Demolition – Rob Griffiths (Swerve Records)
The Girl Belongs To Yesterday Rob Griffiths (digital single through Swerve Records)
As long as I've been a music fan, I've regularly become obsessed with particular songs. At age 10, it was “Devil Gate Drive” by Suzie Quatro. It was “Department of Youth” by Alice Cooper at 12. It would be “London Calling” by The Clash and “Another Girl, Another Planet” by The Only Ones in my late teens.
I'd buy a single and replay a song again and again. The tune would stay my head for weeks and I would wear out that seven- inch single until it was a crackling mess.
I came across “The Girl Belongs To Yesterday“ by Rob Griffiths a few weeks ago on Facebook and like all the classic three-minute singles, I replayed it again and again. Just like that kid bringing home a seven-inch vinyl by Suzi Quatro or Alice Cooper. Except this one’s a download.
The magic of “The Girl Belongs To Yesterday” is in Griffth’s vocal delivery: It’s engaging and immediate and has that conversational, sardonic Lou Reed approach that draws you in. It’s also perfectly arranged and the song builds with subtlety. The homemade retro video is landing a bullseye as well, with its nods to Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club and Suicide. It’s a gem of minimalism and dry sarcasm.
“The Girl Belongs To Yesterday” is from the digital-only album “Demolition”, a collection of demos by Rob that includes tracks from his bands Little Murders and The Fiction.
Rob Griffiths rose out the explosion of new music in Melbourne around 1978-80 that also spawned Ollie Olsen, Rowland S Howard, Garry Gray, Anita Lane and of course Nick Cave. While those artists flirted with darker and often edgier sounds, Rob’s main band, Little Murders, tended to more melodic British sounds and power pop.
The Fiction were short-lived but Little Murders became a significant part of the Melbourne Mod scene of the early 1980s. The band built up a loyal following and released some killer singles. Over four decades, Rob has consistently produced great music.
Highlights of “Demolition” include “Hanging Out With The Cool Fuckers” and of course “The Girl Belongs to Yesterday”.
“Mr. Complicated” takes us back to classic American doo-wop and pop of the late ‘50s and features Steve Lucas, doing his best T Rex impersonation on guitar, and fabulous backing vocals from his wife Joey Bedlam from DollsSquad. It’s a classic retro trip that captures the right spirit, as well as being a killer track in its own right.
That one and “Maybe She Lied” feature bass by Adam Learner of The Ficton and Blue Ruin. It’s a lighter moment with a skipping rhythm and tinge of country and western.
As advertised, the album is a collection of odds and ends and at times is lo-fi, but at its core is some classic song-writing influenced by American power pop, British early ‘70s Glam and ‘80s New Wave. Rob is not afraid to hold up his influences proudly, but where many would not be able to pull it off, Griffith’s vocal delivery and ability to draw you in makes this a treat.
The album is also a bonus to Rob Griffiths’ debut memoir “Don’t Let Go”, only a handful of copies of which still remain.
“The Girl Belongs To Yesterday - 
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“Demolition”- 
