EXTENDED PLAY 054: PACIFIC AVENUE - 'FLOWERS' | ALBUM REVIEW

Words by Mark Griffin.

Listening to Pacific Avenue’s debut, Flowers, is a bit like stepping into a sonic time machine. I’m sure some will say it’s a ticket to the late ‘60s or early ‘70s flower power-era, but for me it was like the first time I heard Oasis’ Morning Glory or The Verve’s Urban Hymns, or any of those other late-90s early-00s bands that radio DJs called, ‘Beatles-esque’. Even more it reminds of Jet’s Get Born, with it’s 60s inspired melodies and distinctively Australian-twanged vocals. You can feel it on title track Flowers, or early single, Spin Me Like Your Records. 

Pacific Avenue are one of the mainstays of Australia’s surf-rock scene. They come from NSW south-coast town, Kiama and get thrown around in conversation alongside acts like Ocean Alley, The Skeggs and Hockey Dad. This album however, I think represents a big step forward for them. There’s still some of that surf-rock sound there, but by digging into Brit-pop (be it ‘60s or ‘90s) nostalgia they’ve found something new and added depth to their songwriting. A longer form release from the boys also gives them much more space to show off their songwriting. The catchy, upbeat indie-rock we’ve come to expect from them is well-represented in the singles that preceded the album’s release, but they’re joined by the poignant, Someone’s Asking and the psychedelic, Strawberry Daydream with its transition from gentle-acoustic to chugging electric guitars.

Despite an overriding nostalgic tone, it’s quite a diverse album. Leaving for London, ironically given the name and its obvious Beatles reference in the lyrics, ditches the Brit-pop aesthetic and is the album’s most straightforward pub-rocker. City Lights, gets a bit funkier and bit weirder; maybe a bit of Bowie happening, but still with the Beatles-y harmonies. 

But, stamped all over the album is Pacific Avenue. If you’ve been following the boys since Sally in 2018, you won’t face much in the way of whiplash; this is very much the same band. They’ve just matured a little in their songwriting. 

The production here is also incredibly lush. There’s layered harmonies, percussion, synths, guitars— whatever other studio wizardry has been added— and it all works seamlessly and without drawing too much attention to itself. This last part is important. Sometimes production takes you out of the experience of actually enjoying an album while you notice the pyrotechnics, Flowers just lets you enjoy listening. 

It’s an album that rewards repeat listens too. There’s a harmony here, a little percussion flourish, or an extra guitar part there, that you might not catch the first time through. As a final note, the album art is typically fun as well, and the ‘70s visual style really suits the band.

All-in-all, this is a solid debut from a band that’s already built up a great catalogue of singles. It definitely leaves me excited for their sophomore effort, but in the meantime I’ll make do with this bouquet of Flowers.

'Flowers' Track Listing:

1. 'Spin Me Like Your Records'
2. 'Strawberry Daydream'
3. 'Easy Love'
4. 'Wake Me Up'
5. 'Give It Up For Yourself'
6. 'Leaving For London'
7. 'City Lights'
8. 'Get You Off'
9. 'Someone's Asking'
10. 'Modern Lovers'
11. 'Devotion'
12. 'Lay Me Down'