dress me slowly
Rating: 4/5

Finally....You Am I have come back with another rockin' record

Finally You Am I have come back to our hearts. It has taken over three years and a couple of producers, but You Am I have dawdled (for want of a better word) their way back into the Australian music scene with their fifth studio release Dress Me Slowly. This album furthers what the four previous You Am I records have done. Sending the Sydney band towards greatness – if they haven’t already made it there yet.

Dress Me Slowly borrows a little from each previous You Am I album yet at the same time symbolises the band’s progression as musicians and songwriters. When one mentions You Am I’s music, the word heart must be referred to once again, because it is blatantly obvious that is where the songs originated. Singer Tim Rodgers has the capability to convey that ever-present feeling of ‘now’ to his audience in his writing, yet still keeping it personal and more importantly real. Judge Roy serves as an excellent, “How are you doing guys – it’s been a while” album opener for You Am I fans. The track bears a slight resemblance to Cathy’s Clown – maybe without the catchy chorus. What is clear on Dress Me Slowly is that bowing to what “the powers that be” deem to be a catchy tune meant little to You Am I. Rather the aim was to produce a fantastic rock album. They succeeded.

With Get Up we see a small return to times past. The song is one of the heavier sounding tracks on the album. Perhaps the finest moment on the Dress Me Slowly lies in the beautiful melodic and (whoops, sorry guys it is) catchy, Beautiful Girl which probably bears the closest resemblance to a pop song on this album. With the infectious chorus, “Keeping up with the beautiful girl”, permeating through the track, Rodgers again, as with most of his songs, seems to find a way to convey a seeming lifelessness in love. Or there is life somewhere – only Tim knows. Again on Damage, a song picked up on heavily by Triple J, and for good reason - the overall product is a masterpiece. Rodgers lyrics make the feeling of loss, despair and being a loser seem so fucking cool.

The album is strengthened with You Am I’s latest addition David Lane. The second guitar provides scope and variation to You Am I’s songs. On a couple of tracks there is even a hint of some of Rodgers’ solo work and the combining forces conspire to make one very fine album.

Victor Woolley