Songs from the 86 Tram explained

Songs from the 86 Tram
Type:studio
Artist:The Bedroom Philosopher
Cover:Songs_From_the_86_Tram.jpg
Released:16 April 2010 (Australia)
Recorded:The Soft Centre, Melbourne
October–December 2009
Genre:Musical comedy, folk pop, indie rock
Length:49:54
Label:Shock
Producer:Chris Scallan
Prev Title:Brown and Orange
Prev Year:2009

Songs from the 86 Tram is the third full-length album by the ARIA[1] nominated Australian musical comedian The Bedroom Philosopher, the performing persona of Justin Heazlewood. It is the soundtrack to his award-winning live comedy show.[2] The album marks his first release on an established record label, Shock Records, and the first recording with his backing band, The Awkwardstra.

Themes

The album is notable for its theme; narrating the lives of passengers on board a Melbourne tram, navigating the Route 86, from Bundoora to Docklands via Northcote, Collingwood and through the Melbourne CBD.

Heazlewood describes the album as an exercise in character exploration:In comedy, bogans get made fun of all the time, and old people and junkies are all easy targets. I was interested in taking on demographics that are rarely satirised in any way.[3]

Noting a lack of art, new media or otherwise, exploring modern Australian identity or actively countering international cultural influence, Heazlewood notes the importance of Songs from the 86 Tram as attempting to fill an underrepresented "non-bogan Australian pride":"From growing up with Sesame Street right through to any comedy on TV being British or American, I feel like we’re really up against it to forge any kind of uniquely Australian culture. And then we’ve got our own cultural cringe. We’re not that proud of ourselves. The line [on "Sudanese"] that Australia is basically just America with Milo and possums... at times that's how I feel. It's just a bunch of American shops and TV and music, so what are you left with?"[4]

Reception

Reviews for the album were wholly positive[5] with several noting his song "Northcote (So Hungover)" as exemplifying the first example of an emerging "new Australian-American accent".[6]

Track listing

All lyrics and music written by The Bedroom Philosopher, arrangements by Hugh Rabinovici and Chris Scallan, and played by The Bedroom Philosopher and his Awkwardstra:

  1. "Middle Aged Mum" – 4:20
  2. "We are Tramily" – 4:01
  3. "Sudanese" – 2:33
  4. "Trishine" - 2:14
  5. "Interlewd" – 0:32
  6. "Northcote (So Hungover)" – 3:44
  7. "Irish Girl" – 3:04
  8. "Tram Inspector" – 3:30
  9. "Man on a Tram" – 1:12
  10. "Song to Nod Off To" – 4:23
  11. "In My Day (Nan)" – 2:37
  12. "New Media" – 4:13
  13. "Old Man at End" – 5:01

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ARIA Nominations Announced . 28 September 2010 . 3 October 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091124212211/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/about-fine-arts-awards.php . 24 November 2009.
  2. Web site: Songs From The 86 Tram, Comedy Festival 2010 . 4 April 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100219075314/http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2010/season/shows/the-bedroom-philosopher-songs-from-the-86-tram . 19 February 2010.
  3. Web site: The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram . Strange . Jason . Orble.com.au . 31 March 2010 . 28 April 2010.
  4. Web site: Wallen. Doug . The Bedroom Philosopher - interview - Interviews . Thevine.com.au . 28 April 2010.
  5. Web site: Pilven . Jack . The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram . Rave magazine . 22 April 2010 . 3 October 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110524014805/http://www.ravereview.com.au/adelaide/cd-reviews/96-the-bedroom-philosopher-songs-from-the-86-tram . 24 May 2011 .
    - Web site: Carlino. Luke . The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram . MusicFeeds.com.au . 20 April 2010 . 3 October 2010.
    - Web site: Doyle. Georgia . The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram . Beat magazine . 29 August 2010 . 3 October 2010.
    - Web site: The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs from the 86 Tram . Orble . 18 April 2010 . 28 April 2010.
    - Web site: Al Janabi. Faye. The Bedroom Philosopher - Songs From The 86 Tram . The AU Review. 13 May 2010. 3 October 2010.
  6. Web site: Hayward . Jesse . The Bedroom Philosopher – Struth Be Told - Music News, Reviews, Interviews and Culture . Music Feeds . 1 April 2010 . 28 April 2010.
    - Web site: Modra . Penny . Comedy Fest, the Bedroom Philosopher, Songs from the 86 Tram - Out . ThreeThousand . 28 April 2010.
    - Web site: Michael Bodey . Stop it, you jokers, you're killing me . The Australian . 13 April 2010 . 28 April 2010.

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