Oh man, does this album bring back some powerful memories!

Sidewalk was an album I was listening to constantly just before getting dragged kicking and screaming from NZ to Australia by my parents. Last year of high school and (like everyone I guess) had a big group of The Best Friends Ever, and then had to face moving to a whole new country. I've long since forgiven my parents for that but doubtless perfected the moody, withdrawn, self-absorbed teenager thing for a while there.

Of course now you couldn't drag me away from Oz (became a citizen almost 20 years ago)... that is unless our .gov starts behaving more and more like the current US administration in which case we're outa here! Sorry, digress.

Sidewalk is Icehouse's third album and it's a highly underrated one that didn't get anywhere near the attention it deserved. Following on from the powerhouses that were Flowers/Icehouse and Primitive Man, this was quite a dark album. It may be just me but I think it also was very telling of Iva Davies' musical influences. In track one, Taking The Town, he sounds like he's channelling a young David Bowie. Tracks two, three, and four, This Town, Someone Like You, and Stay Close Tonight, he's almost Bryan Ferry personified. In track seven, Sidewalk he is Simple Minds' Jim Kerr. Incidentally, Sidewalk was originally planned to be the album's first track but when US record execs heard it (and it's jab at The American Way) they decided differently.

Another masterpiece in Iva Davies' art gallery. You need to have a good listen to this.

Tags: AotW