Calenture
The Triffids
1987
Album Summary
Calenture is the fourth studio album by Australian rock group The Triffids, it was released in November 1987 and saw them explore themes of insanity, deception and rootlessness—the title refers to a fever suffered by sailors during long hot voyages. It reached No. 32 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. In November 1987, it reached No. 24 on the Swedish Albums Chart, in May 1988 it peaked at No. 25 on the New Zealand Albums Chart. The album spawned three singles, "Bury Me Deep in Love" (1987), "Trick of the Light" and "Holy Water" (both in 1988). The latter track was recorded with American producer Craig Leon. In 2007 Calenture was re-released as a 2× CD with five bonus tracks on the first disc and twelve tracks on the second disc, mostly rehearsal or studio demos of the original album tracks. In February it appeared on the Belgium Albums Chart Top 60.
WikipediaWhat a load of shite. It's like they were 6th form students asked to do an impression of an 80s Christian rock band at Eurovision. I started finding it funny though due to how bad it was, like they can't have been serious. I suppose I can't give it 1 star, because I did take some enjoyment from it, but absolutely not in the way they intended.
Calenture is a misleading album. It opens with a pillowy, power pop ballad that belongs more in the opening montage of a Disney movie about some orphaned animal adopted into an interspecial family than it does the opener of a post-punk Australian outfit's LP. However, as the album progresses, cracks appear in the facade of this simple, straightforward, sickeningly sweet pop. “Kelly’s Blues” is peppered with indecipherable lyrics that sound like the scrawlings of a maniac in love with his hostage; “A Trick of the Light” reinforces this image of mania by recounting the story of a man who sees some lost love, perhaps, but it also hints at something much darker (with lyrics like “I was beating on her Iike an anvil…With that same old panic caught on her face”); “Unmade Love” seems to narrate scorned love gone wrong; and on and on. Suddenly, “Bury Me Deep in Love” sounds more like a warning covered over by its pillowy instrumentals. It isn’t just the story being narrated by the band that chips away at the album’s first impression. The sudden shift to the dark, uneasy instrumentation in “Unmade Love”; the strings that linger off-kilter in the background of “Blinder By the Hour” are almost anxious-making; the pulsing percussion of “Vagabond Holes” paired with the McComb’s vocal performance produces a song that feels desperate (although I wish both the vocals and the instrumentals in the chorus were less polished, rougher like they are in the verses of the song); the title track is an incredible punctuation of the album. My biggest complaint is the closer. The album overstays its welcome with “Save What You Can”. Not that it is a bad song (although I don’t think it is a particularly good song), but it ruins what would have been an amazing closer with the title track. The album can also drag in some places. I find my attention begins to wander when I listen to songs like “Hometown Farewell Kiss”, “Open For You”, and “Holy Water”. I also think “Jerdacuttup Man” lasts a beat longer than I wish it did (although I really love most of the song). I would give it a 7/10. It would almost certainly be a higher rating if the album ended with Calenture, but it probably wouldn’t be too much higher of a rating.
This is clearly a band built around the singer, David McComb. He has has an interesting voice, a bit like Lloyd Cole on the mellower songs and like fellow-Aussie Nick Cave when he gets wound up. The melodies do grow on you, but overall, the song-writing isn't that strong and the arrangements are pretty straight forward.
Was there a typo that resulted in this album getting on the list? I fail to see any aspect of this one that merits it being in a list of 1001 albums I must hear. The whole thing feels over thought and way over produced. Given the pay counts (or lack thereof) on Spotify, I get the feeling that I'm not the only one this hasn't connected with. I wonder how many of those plays are purely generated from this site recommending the album. The worst part was that track had so much reverb and chorus on it that I was effectively forced to listen to every song multiple times at once. It was like each track was actually multiple instances of the song being played; each instance's timing slightly offset from the next. I could only get through track 6 (Open for You) before I had to call it.
McComb's explosive rage at the finale of \"Vagabond Holes\" should have been the Triffids' last gasp, an unsettling blast of scarred emotions that isn't easy to shake off.
Discovered this album a few years after it was released and it was the first Triffids album for me. Not sure if that is why I like it the most (the other Triffids albums are also great) but apart from the so-so production, this is a 5* album in every other aspect, introspective guitar rock that sounds very Australian, David McComb was one of the best singer-songwriters ever.
I thought about giving this four stars and then thought 'I'm only not giving it five BECAUSE of Bury Me Deep In Love' which is really punishing them for Neighbours. So, for the songs, the playing, the vocals. 5 stars. A high-water mark of eighties Australian music.
I listened to this one twice, entranced by its odd allure. Stand-out/favorite track: 'Jerdacuttup Man'
Man, this is good. Shades of Nick Cave and even The The. Lush, theatrical chamber-pop with real scale and depth of imagination.
Actually a pretty good album, no song stands out but overall very enjoyable
Really like this. Part Cult, Alarm, Prefab, Hot house all together. My 80' in a nutshell - simpler times and music.
Always hard to judge exactly how good an album is while I'm doing homework, but this one seemed quite good
A little weird, the songs almost felt too disjoint to be an album? It was good and groovy if a bit aggressively 80s, and they had nice voices. A solid 4 stars.
***to be read in the voice of Harry Redknapp*** The triffic Triffids. They do seem to have sparked some controversy in the Spackers judging panel, do the Triffids. Harry Redknapp also caused controversy by successfully swerving tax evasion charges by claiming he had secret bank accounts in his dog's name because he couldn't read. So there you go.
Classic 80s rock/pop, so you know I'm gonna love it. A little long, but the songs I saved were very very good, even if I wouldn't come back to the entire album Saved: Bury My Deep in Love, Blinder By T!he Hour, Jerdacuttup Man
I reviewed this already so I'm not going to write a lot. favorite songs are jerdacuttop man and calenture. Good album.
I’m intrigued by this album. It combines 80s elements of power pop, folk music, country music, and new wave. It is more conventional than most new wave artists and can be quite symphonic.
Most of the songs felt familiar even though it's my first time listening to this album.
Quite liked this album. Tone was somewhat dark but very melodic. Singer has a great vocal tone. Reminded me of a more bluesy Bowie.
Very jangle-pop uk 80s, some of the songs sound like Echo & the Bunnymen, or The Smiths, or Deaon Blue, or The Associates, or even Inxs. Wasn't expecting much, but really enjoyed it, and will listen to it again. One thing though - Spotify has the (very) extended version, with more than twice as many songs, some of them demos/outtakes.
Un disco muy raro, de esos que no sé bien cómo llegaron a esta lista. Musicalmente me gustó; de hecho creo que de los discos de la época ochentera que nos han tocado, es el que más me ha gustado. Como si fueran lo bueno de The Smiths, pero sin la voz espantosa de Morrisey. Mi único problema fue lo largo. Y encima hay un disco que trae también los ensayos y se vuelve infinito.
mitt nya favorit album. älskar verkligen gubbar som rockar sockorna av mej
Not heard of this band before but enjoyed this, any song with loud "Huhs" all the way through screams 80's and I love it.
-"Kelly's Blues" comes in heavy. It's also got a sweet bass line. Then the scream and bridge jam are totally awesome -"A Trick of the Light" is clearly a rip off of "Trick Of The Light" by The Who -"Holy Water" is a catchy track with quite cool instrumentation -"Vagabond Holes" is just a solid, catchy tune. Nice upbeat drums and simple lyrics seemed to make it stand out -Overall solid enough. Probably a low-mid tier 4. If more songs had a little more oomph like "Kelly's Blues" it could have been higher
Wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it probably wasn't this. So this album seems to be a mix between a much tamer version of contemporary darkwave and oldschool folk rock songwriting. While the album seemed unexciting at first, it started growing on me after a while. It's definitely a rounded up 4 for me, rather than a solid one. But I enjoyed it more than the last few 3's.
No, me neither? Not even in these listings of 'Best Australian Bands of all time' that run out at 8. But yet this is lovely pleasing blues gentle rock, and I rather enjoyed it.
Yet another band I have not come across before. For some reason I thought it would be 60s psychedelia. Definitely od the 80s, but that's not a problem. Like it a lot.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Bury me deep in love, Open for you, Vagabond holes
I totally get why everyone seems to hate this but I was IN THE POCKET for it the whole time. I loved this! Heck yeah. Triffidshead 4 life. Reminded me a lot of the underappreciated Irish Band "A House", so maybe that's why I dug it.
Some potential here, but didn’t catch me on the first listen. Might be worth a revisit!
Vagabond Holes was a great song, everything else just kind of blends together. not bad , just down the middle rock
This is a fine record and everything, but almost everything else I've heard by then has been better.
This is a band that hasn't quite determined their sound. Could be Pop or rock or, what I'm going to call, Australian country.
Wow, a band I've never heard of! this album was pretty good, not great, but I enjoyed it, as it kinda felt like a mix of New Order, The Smiths, and every 80's rock band music. I don't know if i'll ever add these songs to my go-to playlists, i'd have to listen to it again a few times, but this was very enjoyable!
New band for me! Massively produced late 80's Aussie rock. Best Tracks: Bury Me Deep In Love, A Trick of the Light, Save What You Can
Easy listening. Inoffensive. Just what I needed at the time. Wouldn't listen to it again.
Had genuinely never heard of them before. First track was super catchy. Reminded me of a “less sad” Cure
Some of these songs sounded like, 40% familiar but I'm pretty sure I haven't heard them before.
Hab noch nie von der Band gehört, aber das Album war cool. Irgendwie was besonderes aber auch nicht...
Meh. Not bad but didn't love it. I picked Bury me deep in love as my fave track, seems to be the most popular also.
Pretty good lyrically and has a cool feel for a late 80s album, but nothing that’s going to stick with me forever.
De bänga ja gjorde annat medans ja lyssna dock så de ble automatisk trea. Ja lyssna btw gårdagens album men ja klicka imisstag did not listen. Ganska friged up
This didn't really mesh with my tastes. But a distinctive voice and lyrically interesting.
47. Calenture - The Triffids 29 tracks. Never heard of them. Just a shit, softer, more melancholy INXS seems a tad harsh, but it's what I keep coming back to. It's not rubbish at all, far from it. It just lacks..... something. Something significant. 3/5
Suenan muy agradable, aunque creo que rayan en lo soso. Los coros son muy buenos en general, pegajosos y fáciles de repetir y cantar a la par, aunque creo que esto no salva a la mayoría de las canciones (e.g. Vagabond Holes). La parte fuerte del disco el segundo tercio (Unmade, Open, Holy, Blinder). Las letras tristes están bien pero creo que se queda a punto de ser un gran disco. Sólido 3. Songs: Unmade Love, Blinder by the Hour, Calenture
3.5 Rock muy pop ochentero de ese que realmente como que no es mi máximo. Sin embargo tengo que aceptar bastante, bastante bien hecho, más interesante de lo que parecía al inicio, líricamente si bien la temática no es como que super novedosa sí están bien hechas las canciones. Creo que la palabra que le pondría a su sonido es "meticuloso" se siente hecho con mucho cuidado, muchos detalles... al grado que siento que es un disco sobreproducido en varios puntos y se empieza a inflar más allá de lo aconsejable. A pesar de esos detalles y de no ser un género del que sea muy fanático, muy decente disco. Quizá no entienda del todo su inclusión en la lista pero a diferencia de otros que han tocado que tampoco entiendo su inclusión al menos la experienca de escucharlo valió la pena. Casi olvido que también debia mencionar... dentro de esa sobrepdorucción... también como que le podía cortar unas 4-5 canciones de las 17 y mucho mejor hubiera quedado.
Very 80s but a pleasant listen. Some of the hooks made for solid pop songs. Kinda forgettable, with no real standouts, but a decent listen nonetheless.
Yet another example of an album that should get more stars, but because of the Remastered-full-of-crap album version, it doesn't get what it deserves. The original album has 12 songs. It is an awesome album... But when you listen to 29 songs from a double album... with 3 versions of the same song, then it becomes boring and stale...
There was some good writing on this album but sonically it didn't do it for me
Jangle pop that sounds very much of its time, and specifically inspired by The Smiths, between the jangle, extensive synths, and chambered vocals and instruments. Optimistic tone, with further inspiration from folk, country, and sophisti-pop (hear that easy listening brass). It's solid, some highlights, but nothing outstanding.
Decent album, no idea about The Triffids before it popped up, but a heavily 80s-pop rock sounding album
Very inconsistent. There's something great about variety in an album of its done well. This one could've stayed a little focused in style.
Nothing overly interesting or ambitious in this one. Songs are all ok but nothing to memorable.
It's a real shame - the music and the songs on this album are good, but not great. It's expertly arranged and played, but it somehow misses the spark of true greatness. I guess I wanted to like this album more than I ended up doing. 3/5
I liked Kelly's Blues and the driving beat of Unmade Love. There are other songs that are somewhat catchy, but the lyrics don't really flow well... Vagabond HOLES? really? Hoodoo Gurus are more entertaining from this era and style.
It's the bells. But it's not cowbells. So that doesn't work for me. But it's al-ight. nothing special, though.
Folk rock, 1987. Quite normal album, which is fine for an easy listening, but it isn't a record to remember at all. Despite the songs are really simple the project is quite entertaining.
I feel like I didn't give this quite as close a listen as it deserves. I liked it overall, but the singer sometimes came off as a bit lounge singer-ish if that makes any sense. Need to give it a closer listen, but for now I'll go with 3 stars.
Ik vond dit geen slecht album. Beetje Folk-Rock, met interessante teksten
This was an okay album, not a bad listen, but also not super memorable. It starts a little slow, but improves as the album progresses. Fave Songs: Open for You, Unmade Love, Hometown Farewell Kiss, Blinder by the Hour, Calenture
Dobar je album, stvarno ima dosta dobrih pjesama - koje sam stavio na plejlistu, ali sveukupan album mi nije baš toliko dobar kao što su određene pjesme. Vrijedi poslušati! Pogotovo pjesme: A Trick of the Light, Hometown Farewell, Blinder By the Hour i zadnja stvar Save What You Can. I da, vidjeh da je taggan kao Jangle Pop, a pošto sam veliki fan tog žanra - malo sam razočaran jer mi nije baš takav. 3.5 i malo fali da bude ovdje 4.
Favs - Vagabond Holes - Rehersal Demo, Jerdacuttup Man - Rehersal Demo. Okay - Baby Can I Walk You Home, Region Unknown. Wouldn’t listen to the rest again.
Didn't find anything special about this tbh, standard 80s soft rock as far as I can tell
just all my least favorite conventions of 80s music. sounds very cheesy, lyrics are so over the top and the vocal style is a bit annoying. a couple of them bang though if you don't listen too hard.
It was okay. Tried to get into but never did. Never heard of this band.
Rätt standard 80-tals album, inte mycket att hurra över. A Trick of the Light var rätt bra dock
Hmm, långt. Jag gillar ändå stora delar av albumet, men det var en märklig upplevelse. Jag lyssnade i flera olika vågor vilket kanske inte har gynnat albumet i mina öron. Uppdelat i två diskar, varav den senare är demos men det var inte precis samma låtar som på disk 1 så jag lyssnade ändå igenom det. Men gällande soundet är det ändå mycket som funkar. Sångarens röst är kraftfull på rätt sätt, det blandas in lite roliga instrument som inte hör till det absolut vanligaste, lite fina stråkar som sitter fint exempelvis. Vid andra omständigheter som hade lett till en genomlyssning i ett svep hade kanske kunnat gjort denna till en 3:a men som lyssningen blev nu räcker det inte riktigt till. Bäst: "Blinder by T!he hour"
maybe a good album, but my first and second listen didn't do anything for me.
That corny 80's reverb-for-days drum sound, cheesy keys, emotive vocals with lame lyrics. Gave it a few tracks (then skipped through a bit of the other songs) to see if there was good stuff lurking in there but, alas, there was none to be found. In terms of other bands from that era doing those kind of songs with that kind of instrumentation and that kind of production, they're a dime a dozen. Don't know how this album made the list, but glad to have listened. There are always treasures to be found in bands & songs you haven't heard before. This wasn't one of them.
I listened to this a week or two ago and I can't remember a damn thing to say. Must have been memorable....
2.75. There are better ways to scratch this itch. It’s fun to think about which 3 bands you’d mash together for this sound. Simple Minds/ABC/Deep Blue Something
I learned too late in life that there was actually a really cool music scene in australia in the 80s so I was pretty excited to hear a band I hadn't heard before. So that didn't work out.
My theory is that all of Australia mistakenly believed that the Cult was banned from the country and that all of the critics responsible for this list mistakenly believed that the Triffids were British, meeting the book's criteria by default. There are times where the lyricism pulls the band from the brink of generic, largely thanks to the album's loose themes of illusion and isolation giving a slightly different complexion to the same old rote love songs, but I still can't shake the feeling that I've heard this all plenty of times before. I'm thinking I might be a little too harsh on this one, but cut me a break: a fucking bug flew into my mouth during the first track and probably colored some of my score here. Key Tracks: Trick of the Light, Vagabond Holes, Jerdacuttup Man
Another one that wasn't really for me. Sounded almost like a tears for fears but without many of the redeeming qualities. Moving on!
Had not heard of this band or heard their music (not that I recall, but as they had a hit or two in the late 80s, I probably heard those on the radio and just don't recall). The lead vocalist's voice is strong and clear, and they play well. The sound is very familiar to me as a lot of pop bands in the mid to late 80s sounded like this. It's a good representation of that sound. Nothing wrong with the album, just didn't engage me. Everything kind of blurred together as one long song with different sections rather than distinct tracks.
First impression: So 80s sounding. Something about the drums specifically just scream 80s. Really curious why this drum sound so strongly evokes this era of music - is it a massive amount of reverb? First 4 songs were quite rough for me. Was about to give up on this record until "Unmade Love" - which was a bit better with a hard driving rhythm some noisier guitar work. But I think this was an outlier because I didn't much care for the rest of the album after that. Very 80's sound, some pretty cheezy songs/lyrics (this Christmas one at the end being the worst), and some vague theme of religion (allmusic practically calls them a christian band) add up to a bad formula for me.
No idea why an album like this makes the list. Random 80s theatrical dreck. Almost was comical.
Very 1980s vocal style (Lloyd Cole-y), not unpleasant but no stand-out songs- all same standard. Just an average band. Again, the same question keeps cropping up: why is this on the list. I can turn on the radio randomly and hear music like this. Why is this in anyway special? It's not actively bad, so I suppose that's a step up from the avalanche of dross that makes up at least half of this list.
How is this on the list? Obscure Aussie Jangle pop from the 90's? I guess the author has a soft spot. I don't
its alright folk rock but i dont get why this is on the list or what special about it
2.8 - "Unique" and "different" don't necessarily mean "good." Not that this record is irredeemably offensive - there are at least some interesting elements. But overall I just find it strange, and a waste of my time. Perhaps the most judicious thing would be to say I simply don't like it and move on. But since I took the time to give it a spin I'll name a few gripes. First, it's got a treble-heavy mix that just sounds weak and wispy. Second, I just couldn't get past David MacCombs' voice. It's actually a powerful baritone but I'm constantly distracted by the effete way he pronounces "s" sounds. Third, the songs explore some strange and pretentious subjects like spirituality and the afterlife. Resulting songs like "Holy Water" and "Jerdacuttup Man" are utterly ridiculous. Listening to this record, I'm somehow reminded of bad dinner theater.
If rock and roll was breakfast food, "Calenture" by The Triffids would be unsweetened oatmeal. Sure, it'll do the job but it's not going to be interesting and you're going to be thinking about bacon the whole time. I can't imagine anyone actually wanting to listen to this. But then, some people actually choose to eat plain oatmeal so I guess there's no accounting for taste.
Loved the review which stated this wasn’t in the top 1001 of 1987. This is no REM U2 Waterboys or INXS or Elvis Costello or …. or …. Cover art 2/5
I listened to this a week or two ago and I can't remember a damn thing to say. Must have been memorable....
Getting go-betweens ad less flattering Crowded house vibes. Maybe a bit a the the. Super clean but poorly dated production. Some good bits but far too clean for my liking. Mehh not for me!
Vraiment pas mon style, un peu trop egale pour moi, un mix rock pop synthetize que j’aime pas vraiment mais ca secoute en fond comme si il ny avait rien. 2.60
Never had heard of this band before. But overall is was just unremarkable 80s pop. Probably would never listen again nor really care to hear any singles. 1.5/5
I like a good bit of Aussie pop/rock from this era but this album was bland. It didn't have incredible songwriting like INXS, Crowded House or Icehouse, a standout singer a la Barnesy/Farnesy, or even a Diesel-level guitarist. It wasn't bad, I could easily enough listen to it again, but it was... remarkably unremarkable. I couldn't even say it deserves a place among second-tier stuff like Dragon and 1927. Guess there's a reason Electric Blue still gets daily radio play but I'd never heard of the Triffids. 2/5.
Nothing special, just an standard soft rock album. I think they are not so bad, but all the songs are just mediocre. Not special enough to be on the list in my opinion. Favourite song: - Vagabond holes
"50 Or So Albums You Should Listen To Before You Die And Then An Unending Parade Of Mediocre White Men"
Rubbish 80’s rock, not sure why this made the list. But not quiet bad enough for the bottom rating.
Detta skjønte eg ingenting av. Høres ut som masse ting som eg egentlig like, men samtidig ikkje??? Fikk sånn uncanny valley-følelse
This wasn't great. All sounds the same and nothing stood out. Way too long an album for something so mediocre/forgettable. 5/10.
If you think that “The Triffids” is a great band name, then you will think think the music is great too! You could definitely judge this album by its cover…. That “hometown” song was the best I guess. Am I on a hidden camera?
Can say nothing better than the reviewer that says "I'm not even sure this album was in the 1001 top albums of 1987." 2/5.
I was hopeful because it was folk rock, but its badly dated and generic at the same time. Wasn't my favorite experience
If god is real why did he make me listen to this? Come back, Electric Prunes, all is forgiven
fuck this. the best insult i can give this is that it must be the 80s version of snow patrol. if snow patrol turns up on this list it can fuck right off to the bottom of the chart.
same as echo and the bunnymen, just so boring I quit after a few songs
Eh. For some reason this really bored me, the mixes felt hollow and the singer was trash. It also lacked any interesting ideas.
Not only are these songs trite and poorly written (musically and lyrically), this album contains the worst aspects of mid-1980's production quality. To top it off, the Wikipedia article about this album quoted a NME critic (regarding a 2007 reissue of this sonic nightmare) who compared the Triffids to U2 and R.E.M. based on this album alone. I don't know the Triffids. But how does THIS album prompt that comment?
The first song on this album was truly one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard. There were one or two of these songs that I found tolerable, but overall this was a painful listen. There was also an inconsistency in tone that made the album feel very non-cohesive. The lyrics felt very simplistic, with a weird number of references to facial features. Also, a good amount of Christian messages, which I was not in the mood for. Boo.