Cheersquad are very pleased to present “Somebody Else“, the first solo album by Phil Jamieson – frontman/singer/songwriter/guitarist for Grinspoon. The album comes on white vinyl, CD and digitally. All records include a digital download card.

As that doyen of the arts, Tim Rogers, says of it: “Phil’s puckish performance style is underscored by a voice that can turn choirboy or demon’s spawn in a blinding grin. This has at times overshadowed his humour and empathy, but no more. Teasing open his lapels to show heart and scars, but also hope, and the lessons learnt from throwing yourself into this art that compels and damns us. Pop music with fire and finesse.”

“Phil Jamieson had a choice. Come back as the cryogenically frozen rock star from Grinspoon’s halcyon days, or level up with swinging widescreen pop that shows off his acting chops and matured pipes. ‘Somebody Else’ opts for the latter, a bait ‘n’ switch belter that goes from collective introspection to busting out of the cocoon a beautiful butterfly. Sounds like a hit.” – Mikey Cahill

“Jamieson flexes the upper reaches of his singable compass….transforming from Grinspoon’s frontman to ”Somebody Else’ entirely.” – Bryget Chrisfield (Beat)

“It would be a shame if this tune isn’t rewarded with heavy commercial airplay……this is a classic Jamieson number, to hoist in the rafters alongside Busy, No Reason, and Just Ace.” – Nathan Jolly (The Guardian)

“There’s enough rock here to satisfy the hardcore Grinspoon fans. It’s perhaps been underrated over the years, but Jamieson has a great pop voice.” – Stack (Jeff Jenkins)

“Exuberant.” – Russell Crowe

“…it swirls and stomps, it jangles and roars” – Kathy McCabe, News Corp

Feature Album on Double J!

“There’s an abundance of thrilling ‘ooooooh shiiiiiit!’ arrangement twists throughout killer second single ‘Trouble’ (co-written/co-produced by You Am I’s Davey Lane). Those gnarly riffs are so unexpectedly sexy, and Jamieson flexes the upper reaches of his singable compass here: “THIIIIIIINGS I’VE DONE!”. Such a showoff.” – Bryget Chrisfield (Beat)

Phil has been working on his solo career for some years. Indeed, some of his ‘new’ material pre-dates his role in the Australian stage production of American Idiot. He has, however, up until now been nervous to christen it with an album. The long gestation of the album’s first single shows something of the struggle: “It was born at Blueys Beach a few moons ago. It started life as a slinky Rolling Stones-type jam – with a bit more strut. Then Oscar Dawson of Holy Holy got his hands on it and changed it around, then I redid it as a dream pop major seventh sort of thing. That didn’t work, so I went back to Oscar, and we redid it in July/August last year, in an industrial area of Dandenong situated at the end of a cul-de-sac surrounded by Boats/Solar/Brothels.”

“The collective fear and loathing which has gone into releasing this has sometimes seemed insurmountable. But it’s a bit like an election, innit? If not now, when? If not me, who? Thanks for listening regardless; I hope you get a kick out of it…”

With “Somebody Else” getting stellar reviews, Phil no longer has to feel the fear.

“Somebody Else” the album is available on white vinyl, CD and digitally through Cheersquad Records & Tapes, the Melbourne-based label run by Wally Kempton from The Meanies and Even.

Credits Somebody Else video:
Director: Arlo Cook
Wardrobe: Fabian Holford
Cinema Actor: Phoenix Mendoza
Thanks to Joey Kellock at 1800lasagne and Jim Clark at Champion Abbotsford