Divinyls “Desperate” (1983)

If rock 'n' roll is about desperation, then the Divinyls have it in spades. Despite cranking out great music, it’s a shame that “Desperate” or any of the Divinyls' early work never received more recognition on this side of the Pacific. Vastly underrated, “Desperate” is a true new wave/rock gem. Christina Amphlett--Goddess of rasp and “rocker-babe raunch”--screams, yodels and yelps through these tracks like she’s possessed. From the explosive opening of "Boys in Town" to the closer "I'll Make You Happy," it's obvious that she's not holding back The ending of "Boys in Town," in which she repeatedly yells, "Get me out of here!" is perhaps the most desperate moment on "Desperate," and one of the most noteworthy.

My favorite track here is "Only Lonely," with simple, frustrated lyrics set to a perfect pop-rock melody, reminiscent of The Pretenders or Blondie. It is perhaps the LPs best song (if it's possible to pick one), and is highlighted by its memorable bridge -- "He said, 'Come on baby, not on the first date,' so I said, 'Okay baby, how long must I wait?' Science Fiction is the most "new wave" of the cuts here, with catchy, quirky lyrics and some truly amazing high-pitched noises by Miss Amphlett at the start of the bridge. "Take a Chance" is a heavy-hitting straight-up rock tune, while "Ring Me Up" and "Siren" is the band at its most fun. You'll be singing along to these after the first listen. "Elsie," the slow song here, is an example of why this band is so powerful. It's about suicide, and Christina could not have given a better vocal delivery for such a morose subject matter. She makes a few sounds during this one that seem like they came directly from the depths of hell. I guarantee, when you listen to Desperate, you’ll feel as though you've discovered a secret treasure, something of real quality that is alone yours. You'll quickly understand why the Divinyls are one of the most unique, rocking Aussie bands of all time. –Eduard