
Length54:00
Label Murmur
Producer Neill King
Jebediah chronology
Slightly Odway
(1997)		 Of Someday Shambles
(1999)
Singles from Slightly Odway
  1. "Jerks of Attention"
    Released: 8 December 1996
  2. "Leaving Home"
    Released: 27 June 1997
  3. "Military Strongmen"
    Released: 11 October 1997
  4. "Teflon"
    Released: 23 March 1998
  5. "Harpoon"
    Released: 22 June 1998

Slightly Odway is the debut studio album by Australian alternative rock band Jebediah. It was recorded between March and May 1997 at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne, with Neill King producing. Slightly Odway was released on 8 September 1997 by record label Murmur.

Contents

It peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart, and appeared in the top 50 for non-consecutive runs totalling 54 weeks.

Recording

The group's line-up of Chris Daymond on lead guitar, Kevin Mitchell on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Vanessa Thornton on bass guitar and Kevin's older brother, Brett Mitchell, on drums started recording Slightly Odway in March 1997 with United Kingdom's Neill King (The Smiths, Madness, Elvis Costello) producing. [1] [2]

Content

According to Australian music journalist Ed Nimmervoll, the title "is a comment on the slightly odd way they feel they approach life as well as music". [3]

In March 2002 Kevin reflected on his song writing "It didn't bother me that people didn't pick up on the lyrics. I'd made a conscious effort to focus on lyrics, because there were some lyrics on Slightly Odway that I was a little embarrassed about, ones where I hadn't really been trying. But I certainly didn't want vindication or attention for what I'd written." [4]

Album cover

The bowling green on the artwork of the album is the Kardinya Bowling Club, where bass player Vanessa Thornton's grandparents played. The spaceship is in fact a Futuro house that was located on the corner of Leach Highway and Karel Avenue in Willetton, close to where the band members grew up. The structure was used as part of a sales office for a nearby residential subdivision and was removed in 1996, after being donated to the Barking Gecko Theatre Company. [5]

Release

Jebediah had issued a single version of "Jerks of Attention" on 8 December 1996, which was produced by Lindsay Gravina, [6] and charted on the ARIA Singles Chart in 1997. [1] Jedediah and King re-recorded "Jerks of Attention" for the album.

The vinyl version of Slightly Odway contains a version of "Tracksuit" (originally on their debut extended play, Twitch , August 1996), re-recorded with the album's producer Neill King. [3] The Asian version of Slightly Odway, released in 1998, also contains "Tracksuit" and "Monument" (a B-side from "Leaving Home", June 1997), [7] as well as a printed copy of the lyrics.

Chart performance

Slightly Odway was released on 8 September 1997, which peaked at number seven on the ARIA Albums Chart, [8] and number two on the ARIA alternative charts. Within four months it was certified gold, then platinum [9] and eventually went double-platinum. [10]

Kevin Mitchell stated in a 2012 interview with X-Press magazine that, to the surprise of numerous people, none of the singles from the album received commercial radio airplay. [11] Despite this the single, "Jerks of Attention", which was released in December 1996, reached number 62 on the ARIA Singles Charts. [1] [8] The second single, "Leaving Home", released on 27 June 1997, reached number 48 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and was ranked number 10 in the Triple J Hottest 100 music poll for 1997. [12]

The third single, "Military Strongmen", released on 11 October 1997, peaked at No. 65 on the ARIA Singles Chart. [13] The fourth and fifth singles, "Teflon" and "Harpoon", released on 23 March 1998 and 22 June 1998 reached number 41 and number 46 respectively on the ARIA Singles Chart. [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [14]

In his retrospective review, Jonathan Lewis of AllMusic wrote that Slightly Odway "shows Jebediah as a talented young band, despite the flimsy songwriting and the lack of light and shade on the album. Once Jebediah learn they don't need to bludgeon the audience with their guitar-playing they will be better off for it." Lewis preferred the earlier version of "Jerks of Attention", which is "one of their finest songs", over the album version, which was "a half-paced version of the original single: it certainly doesn't improve it." [14]

In May 2011 Matt Neal of The Warrnambool Standard felt the album was "packed with big power chords, frontman Kevin "Bob Evans" Mitchell's distinctive sing-through-your-nose approach, inspired bursts of guitar noise and a love of crowd-friendly melodies. Some of it hasn't aged well". [15]

Recognition

The album placed at number 15 in a list of the greatest 100 Australian albums compiled by Australian youth radio station Triple J. [16]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jebediah (Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton), [17] except as noted.

No.TitleLength
1."Leaving Home"3:01
2."Benedict"4:03
3."Harpoon"4:28
4."Jerks of Attention"4:46
5."Invaders" (Daymond, B. Mitchell, K. Mitchell, Reg Presley, Thornton)3:40
6."Spoil the Show"4:03
7."Blame"1:56
8."Puckdefender"4:57
9."Lino"4:06
10."Military Strongmen" (titled "Military Strongman" on CD version)3:27
11."Teflon"3:46
12."Twilight = Dusk"4:45
13."La Di Da Da"7:47

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1997–1999)Peak
position		Weeks in
Australian ARIA Albums Chart [8] 754
End of Year Chart (1998)Peak
position
ARIA Charts – Top 100 Albums [18] 54

Related Research Articles

Jebediah Australian alternative rock band

Jebediah are an Australian alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Perth, Western Australia. They were formed by Chris Daymond on lead guitar, Kevin Mitchell on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, and Vanessa Thornton on bass guitar. They were joined a year later by Kevin's older brother, Brett Mitchell, on drums. After winning the National Campus Band Competition, the group were brought to national attention when their 1996 single "Jerks of Attention" received heavy airplay on Australian alternative radio station Triple J – which was followed by their breakthrough debut album, Slightly Odway.

<i>Guide to Better Living</i> 1997 studio album by Grinspoon

Guide to Better Living is the debut studio album by Australian rock band Grinspoon. It was released on 16 September 1997 on the Grudge Records label and was produced by Phil McKellar. The album reached number 11 on the ARIA Albums Chart and spent 36 weeks on the national charts. The album peaked at number 8 when rereleased in 2017.

<i>Of Someday Shambles</i> 1999 studio album by Jebediah

Of Someday Shambles is the second studio album by Australian alternative rock band Jebediah. It was recorded between April and June 1999 and was produced by Mark Trombino. It was released on 3 October 1999 by record label Murmur.

<i>Jebediah</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Jebediah

Jebediah is the third studio album by Australian alternative rock band Jebediah. It was recorded at Mangrove Studios, outside Sydney with producer Magoo, and released on 3 March 2002 by record label Murmur.

<i>Temple of Low Men</i> 1988 studio album by Crowded House

Temple of Low Men is the second studio album by Australian rock band, Crowded House. which was released in June 1988. The three band members, Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and Paul Hester, recorded the album in both Melbourne and Los Angeles with Mitchell Froom as producer for Capitol Records. Finn had written all ten tracks during the two years since their self-titled debut. Temple of Low Men peaked at number one in Australia, number two in New Zealand, number ten in Canada and number 40 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

<i>Twitch</i> (EP) 1996 EP by Jebediah

Twitch is an EP, and the first official release, by Australian alternative rock band Jebediah. It was released on 5 August 1996 by record label Murmur.

Kevin Mitchell (musician) Musical artist

Kevin Edward Mitchell, also known by the stage name of Bob Evans, is an Australian singer-songwriter; Mitchell uses the name for his primary solo project. He is also the founding lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Jebediah, which was formed in 1994 and features his older brother Brett Mitchell, who joined on drums before the group's first performance. Jebediah released five studio albums between 1997 and 2011, the first three of which entered the top ten on the ARIA Albums Chart.

<i>Anniversary E.P.</i> 2005 EP by Jebediah

Anniversary E.P. is an EP by Australian alternative rock band Jebediah. It was released in 2005 by record label Redline, and was their last release before their hiatus, reforming in 2010.

Animal (Jebediah song) 1999 single by Jebediah

"Animal" is the first single from Australian alternative rock band Jebediah's second studio album, Of Someday Shambles. It was released on 9 August 1999, which reached number 16 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and polled at number 19 on national radio station, Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1999. The track was co-written by all four band members: Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton.

Jerks of Attention 1996 single by Jebediah

"Jerks of Attention" was the first single released by Australian alternative rock band, Jebediah. "Jerks of Attention" was recorded in August 1996, in Melbourne at the Birdland Studio, and produced by Lindsay Gravina and Mikey Alonso. "Denver" and "Bosco" however were recorded at the Poons Head Studio in Fremantle and were produced by Chris Dickie and Rob Grant. It was released on 8 December 1996, although its official launch was at the Grosvenor Hotel in Perth, Western Australia on 5 December 1996. The single peaked at No. 62 on the ARIA Singles Chart. "Jerks of Attention" was re-recorded and included on the band's debut album, Slightly Odway. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997 Jebediah were nominated as Best New Talent for the single. Also that year it received a WAMi Award for "Most Popular Song".

Leaving Home (Jebediah song) 1997 single by Jebediah

"Leaving Home" is a song from Slightly Odway, the debut album of Australian alternative rock band, Jebediah. It was written by band members, Chris Daymond, Kevin Mitchell, Vanessa Thornton and Brett Mitchell. It was released as a single on 27 June 1997 on the Murmur label, which peaked at number 48 on the ARIA Singles Chart and reached number 10 in the Triple J Hottest 100 music poll for 1997.

Military Strongmen 1997 single by Jebediah

"Military Strongmen" is a song from the debut album, Slightly Odway, by Australian alternative rock band, Jebediah. It was written by band members, Chris Daymond, Kevin Mitchell, Vanessa Thornton and Brett Mitchell. It was released as a single on 11 October 1997 and peaked at No. 65 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was voted in at number 33 in Triple J's Hottest 100 music poll for 1997.

Teflon (song) 1997 single by Jebediah

"Teflon" is the third single from Slightly Odway, the debut album from Australian alternative rock band, Jebediah. It was written by band members, Chris Daymond, Kevin Mitchell, Vanessa Thornton and Brett Mitchell. It was recorded in April 1997 at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne and produced by Neill King. "Teflon" was officially released on 23 March 1998, peaking at number 41 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. It polled at number 42 in the Triple J Hottest 100 music poll for 1998.

Harpoon is a song by Australian alternative rock band Jebediah. It appears on the band's debut studio album Slightly Odway (1997). The following year, it was released as a six-track EP by record label Murmur, which reached number 46 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.

Feet Touch the Ground 1999 single by Jebediah

"Feet Touch the Ground" is the second single from Australian alternative rock band Jebediah's second studio album, Of Someday Shambles. It was released on 22 November 1999 and peaked at number 75 on the ARIA Singles Chart and polled at number 28 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1999. The track was co-written by all four band members Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton.

N.D.C. (song) 2002 single by Jebediah

"N.D.C." is the third single from Australian alternative rock band Jebediah's self-titled album, Jebediah. The track was co-written by the group's members, Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, his brother Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton. It was released in July 2002 and peaked at number 92 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Please Leave 2000 single by Jebediah

"Please Leave" is the third single from Australian alternative rock band Jebediah's second studio album, Of Someday Shambles. It was released on 13 March 2000 in two versions, a brown version and a blue version, according to the main background colour of its cover. Aside from the lead track, the brown version had two new studio tracks and multi-media video of their previous single, "Feet Touch the Ground". After the lead track, the blue version had four live tracks.

<i>Familiar Stranger</i> (Bob Evans album) 2013 studio album by Bob Evans

Familiar Stranger is the fourth solo studio album by Australian indie pop artist, Kevin Mitchell, which was released on 15 March 2013 under his stage name, Bob Evans. It peaked at No. 31 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Familiar Stranger was produced by Dean Reid for EMI and provided two singles, "Don't Wanna Grow Up Anymore" and "Go".

Jebediah discography

The discography of Jebediah, an Australian alternative rock band, consists of five studio albums, two compilation albums, one video album, four extended plays and fifteen singles.

<i>Twenty</i> (Jebediah album) 2015 compilation album by Jebediah

Twenty is a 2015 compilation album by Australian alternative rock band, Jebediah. To celebrate the band's twentieth anniversary Jebediah undertook a national tour of Australia and released a collection of twenty songs which spans their entire catalogue. The songs were selected by the band, ranging from "Tracksuit" which appeared on the band's first release, Twitch in 1996 through to "She's Like a Comet", from their fifth studio album, Kosciusko.

References

  1. 1 2 3 McFarlane, Ian (1999). Encyclopedia entry for 'Jebediah'. Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Holmgren, Magnus. "Jedediah". passage.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 Nimmervoll, Ed. "Jebediah". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Mathieson, Craig (22 March 2002). "Jebediah's journey". The Age . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "The Futuro House". TheFuturoHouse.com. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "Lindsay Gravina". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Discography". jebediah.net. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Hung, Steffen. "Jebediah Discography". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Jebediah – Biography, Overview, Music Video & Songs, Interviews, News, Facts – Take 40". Take 40. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Matthew Hogan (11 April 2012). "JEBEDIAH Cream of the Crop". X-Press. Columbia Press Pty.Ltd. Retrieved 19 August 2012.[ dead link ][ dead link ]
  12. ↑ mcm media (2011). "Jebediah Biography". Take 40. mcm media. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  13. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (26 June 2011). "Chart Positions 51-100 Post 1989 Part 1 – Jebediah singles". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  14. 1 2 Lewis, Jonathan. "Slightly Odway – Jebediah | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 27 January 2015. Note: User may have to click on a tab, e.g. 'Credits' to access further information.
  15. ↑ Neal, Mat (13 May 2011). "Jebediah". The Warrnambool Standard. Fairfax Media . Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Powderfinger Take Out Triple J Greatest Australian Album Poll on Tone Deaf". Tone Deaf. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "'Leaving Home' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Leaving Home; or at 'Performer:' Jebediah
  18. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 23 January 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.