Songs from the 86 Tram
Encyclopedia
Songs from the 86 Tram is the ARIA-nominated third full-length album by Australian musical comedian The Bedroom Philosopher
, the performing persona of Justin Heazlewood and acts as a soundtrack to his award-winning live comedy show. The album marks his first release on an established record label, Shock Records
, and the first recording to feature his backing band The Awkwardstra.
tram
, navigating the Route 86
, from Bundoora to Docklands via Northcote
, Collingwood
and through the Melbourne CBD
.
Heazlewood describes the album as being an exercise in character exploration:
In comedy, bogan
s 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.
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?
'.
, arrangements by Hugh Rabinovici and Chris Scallan, and played by The Bedroom Philosopher and his Awkwardstra:
The Bedroom Philosopher
The Bedroom Philosopher is the performance persona of Australian comedian, author, actor and songwriter Justin Heazlewood. Most known for his musical comedy works, The Bedroom Philosopher has released several albums, performed at many arts festivals, been nominated for an ARIA Award and is a...
, the performing persona of Justin Heazlewood and acts as a soundtrack to his award-winning live comedy show. The album marks his first release on an established record label, Shock Records
Shock Records
Shock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
, and the first recording to feature his backing band The Awkwardstra.
Themes
The album is notable for its theme; narrating the lives of passengers on board a MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
, navigating the Route 86
Melbourne tram route 86
Tram route 86 is a public transport service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from Bundoora in the northern suburbs to Waterfront City Docklands in the city. It is one of Melbourne's busiest tram routes carrying 44,200 passengers a day...
, from Bundoora to Docklands via Northcote
Northcote, Victoria
Northcote is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin...
, Collingwood
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
and through the Melbourne CBD
Melbourne city centre
Melbourne City Centre is an area of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is not to be confused with the larger local government area of the City of Melbourne...
.
Heazlewood describes the album as being an exercise in character exploration:
In comedy, bogan
Bogan
The term bogan is Australian slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for an individual who is recognised to be from a lower class background or someone whose limited education, speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplifies such a background....
s 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.
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
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
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?
Reception
Reviews for the album have been wholly positive with several noting his song Northcote (So Hungover) as exemplifying the first example of an emerging 'new Australian-American accentAustralian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
'.
Track listing
All lyrics and music written by The Bedroom PhilosopherThe Bedroom Philosopher
The Bedroom Philosopher is the performance persona of Australian comedian, author, actor and songwriter Justin Heazlewood. Most known for his musical comedy works, The Bedroom Philosopher has released several albums, performed at many arts festivals, been nominated for an ARIA Award and is a...
, arrangements by Hugh Rabinovici and Chris Scallan, and played by The Bedroom Philosopher and his Awkwardstra:
- "Middle Aged Mum" – 4:20
- "We are Tramily" – 4:01
- "Sudanese" – 2:33
- "Trishine" - 2:14
- "Interlewd" – 0:32
- "Northcote (So Hungover)" – 3:44
- "Irish Girl" – 3:04
- "Tram Inspector" – 3:30
- "Man on a Tram" – 1:12
- "Song to Nod Off To" – 4:23
- "In My Day (Nan)" – 2:37
- "New Media" – 4:13
- "Old Man at End" – 5:01
Personnel
- Justin Heazlewood - vocals, guitar, accordion
- Hugh Rabinovici - drums, backing vocals
- Gordon Blake - guitar, sitar, backing vocals
- Jamie Power - percussion, backing vocals
- Andy Hazel - bass, backing vocals
- Harry Angus - trumpet
- Scott Griffiths - piano, harp, synths, percussion
- Jessica Venables - Cello
- Willow Stahlut - violin, viola
- Xani Colac - violin
- David Rabinovici - violin
- DJ Who - scratching
- Nicole Shenko - backing vocals