While their band name may draw you in initially, you'll quickly stay once your ears wrap themselves around The Great Emu War Casualties' brand of superb art rock-pop.
Steadily building a loyal following since inception in 2019, the indie band from Naarm have released three EPs so far. 2026 will see them move into album territory, with the release of their debut LP 'Public Sweetheart No. 1' in March.
The first sampling of the album is lead single 'Donut'. A gently plucked guitar with golden, medieval hues quickly evaporates into a jangly, spirited indie rock melody that bounds about like a loveable Labrador, the mood instantly joyous despite the deeper meanings behind the lyrics.
Buoyant and fun, with the just the right amount of sweetness, the songwriting on 'Donut' showcases an earnest appreciation for the pitfalls of adulthood and process of growing up many will relate to.
A mood-lifting bop, it's the type of song that lingers with a warm glow, the playfulness infectious, whilst offering a sunlit escape even if for just a moment in time.
"This is actually maybe my favourite song on the album," shares frontman Joe Jackson, "and that's because it completely missed the mark in terms of what I was trying to do with it, which was an Alvvays rip off, heartbreak track."
Ahead of the song's release tomorrow (30 January), today scenestr is stoked to premiere 'Donut'. Enjoy.
"Because I think that all of my ideas and thoughts are none of your business at all, and that goes for everyone, I neglected to tell Wayne who was helping us make the record what Alvvays even sound like," adds Joe.
"So all the things that should be heavily distorted, shoegaze guitars are just the original demo acoustic that he decided he wanted to keep, and all the vocals that are supposed to be these gut-wrenching, high pitched 'how could you do this to me' kind of delivery are just me being sad in a low octave.
"Because of that, it doesn't sound really like anyone else I guess except it probably does and it's probably Ball Park Music again or something like that because that's a really common comparison point for some reason.
'Public Sweetheart No. 1' (pre-save it) is the band's blunt and honest reflection on life so far. "This album is a self-assessment of my own behaviour over an extended period of time and the various ways in which I have affected the people closest to me," Joe says.
"So I've at least tried to make it catchy in order to better live with myself. It's about the clarity I've found in going back to basics, in trying to remove the chaos and noise of the world in favour of honesty. An anthemic apology, with some 'sorry, not sorry' sprinkled on top. I am sorry though, really."
