Customer Reviews

Temperamental

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have always loved this band, it's straight forward (guitar driven) aussie rock and roll(with a touch of new wave splashed in for color). An original rocking band, with an original sound, that not many in America gave a chance(that's right keep buying emminem, Britney Spears, or some other current piece of trash the record industry shoves down your throat)It's ...kind of sad.

In the title track of this album, Chrissy Amphlett sings, "like a beautiful woman, you're temperamental." You get the idea that she is that woman.
This collection of material is gloriously moody, and the perfect bridge between the quirky "What a Life!" and the sleek, sexy "diVINYLS." The band rocks harder than ever, but there is less of a sense of new wave isolation here than on the band's first two recordings.
That is not to say all is happy in Divinyls land. "Back to the Wall" is a song we can probably all relate to, about feeling trapped in a situation in which we do not want to be. My favorite line is "Don't push me too far, you better run for your life..." When Chrissy Amphlett tells you to run for your life, you sure as hell better listen.
"Hey Little Boy" finds Chrissy mad as hell and taking complete joy in her anger, knowing that she will come out on top. "I'M TALKING TO YOU!," she screams out. This one's a cover, but as always it is made distinctly Divinyls by the band.
"Dirty Love" is well, deliciously dirty (without being obscene, mind you -- this is a real skill of Christina's). "Punxsie" makes you think of a lonely, closed-off, somewhat bitter punk girl that Chrissy sympathizes with (could it even be about her as a rebellious young girl?). "Runaway Train" is about a similar type of girl with a wild streak who flees from home. It's got a country flair and is a load of fun.
"Because" is probably my favorite song here. It might not catch you upon first listen, but its brilliance shines through more and more every time you hear it. This song is a glimpse into Christina's diary, using beautiful imagery ("climb every mountain, sail seven seas, I've got your treasure buried in me") and a vast, hypnotic melody to profess love. Plus it has got a great little drum intro and some classic shouted lines from Chrissy as the song fades -- "Don't step on a fish, gimme a kiss, go to the moon, come back real soon..."
Temperamental is perhaps the Divinyls' most straight-up rock album (although trust me, they ALL rock). Music like this just isn't made anymore, so find a copy of this and love it.

I love this cd by The Divinyls..It has to be one of my favorites from the late 80's. Best songs on this cd are: Temperamental,Hey little boy, back to the wall,because and out of time. Christina has such a raw & sexy voice that it's hard not to like..This is a Classic from the band that brought us Boys in Town & Only Lonely in the early 80's. Excellent CD!

By 1988, Divinyls had been to hell and back. Internal turmoil including the disintergration of the original line up, the loss of long time manager, Austrailian rock icon Vince Lovegrove, strained relations with their label, etc. All these things had taken their toll and would've crushed a lesser band. But adversity only strengthened Divinyls, and they bounced back with, in my opinion, the best album they would ever record.

Production duty fell to Mike Chapman, a genius in his own right, whose name has graced more great albums than I care to list in this small space. I've appreciated his work since his days working with Sweet, and if ever there was a producer who understood Divinyls' music and brought out the best in them, it's Chapman. I would go so far as to say the production here is flawless. Every instrument is clear and exactly where it should be in the mix, perfect separation, depth and atmosphere to every song. Chrissie's vocals and Mark's guitar never sounded better. Bass and drums right on the money.

Of course the corner stone to a great album is great songs, and McEntee and Amphlett created some of the finest compositions of their career, and that's saying a lot considering the quality of material found on their first two releases. There isn't a weak song here. On the contrary, this is one of the greatest blends of hard rock with pop hooks my ears have been treated to. Back To The Wall and Punxsie are two of the very strongest ballads Divinyls ever cut and they're adept at slow numbers. What really stands out here, though, is the brilliance of the rockers, of which this album is filled. Dirty Love absolutely sizzles with that raunchy fire that abounds from down under. Is there something in the water? Or is it all that great beer?

Amphlett turns in the finest vocal performance of her career, and that's saying a mouth full! She has a totally unique sound and delivery. There's never a second of doubt who it is when you hear her. Stand outs include the cover of the Syndicate Of Sound's Hey Little Girl (Boy), and original Run-A-Way Train. And speaking of this song, McEntee makes his guitar sound almost like bagpipes, giving it a very Scottish sound. Mark is easily one of the most under appreciated guitarists out there, due in no small part to the amount of restraint he uses in his playing. Never a show off or indulging in long soloing, he is so skilled and original in his style, understanding clearly what is needed to make every song the best it can be. This guy is an amazing talent, and the perfect musical companion to Amphlett. However destructive their private relationship was, when joined in creating music they almost became a single entity.

A perfect album in my book, and a real tribute to the immensely talented but often over looked (with the exception of AC/DC) Australian rock'n'roll community. The land down under has cranked out one excellent band after another since spawning The Easybeats in the 60's, and bands like Blackfeather, Buffalo, Coloured Balls, Fanny Adams, Rose Tattoo etc. in the 70's. The list goes on. Crack open a bottle of Old Australia Stout and enjoy!

In a fit of "collector fever", I purchased this and another couple of Divinyls recordings, all from various sellers. Service was great, prompt and the disc arrived in great shape as advertised. Thanks.