Go-Betweens
Before Hollywood

THE REVIEW

Before Hollywood is the second album by the Go-Betweens, the band from Brisbane, Australia, and it is considered by many to be one of the greatest masterpieces of rock music (even though this could be said for all the albums recorded by the Forster-McLennan duo).

After the promising debut of Send Me A Lullabye, the Go-Betweens began with this splendid album a series of extraordinary works! The most incredible thing is that despite the high musical quality expressed in their albums, the catchy and memorable melodies, and wonderful lyrics never banal or superfluous, they remained unknown to the general public, so much so that they are now dubbed the greatest "cult band" of rock music.
Before Hollywood is entirely played on the fragile balance of two different types of songwriting, the dark and sparse style of Robert Forster and the brighter and more sumptuous style of Grant McLennan, and the result is so brilliant that it astonishes from the first listen. The duo (with drummer Lindy Morrison also part of the band's line-up) delivers ten formidable songs, all centered around an engaging guitar pop, where the authors' musical heroes find space, from Dylan to the Beatles and from Jonathan Richman to David Byrne.

How can one not be amazed in front of the colossal As Long As That? How can one break free from the sound of the guitars in Two Steps, Step Out? How can one not be caught by the visions of On My Block? How to avoid getting goosebumps during the psychedelic refrain of Cattle and Cane? How to prevent being invaded by the looming melancholy that pervades your soul when That Way ends the magical ballads of the album?
So many questions, too many... but above all, how can one not know the Go-Betweens?