ICEHOUSE- Complete Artist Review
Complete Artist Review after reviewing every album. Here you will find an overview of ICEHOUSE as well as my personal rankings of all of their records. You will also find my Top 10 Songs as well a link to an Essentials Playlist in this pages 1st photo
icehouse
Icehouse, the Australian rock band formed in 1977 by frontman Iva Davies, in my opinion is one of the most overlooked bands of the 1980s. They were a slightly obscure powerhouse of the music scene for over four decades. Their signature blend of new wave, synth-pop, and rock has earned them a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim, predominately in Australia and New Zealand, but also briefly overseas in the US.
In the early years, the band ‘formerly’ known as Flowers released their soon to be self-titled debut album, Icehouse, in 1980, showcasing the band's eclectic mix of genres, blending new wave, post-punk, and electronic elements. It is a record that pulsates with high energy and many memorable sing-along choruses. However, it was the bands second album, Primitive Man, in 1982 that launched them into mild international success. With songs like Great Southern Land, Hey, Little Girl and Street Cafe, Icehouse found themselves starting to slightly evolve their sound. Maintaining their trademark new wave signature but replacing the post punk energy of their debut with a more artsy glam rock sound.
In the mid-1980s, Icehouse continued their rise with the release of Sidewalk in 1984, which received a bit of criticism for sounding too much like the group’s musical influences. It is important to know that Iva Davies and Icehouse were not trying to steal the sounds of Roxy Music or David Bowie, but rather pay tribute to the music that inspired them to pursue their own musical dreams and aspirations. For the most part, the album works, but it is the weaker of the early albums.
Once 1986 hits and their fourth album Measure for Measure is released, Icehouse goes from a great band to complete and total musical geniuses who then created some of the greatest music I have ever heard. With songs like Paradise, No Promises, and Cross The Border, Icehouse evolved their sound again. Measure for Measure comes with a little more pop, a little more ethereal atmosphere, and even more memorable hooks and melodies than their previous records. The record is absolutely beautiful and I didn’t think they could top this record, but then they released Man Of Colours one year later in 1987. This record included their biggest hit to date, Electric Blue, and the uplifting pop anthem Crazy. Man Of Colours showcased a more polished and pop-oriented sound, and was a commercial and critical success, not just back home Down Under, but around the whole world. There is not enough great things to say about Man Of Colours. Just know that if you read this review and choose to not listen to it then you are the biggest of clowns. Don’t be a clown.
Their follow-up album, Code Blue, a few years later in 1990 featured more experimental tracks. I provided context and a much more detailed explanation of this record in the album’s individual review, but in short… Icehouse and Iva Davies were tired of the physical tax of being a mega international rock band. They then made a record that they knew they wouldn’t have to tour around the world. Seems a bit Crazy to self sabotage yourself at the peak of your prowess, but we must accept what happened for what it is.
After Code Blue, 1993 marked a return to the band's rock roots with Big Wheel which was heavily influenced and inspired by the music of David Bowie and T-Rex. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Icehouse continued to release records that showcased their versatility and willingness to experiment.
The Berlin Tapes in 1995 featured acoustic versions of other musicians classic hits, from the likes of Frank Sinatra to David Bowie, from Talking Heads to The Cure. Full Circle, one year prior in 1994, saw the band explore the contemporary world of remixes. These reimaginings of their classic hits didn’t stray too far from the originals and they work really well. On the other hand, Meltdown, in 2002, saw the band reinterpreting their songs through contemporary lenses once again, but this time in a more aggressive and unappealing way.
Now that I have briefly touched on all of their releases, let us rank the albums and check out their best songs!
Album Rankings
Man of Colours (1987)
Measure for Measure (1986)
Icehouse (1980)
Primitive Man (1982)
Sidewalk (1984)
Full Circle (1994)
Code Blue (1990)
The Berlin Tapes (1995)
Big Wheel (1993)
Meltdown (2002)
Honorable Mention Albums
In Concert (2015)
DubHouse Live (2013)
Jonesy & Amanda’s Backyard Jam (2017)
The Extended Mixes Vol.1 & Vol. 2 (2013)
TOP 10 SONGS
In No Particular Order
Crazy (Man Of Colours)
Nothing Too Serious (Man Of Colours)
Paradise (Measure For Measure)
No Promises (Measure For Measure)
The Kingdom (Man Of Colours)
Icehouse (Icehouse)
Great Southern Land (Primitive Man)
Don’t Believe Anymore (Sidewalk)
Walls (Icehouse)
Cross The Border (Measure For Measure)
I feel it’s important to give just a little detail on those honorable mentions listed above. The 2015 In Concert album from the band is without a doubt one of the greatest live albums I have ever heard in my life. I was left speechless afterwards. The bands talent is not lost when transitioning from the studio to the stage and they sound so unbelievably good that it makes my brain hurt. The same can be said for the wildly creative DubHouse Live, where Iva Davies and company perform Icehouse classics with a fun reggae twist. It is a true and imaginative musical journey that does not let down. Even if reggae isn’t your thing, Icehouse makes it work. Then there is the Live EP Jonesy and Amanda’s Backyard, which presents more stripped back, acoustic renditions of a handful of Icehouse hits. They are fantastic and it is so unique to hear these songs arranged this way. As for the Extended Mixes Volumes 1 & 2, these are basically compilation sets of the bands B-Side dance mixes from all of their releases and more. Absolutely worth a listen and absolutely worth shaking your ass to.
Overall, Icehouse's discography showcases a band that has, for the most part, consistently pushed the boundaries of their sound while remaining true to their roots. With infectious hooks, distinctive vocals, and a sense of experimentation, they have cemented their place in Australian music history and continue to influence generations of musicians. If it weren’t for a few let downs after Man Of Colours, they could’ve had a higher overall ranking. I can’t help but wonder what we might have been robbed of if Iva Davies and Icehouse decided to keep going and keep pushing hard with their global success. I guess we will never know, but the only thing we can do is sit back and enjoy what we were given. A band who mostly brought us many No Skip Albums and a couple 5 star ones at that.
Give Icehouse a listen. Thank me later for putting you on to them and then thank the band for creating what they did. Then after that, thank the universe for allowing you to live during a time in history where you have access to this groups incredible art at your finger tips. It would be a shame not to take advantage of that.