Here at the AU HQ, we get quite a few albums sent to us. Not all of them are picked up quick enough by contributors, so in an effort to cover some of the albums we've missed, we introduce a new feature on the AU review: The Quick Review. A collection of short reviews of some albums we've received over the last few months. Today we bring you five such readings:

Smitty & B.Goode - Hello Rock ‘n’ Roll

The name of Smitty & B.Goode’s sophomore album, Hello Rock ‘n’ Roll – for me at least – conjured up images of Bill Haley rocking around the clock with his comets or Johnny O'Keefe flying a similar flag for the Australian musos back in the day. Instead, the music produced by Smitty (ex- Walrus, Roland K Smith & The Sinners) and B.Goode (ex-Silo) is all about rebel rousing and is actually a mix of garage, punk, rock ‘n’ roll and blues white noise. Basically, if ever there was an album that embodied the spirit of the Eagles of Death Metal song, “I Want You So Hard (Boy’s Bad News)” it’s this. The pair are said to be influenced by beer, rock ‘n’ roll and good times and its easy to see how this has flavoured the music- most notably in the loud, in your face vocals (think of the emphatic yowls of AC/DC and Dallas Crane’s frontmen) plus thunderous drums and the dirtiest of dirty guitar riffs. Basically, it grinds by with a mix of brute force, bravado and a perpetual sneer. Certainly shaken, not stirred.

Review Score: 7/10. - Natalie Salvo

Stop Start Sampler Volume 1 feat. Old Man River and more.

Four artists and seven songs clocking in at around 26 minutes. The Stop Start Sampler draws together music from the folk pop, indie rock and straight-up pop genres and is compiled by and features artists signed to the Stop Start Label (an offshoot of EMI music.) First up is Old Man River with “Norway (I Like It Like This)” and “Wake Up,” where in the former he sings about sitting under a palm tree in Scandinavia with his love. Musically it seems to sit somewhere between the warm, mellow tones of Jack Johnson but with the added folk poignancy of a straight acoustic-guitar wielding singer/songwriter. From Maniac we get some Owl City-inspired pop with “Hoodoo” also boasting some African drum-like tinges not dissimilar to Jonathan Boulet. Hungry Kids of Hungary are represented by two tracks including the big piano number “Coming Around” and indie rock anthem-in-the-making; “China Will Wait”, and Pluto Jonze take a space-meets-psychedelia route. In all, Stop Start Volume One is a varied taster offering a little something for everyone by some talented Stop Start artists. It’s as tasty and sating as an elaborate buffet with all the trimmings imaginable. Yum.

Review Score: 8/10. - Natalie Salvo

Kasey Chambers - Little Bird

Little Bird largely sticks to the tried and tested Kasey Chambers formula of earnest, twangy country, although with a slightly more bluegrass feel. Title track "Little Bird" is a melodious tune with cascading vocals that become increasingly catchy as the song progresses. "Bring Back My Heart" is fresh sounding with banjo punctuating smoother than normal vocals from Chambers. "Invisible Girl" resonates with the type of sincere emotion that Chambers is known for, singing about the way that you can feel invisible faced with someone’s feelings of difference. "Trainwreck" is a strong and edgy song with definite rock influences that simmers down into a decidedly bluegrass instrumental with unusual spoken interjections. Overall, this is an album that packs a punch.

Review Score: 7/10 - Victoria Nugent

The McMenamins - Long Time Gone

Move over Angus and Julia Stone because there’s another Australian brother-sister duo that dabbles in the ol’ folk, alt-country and acoustic music games. Their name is The McMenamins and they’ve just released their third album, “Long Time Gone”. Through twelve songs the listener is treated to some intimate pieces of storytelling, some fine musings about life and some light-hearted ditties pre-destined to provide a gay, boot-scootin’ time. The pair use piano, guitar, mandolin, violin and banjo to occasionally create energetic folk ‘n’ roll like Mumford & Sons, particularly on the track, “Rise and Fall”. “Ache Little Heart” meanwhile, is a country square dance romp and “River Bed” is a soft lullaby gently lulling you to sleep. Singer, Fleur McMenamin has lovely vocals that are sweet, assured and very pleasing to behold. All in all, “Long Time Gone” is a crisp-sounding and fresh album of fabulous folk and country music that will see you simultaneously talking and dancing around the campfire for some time yet.

Review Score: 9/10 - Natalie Salvo

Gun Street Girls - Adult Loose

A Dallas Crane and two Double Agents walk into a bar. The result was Gun Street Girls – a tight blues rock trio that play the kind of heavy pub rock sounds for which this country is proud. Last year saw the release of their second album in as many years, Adult Loose. Their sophomore record continued in the tradition of the AC/DCs and Cold Chisels that preceded them with its offering of 11 Aussie rock songs.

Adult Loose paints a picture of a smoke-filled pub complete with a sticky carpet and pool table as punters assemble round their mates nursing a bevy of choice (beer what else) and an obligatory packet of Winnie Blues as prep for some air guitar in flannies and dirty jeans. Dave Larkin’s raspy vocals are the record’s musical centerpiece sitting somewhere between Barnsey’s howl and Stevie Wright’s gravel. The order of the day is raucous blues-rock and while it is raw and powerful, it certainly isn’t about reinventing the wheel and nor do they need to try. In short, it’s all red-hot rock best enjoyed sweaty and hard.

Review Score: 7.5/10 - Natalie Salvo