It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from You Am I, but this year sees them return with a brand new, self-titled album. It’s the band’s ninth studio album and their first with new label Other Tongues.

The album is classic You Am I. From solid, steady rock ‘n’ roll drumming to some great rock rhythm guitar, the album epitomises the You Am I rock sound that Australian music fans have grown to love.

Having said that, the album isn’t just the same You Am I sound. It’s still great rock ‘n’ roll – which is what the band does best - but they’ve branched out a little. They’ve also roped in the help of artists like Megan Washington for “Lie and Face the Sun”. On this track, Washington’s vocals work beautifully and combined with Tim Roger’s vocals, they compliment each other so well. 

“Pinpricks” is perhaps one of the more upbeat songs on the album with a slightly more indie and punk feel (helped, of course, by a David Johansen name check). It’s a short, but very catchy song.

The final track on the album, “Let’s Not Get Famous”, is a much slower, deeper track to end with. It has a more atmospheric sound that makes it stand out as quite different from the rest of the album.

One of the things you notice most about this album, as with any of You Am I’s work, is the raw passion and emotion in Roger’s voice. This really does make him one of Australia’s great rock vocalists.

Overall, this album is a great You Am I LP. Long-time fans of the band will love it, but with some slightly different tracks, they may pick up some new fans along the way.

Review Score: 8/10