Review - The Dead Salesmen "Amen"
album on Way Out There through Shock!

I was introduced to The Dead Salesmen through their second album “Bluestoned” in March 1998, a musical and lyrical hotch-potch of pick-that-sound/influence from deep within the songwriting well that comprises this Melbourne-based quartet. The new album "Amen" on Way Out There through Shock! was released closer to "Bluestoned" than anyone would have expected. It still combines several contemporary inspirations and outcomes but is more in line with the folkesque Melbourne sound of the early 90s.

"Amen" is a slower, more soulful journey for Hap, Ryda, Pat & Len. While Hap still appears as a mix of Pete (The Who) Townshend and Mark (Hunters & Collectors) Seymour, there are more local and current music sounds through these ten tracks. TOSAW, The Jaynes, Gentle Persuasion, and Merry Widows/Dave Beniuk intonations feature in this record of ballads peppered with folky-swing and/or rock-jazz fusions in March of the Green Men, This Song, Dissatisfied and Hey Lovers to add some depth to the record.

The life experiences relived: painful, enjoyable, and otherwise; through the lyrics on this album are enough to raise this collection in the eyes of the programmers that ignored a better album in "Bluestoned", but musically, The Dead Salesmen "Amen" on WOT through Shock! has all been done before

PG (Jacky) Gleeson