Dust on My Shoes is the new album by Mick Thomas and the Sure Thing. The name comes from an old travel book and refers to the amount of wear and tear a journey can leave on a person. Sometimes you are left scared. Sometimes there is hardly even dust on your shoes. This album has been a journey in the making.
When Wedding, Parties, Anything finally called it quits at the end of
1999 Mick Thomas had some thinking to do. After fifteen years, seven albums,
a gold record, four Aria awards and countless shows it wasn't simply a
matter of launching strait into the big solo career. He wasn't ready for
that and neither was the staunch following that had loved Weddings, Parties,
Anything so well.
It was more a case of getting comfortable making music in another environment,
another format. Done properly, it was always going to take time. And there
was plenty to be done.
A couple of low-key indy releases saw the die-hards had something to go
on with. There was the annual performances of his musical theatre piece
Over in the West. There was a heap of studio production work as well as
the formation of his own label in Australia Croxton Records. And as always
there were shows to be played. Without a commercial solo release Mick
has managed six national tours of Australia with his new outfit The Sure
Thing as well as four solo runs in England and Europe (and one with the
band).
In the studio the whole musical process was a lot more stream-lined and
has rewarded Mick with one of his most confident release yet - both musically
and lyrically. The decision to use legendary British producer Jerry Boys
(Mermaid Avenue, Buena Vista Social Club) was a daring one given that
the whole process was completed with no label backing at all. But a quick
listen to the record will reveal a quiet confidence about the whole affair.
It's a great sounding CD.
As Dust on My Shoes is about to get released in Europe Mick can at least
rest assured things have not been hurried or pushed in any artificial
way. And if that's made it all take a little longer well at least it's
not something based around fads and neurotic grasping for overnight stardom.
It's been a journey, and journeys tend to take their own amount of time.
Fancy coming along?
Discographie (excerpt):
- "Dust on My Shoes" (Twah! 122)
Track Notes
THE LONELY GOTH
A gentle Byrds country rock feel takes us through the tale of small town
individuality under duress. Initially a point of derision, by the end
we realise The Goth is the hero of the piece.
I COULD SPOT YOU ANYWHERE
A simple tribute to romantic recognition set to a mongrel calypso beat.
YOU REMIND ME
A song about growing up and old on stage that lilts and lulls its way
through a wayward performer's life.
BAKED A CAKE
Words from a woman to her man. A story of inner strength, love gone astray
and kids who won't do as they are told set against a backdrop of small
town football teams and grimy hotels.
LAWRENCE DURRELL
Mick explores his youthful obsession with British proto-bohemian author
Lawrence Durrell and decides things aren't so bad after all.
SONG FOR THE SEVEN SEAS
A song about a song that speaks of a love for the very form of modern
song writing itself
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE
Just Mick and aussie lap steel empressario Matt Walker all recorded in
one take. A song about leaving - the heart looks back as the eyes look
forward.
PLANXTY JOHN MELLION
An instrumental tribute to a sadly departed Australian actor.
TOM WILLS
A jaunty brass laden music hall tune that belies the tragic facts of an
interesting and passionately lived life. Tom Wills is the man credited
with inventing the peculiar Australian football code but he did so much
else - so much more.
WAYWARD WIND
More character history, more irony - this time framed by a jangly guitar
riff and carefree chorus.
HARD CURRENCY
It's about crossing borders and the presumption we can carry as travellers
- certainly the hardest and most confronting piece on the record it's
at once stark and dynamic, harsh and melodic.
NO PICNIC
A song Mick wrote after five months in Europe that somehow encapsulated
so many years of travelling and playing. It was great, it was hard, it
was wild, it was tedious - and it was no picnic.