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THE REVIEW
Ask anyone to name an Australian music group from the '80s, and you'll end up with half the people remembering the energetic INXS, and the other half thinking of the more laid-back Men at Work.
However, more than 20 years ago, there was another band that described with more passion than their compatriots the vast desert of the Australian outback and the equally vast desert of the human soul. The Triffids (from the famous science fiction film "The Day of the Triffids"), formed in the late '70s in Perth, are one of those groups that perhaps just lacked a bit of luck at the right moment to take off towards fame, remaining an unfinished project of success. But this "Born Sandy Devotional," released in 1986, their second studio album after "Treeless Pain" from 1983, is a true gem, an album that leaves one melancholy for the awareness of what the Triffids could have become.
Led by David McComb, whose troubled existence marked the history of the group, the Triffids tell stories of desolate solitude in the Australian desert: "Wide Open Road", the most famous song on the album, is the manifesto of McComb's poetic vision: the "open road" is not one of a hopeful future as in Springsteen's "Born to Run", but a long strip of scorching asphalt of a present without expectations. "The Seabirds", which opens the album, has a beautiful melody that showcases the notable abilities of the band members, who give their best on "Lonely Stretch", a dark, almost claustrophobic ballad. "Personal Things" and "Stolen Property" are the other strong pieces of the album, while the title track "Born Sandy Devotional" is perhaps a bit too conventional.
Overall, 19 tracks (recently reissued and also available in digital format) that could have marked the birth of a truly important group, but instead remain as the testament of the Triffids, too tied to McComb's personal issues. After leaving the band in 1989 and unsuccessfully attempting a solo career, he died in 1999 due to heart problems related to his drug and alcohol addiction, forever lost on that "open road" leading nowhere.
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Summary by Bot
Born Sandy Devotional is a poignant 1986 album by The Triffids, capturing the vast loneliness of the Australian outback and human soul. Led by David McComb's evocative lyrics, the album features standout tracks like 'Wide Open Road' and 'The Seabirds.' Despite not achieving commercial fame, it remains a treasured classic, marked by melancholy and artistic depth. The review highlights the band's unrealized potential and enduring impact.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
The Triffids
The Triffids were an Australian rock band formed in Perth in the late 1970s, led by singer-songwriter David McComb. Revered for cinematic evocations of the Australian landscape and emotionally charged songwriting, they released acclaimed albums including Born Sandy Devotional (1986), Calenture (1987), and The Black Swan (1989) before disbanding in 1989. Their signature song is Wide Open Road.03 Reviews
Other reviews
By Nevadagaz
Rediscovering a true masterpiece like "Born Sandy Devotional" today means, first and foremost, paying homage once again to the genius and talent of David McComb.
"Born Sandy Devotional" remains, in my opinion, one of the truly underrated masterpieces of music.
