Hail Mary.
Sometimes what smells like perfume...is really just piss. But not Jezabel, Hayley Mary. The iconic lead singer of arguably the most underrated, best band in the world right now (they always come from Down Under. See; Michael Hutchence, INXS) has released a classic big-three with her four piece over the last decade. Ever since the organs unlocked on their 'Prisoner' debut, shamelessly without restraint these Aussies have ruled like Oi, Oi, Oi. 'The Brink' of their sophomore set was no slump, but a soaring success despite the cruel criticism which made Hayley with hell to pay answer back. Standing up for an album that like this solo extended play is a classic grower by the play. As a matter of fact no newspaper or magazine could turn away the 'Time To Dance' club rock of their second effort. The only thing that bested 'The Brink' was the third times the charm of the sonic synth 'Synthia', which might just be one of the best album of the teening last decade as we enter the roaring twenties like Gatsby or F. Scott. Still 2016 was a long time ago and we need a new album from The Jezabels like we need a full length release. But to start the New Year we'll take an E.P. from lead singer Hayley Mary as she goes it alone with five new tracks that will soon become famous this 2020. In a Maggie Rogers and King Princess time to be alive with Best Coast, Lianne La Havas and Haim coming back for the future that is female. The Queen Mary still reigns supreme. As 'The Perfume' leaves the 'Rosebud' singer coming up in January smelling like roses.
'The Piss, The Perfume' starts off with the self-titled track for a record that feels like jukebox hit one's from decades of times gone by. The Sydney singers trademark vocals are a tribute to traditional, timeless numbers. "I heard you're coming back to Sydney, oh/I have prepared reaction for this one/I'm sure you expect that I will break down and cry/Or I'll slither away and/Stumble out my window as you skip by singing/Don't it come around/The wind and the sound/The slant in the room/The piss, the perfume", she sings. The retro feel of this song extends to the albums artwork which in an old hat looks like the perfect picture photo from the European cool blue, 'Never Tear Us Apart' Days in excess. But caps off this release is anything but, just like the fact that this side project is anything but The Jezabels at the brink of splitting up, no matter what tabloid rumor would have it. The sideways looks says it all, Hayley still won't heed the hate from critics, but with 'Piss' Mary mother's them all. And on 'Like A Woman Should' and its classic American roadside diner, parked up in some classic muscle that birthed Springsteen's run, she really guns for the 80's like the fire tire tracks of the car that Michael J. Fox took his date to the prom in (wait a minute wasn't that his...you know?). 'Like A Woman Should' is a big number just like this woman always gives us with the vocals that can take it as she sings, "Caught in the crossfire, caught in the fishing wire/Uoh-uoh-uoh-uoh-uoh-uoh-uoh/Your love is a sweet thing/The anger in me chooses to ignore." Singing about wishing being born in another time like the music she let's rhyme as she longs for a day she could have a daughter that could walk the street at night safe. Just like a woman should. Just like you should listen...and really take the message in. Can you smell the perfume?
Ordinary people like John Legend will love the stellar, standout from this set 'Ordinary Me' and its black and white to camera, personal touch of a video that even compares to the tear of Sinead O'connor on this Celtic classic for the singer that has moved to Edinburgh, Scotland and built a castle. It's a singer/songwriter song as stirring as The Jezabels beautiful ballad 'Flowers In The Attic'. And up their amongst the big bass beats of 'City Girl' and 'No Country' this singer shows she's at her best when she goes the deepest and darkest for her cuts. Subtly singing with beautiful, brooding symbolism, "I see it in rewind/I know you're going home/But since we've said goodbye/Well, I don't wanna know/How time can waste away". If this doesn't strike a chord, then you're just not in tune. On the deep, Norah Jones Puss N Boots bass of 'Holly' Mary sings to me like 'Let It Be', "Holly, Holly, Holly, where did you go after '97?" like Oi, Oi, Oi again and "I can't think of anyone who had a better hold on me/A better hold on me/She's a storm, but she tries to live in the norm/In the heart of America/As you bear the children of yawn/I hope that you're better now girl" for her smartest song of the set. But it's on the 'Brat' closer that this EP gets epic like 'My Love Is My Disease' and its Tokyo crossing video or 'All You Need' and its all around the world tour one on the road. Holding the best songbook of these legal pad declarations with lyrics like, "I bet you never let the weather get the better of you/Your house on fire, your sky still blue/And if I ever get together I’ll be getting out too/I’ll skip the cracks, I won’t look back, I won’t fall through". Five tracks, half an album in this EP is all Hayley and her hallmark sound needs to nostalgically show you she could go it alone for albums. Even if missing a Jezabel like the King of Israel we don't want her to without a little help from her friends Hannah, Samuel and Nik. But if this isn't enough for you right now...piss off! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Pick: 'Like A Woman Should', 'Ordinary Me', 'Holly'.
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