Cross Eyed Mary

CROSS-EYED MARY ‘IN TENTS’ (INDEPENDENT)

And I thought the Exploders were the only Australian band that did the 70s rock revival any justice. But then I heard Cross-Eyed Mary - these guys take an inspired approach to that old chestnut rock’n’roll. On all four tracks of the In Tents EP, Cross-Eyed Mary push forward with much impetus and ability. The syncopated guitars are the centre=piece to most tracks, but the exceptional bass playing and drumming are also a major feature of this album. The stand-out song of In Tents is the massive track Bridget. This song starts with a huge rock riff that tones down slightly as Timothy Hocking’s Jim-Morrison-meets-Jack-White vocals come in. The song also features a blues rock breakdown reminiscent of Canned Heat’s On The Road Again. EP opener Back Again is a soft and sneakily contagious rock sing-a-long. This participation is inspired by sweet vocal melodies and well timed choral refrains. The fourth and final track on In Tents. Passer By is very mid-90s soft rock, a la The Gin Blossoms or Blind Melon. There’s nothing like a bit of uplifting, easy listening to bring your thoughts up and to put a quiet and pleasant smile on your face. Cross-Eyed Mary are a shining example of how much talent is booting around the Melbourne scene at the moment. DAN WATT - BEAT MAGAZINE