The Tenants official homepage

You Shit Me to Tears (MGM) 1999/2000

RIP IT UP-8 out of 10
Those who regularly tune to Triple J would already be highly familiar with the catchy little ditty from The Tenants (not to be confused with 80’s ska band The Strange Tenants). You Shit Me To Tears is an infectious tune that’s so catchy you can’t get it out of your head for weeks. Commercial radio, of course, won’t touch it (the can’t due to the rather naughty words) and the four-song disk also includes a neo rockabilly number, Joanie Wants A Pony, and boasts a great cover (see above picture) as well as another great cover in the form of a wild version of the Split Enz classic I See Red.

BUZZ -4 out of 5 - Todd Kurnet
Well if you are a dedicated JJJ fan you would have heard this catchy little number. Recent winners of JJJ’s unearthed competition would explain this occurrence! The song is currently one of my favourites and the other tracks incorporate The Tenants own unique style of music. Sort of hint of ska in the first track, but after that it varies and all I can say is…great! Personally speaking I’m looking forward to their next release, fingers crossed for a full album!(and of course, another fine example of Aussie Music).

Revolver
“You Shit Me To Tears” this is an opinion that many people hold about me – understandable really. The track it’s self-makes admirable use of some of my favourite fucking adjectives and as a consequence warrants my most esteemed fucking praise. But there is more than lexicon to highlight. The use of the ska idiom is mature enough to demonstrate The Tenants grasp of the style whilst ‘Jace The Ace’s’ voice si suitably gritty and weathered. As for the subject matter? Well apart from the suspicion that I or someone very like me is in fact the object of the complaint I find it’s earthy tang both amusing and refreshing.

LIVE WORK

Screaming Jets, The Tenants - The Metro, Sydney 2002
After the usual encounter with the world's number one door bitch, we score a couple of beers and hook right into The Tenants' purist pop incantations.
Looking resplendent and very 80s in their matching white pointy shoes and ties, they care not about the lagging early crowd. No crowd, No worries!
Tight as fuck, they are true rock doctors, with just the ample amount of pop injections. Fun is what it's all about, and it's fun they deliver...rock solid to boot!
Popcorn rock Gods for sure. Keep that passion flag flying boys! MARK FRASER – Redback Rock.

"I Don’t Think I’m Pregnant For Fuck’s Sake” tour with Diana ah Naid June 23, 2000
Ah, The Tenants. In the space of about ten minutes, the room went from comfortably filled to lung-crushing standing room only. Dressed in a rather…er, joyous day-glo orange shirt, the Tenants front man picked up smoothly from faker, pulling the crowd up onto the dance floor effortlessly. And by gum, they had fun while they did it! The Tenants pulled out all the stops, and aside from being incredibly entertaining, proved that they’re bloody decent musicians too. Of course, the highlight of the set was You Shit Me To Tears, a classic melding of rock, ska, punk and adrenaline. It was quite a sight through the haze of cigarettes and alcohol, 200 dread-headed blokes in rugby jerseys belting out “So give me a break, for FUCK’S SAKE!” Definitely one for the tourists.
TIM DE SOUSA- Revolver

MANLY FISHOS 28/7/00 with The Drugs
Entering there own new leg of pop stardom, with anew EP on the street, The Tenants have developed into a slickly tight, pop-rock package that still has enough rough edges to enable them to slum it with the rest of us. They’ve always had the possibilities, but now it’s the time to realise ‘em. You Shit Me To Tears p[provided the launch pad, and the rest is destined to be history. Guitars perfect pop sensibilities, and much more. Radio friendly, and even a touch of James Freud in the set, with a beautifully ugly rendition of Modern Girl. Only these guys could get away with it. They play tunes that manage to peel off so easily, yet sound so damned good. The lease has been renewed. MARK FRASER – Drum media.




	*CD Reviews* Ready To Rumble (single) Shock 2003 Redback Rock - Mark Fraser You want some good old fashioned rock and roll? Then let your hair down and hook into the three and a bit minutes of rock frenzy that is Ready To Rumble. From one of my personal fave live pop combos, not to mention the sheer genius behind Shit Me To Tears, comes the latest pop-rocked gem. No airs and graces, just straight down the highway rocketeering… Get Started jumps up and down like an epileptic on a pogo stick…guitars cranked, veins popped and plenty of good ol pub sweat drippin’ into the beers to boot. Get Away comes at you live and equally sweaty, the vox up front and guitars in the drivers seat all the way. Your Opinion wraps it all up with an acoustic edge that treads a way quieter trail, and has us wondering what we can expect from the full lengther later in the year. Anemic Magazine - 3 1/2 out of 5 - Simon Kirk "You shit me to tears, give me a break, for fuck sake" were the first words we managed to gather from The Tenants. Despite people primarily knowing them as 'that' band The Tenants slightly go beyond a one hit wonder, after all Triple J don't go around unearthing bands for nothing do they! The Tenants ability to right catchy hooks and straight to the point lyrics is one of an above par status to the mid range listener. This continues with their new single 'Ready 2 Rumble'. The track is bound to get the locals at the pub jumping up and down prior to the raffles for the flannelette shirt and meet trays, whilst the regular radio listener will become instantly hooked. It's your typical pub/yob rock sound that only the Tenants know how to pull out the stops too. Straightforward punch lines are all through this ditty, which will definitely get the punters at the local signing a petition to get The Tenants to play a gig on Saturday night, while the NRL will come up with a new marketing scheme to make 'Ready 2 Rumble' the game's theme song and knock the Hoodoo Gurus off the pedestal. Caucasian Overbite EP (MGM) 2002 JUICE MAGAZINE – 7 out of 10 The “You Shit Me To Tears” guys return with a new EP. Featuring punk-type power and smart arse humour, Caucasian Overbite delivers all the best elements of Australian ironic cock-rock without sacrificing quality. X Press (WA) – Scott Woodside With songs like Pub Girl, Time and Monaro’s and You Shit Me To Tears, you can tell The Tenants like to drink (and take) the piss. Caucasian Overbite marks the recorded debut of the Bathurst Trio and it is pretty upbeat stuff. Of course, Triple J unearthed The tenants in 1999 and gave the Single “You Shit Me To Tears” high rotation. There is nothing essentially new in their style, rather it’s in the delivery and the cheeky personalities behind this confident release that provide something a little different. Their sound is distinctly Australian, the whole garage-y pub sound, the smell of counter meals and driving Monaro’s. Boredom stands out with it’s weird flanger effects and neat pop hooks, and cynical Moving Units really kicks along, greaser rockabilly style. It has a definite feel good/ summer mood to it that is easily digested and unassuming. Beers at the beach music. Revolver – 3 1/2 out of 5 – Meena Leon My, my, what a long way Jason Rooke has come from the lilting acoustic Rick Priceish prowess he upheld for so many years. Is this unearthed “You Shit Me To Tears” kiddie a brutish example of the theory that good acoustic don’t get you nowhere until you rock it up with your tongue so far in your cheek that you end up licking your own ear? Not that I dislike this style, on the contrary, it tickles my sensibilities. There is an unnerving Grease Lightening flavour to Moving Units and in particular in the hilarious rev head philosophical Time And Monaro’s, which ends with the rowdy ocka nasally grunt; “ She’s the ducks guts mate!”. Musically, it’s all a bit the same without much divergence from the high spirited rock energy of the full band, although the change in Pub Girl is, indeed a change in pace and humour, and reminds me of the Stones, and Jason’s voice parodies the familiar screech of John Lennon. A complete parody of the regional personality, if you’ve ever lived in Bathurst or Wagga you’ll empathise well.

	You Shit Me to Tears (MGM) 1999/2000 RIP IT UP-8 out of 10 Those who regularly tune to Triple J would already be highly familiar with the catchy little ditty from The Tenants (not to be confused with 80’s ska band The Strange Tenants). You Shit Me To Tears is an infectious tune that’s so catchy you can’t get it out of your head for weeks. Commercial radio, of course, won’t touch it (the can’t due to the rather naughty words) and the four-song disk also includes a neo rockabilly number, Joanie Wants A Pony, and boasts a great cover (see above picture) as well as another great cover in the form of a wild version of the Split Enz classic I See Red. BUZZ -4 out of 5 - Todd Kurnet Well if you are a dedicated JJJ fan you would have heard this catchy little number. Recent winners of JJJ’s unearthed competition would explain this occurrence! The song is currently one of my favourites and the other tracks incorporate The Tenants own unique style of music. Sort of hint of ska in the first track, but after that it varies and all I can say is…great! Personally speaking I’m looking forward to their next release, fingers crossed for a full album!(and of course, another fine example of Aussie Music). Revolver “You Shit Me To Tears” this is an opinion that many people hold about me – understandable really. The track it’s self-makes admirable use of some of my favourite fucking adjectives and as a consequence warrants my most esteemed fucking praise. But there is more than lexicon to highlight. The use of the ska idiom is mature enough to demonstrate The Tenants grasp of the style whilst ‘Jace The Ace’s’ voice si suitably gritty and weathered. As for the subject matter? Well apart from the suspicion that I or someone very like me is in fact the object of the complaint I find it’s earthy tang both amusing and refreshing. *LIVE WORK* Screaming Jets, The Tenants - The Metro, Sydney 2002 After the usual encounter with the world's number one door bitch, we score a couple of beers and hook right into The Tenants' purist pop incantations. Looking resplendent and very 80s in their matching white pointy shoes and ties, they care not about the lagging early crowd. No crowd, No worries! Tight as fuck, they are true rock doctors, with just the ample amount of pop injections. Fun is what it's all about, and it's fun they deliver...rock solid to boot! Popcorn rock Gods for sure. Keep that passion flag flying boys! MARK FRASER – Redback Rock. "I Don’t Think I’m Pregnant For Fuck’s Sake” tour with Diana ah Naid June 23, 2000 Ah, The Tenants. In the space of about ten minutes, the room went from comfortably filled to lung-crushing standing room only. Dressed in a rather…er, joyous day-glo orange shirt, the Tenants front man picked up smoothly from faker, pulling the crowd up onto the dance floor effortlessly. And by gum, they had fun while they did it! The Tenants pulled out all the stops, and aside from being incredibly entertaining, proved that they’re bloody decent musicians too. Of course, the highlight of the set was You Shit Me To Tears, a classic melding of rock, ska, punk and adrenaline. It was quite a sight through the haze of cigarettes and alcohol, 200 dread-headed blokes in rugby jerseys belting out “So give me a break, for FUCK’S SAKE!” Definitely one for the tourists. TIM DE SOUSA- Revolver MANLY FISHOS 28/7/00 with The Drugs Entering there own new leg of pop stardom, with anew EP on the street, The Tenants have developed into a slickly tight, pop-rock package that still has enough rough edges to enable them to slum it with the rest of us. They’ve always had the possibilities, but now it’s the time to realise ‘em. You Shit Me To Tears p[provided the launch pad, and the rest is destined to be history. Guitars perfect pop sensibilities, and much more. Radio friendly, and even a touch of James Freud in the set, with a beautifully ugly rendition of Modern Girl. Only these guys could get away with it. They play tunes that manage to peel off so easily, yet sound so damned good. The lease has been renewed. MARK FRASER – Drum media.