POST NO. 4: THE OLD WAY OUT IS NOW THE NEW WAY IN

Just why The Go-Betweens' back catalogue has gone so overlooked by the masses in America is beyond me. The group did much better in terms of recognition (and earning their niche in history) in their home countries of Australia and the UK, but across the pond, it seems like we tend to neglect the group. Even their turn-of-the-century reunion hasn't seemed to resonate all that much with younger folk. I made it to The Go-Betweens' Chicago stop on their original reunion tour a few years back, and while the crowd was enthusiastic, the venue was far from sold out. Possibly, the group's lyrics are too esoteric; certainly, their songs are less immediate than many of their perceived peers, like Echo and the Bunnymen and The Smiths. And for certain, they're hardly a "sexy" band.

Maybe my perception of a lack of respect is just dead-wrong. But I don't know anyone other than my long lost friend Tom who has a true appreciation for this band. (Maybe I just know the wrong people?) Still, we Yanks don't have much interest in investigating the foreign bands that influenced the modern, import indie pop that we enjoy, like Belle & Sebastian, The Clientele, The Lucksmiths, The Shout Out Louds, or what have you.

By the time The Go-Betweens released Spring Hill Fair, their third studio album, in 1984, they had already cemented their reputation amongst critics. The year prior, the band added a fourth member, Robert Vickers, on bass, moving singer-songwriter Grant McLellan to lead guitar duties. The results were an even more vibrant, layered sound, as evidenced on the pristine "Bachelor Kisses," the jumpy "Unkind and Unwise," and the frantic "Man O' Sand to Girl O' Sea." But remaining constant is The Go-Betweens' knack for literate storytelling as well as their preference for subtlety, even in the relatively tame tones of McLennan's lead guitar work. In an interview with Melody Maker from back in the day (which is recounted in the liner notes), McLennan says "People often mistake subtlety or reticence for naivete or wimpiness. ... You just can't have those qualities if you want to be in the charts." Or, possibly, remembered fondly by Americans.

Here's my favorite Go-Betweens song on this album (and overall), written by McLennan's bandmate, Robert Forster, a John Lennon to McLennan's Paul McCartney.

The Go-Betweens - "Draining the Pool for You"

Visit Grant and Robert here. For an extensive band bio, click here.