The concept album appears to be a dying art these days, but no one told The Bedroom Philosopher. With his third studio album Songs from the 86 Tram, the man otherwise known as Justin Heazelwood has created a vivid cast of commuters.
Each song is told from the point of view of a particular character, and The Bedroom Philosopher creates these personalities beautifully. Each is incredibly realised, with a unique voice and outlook. I was particularly fond of the nan of “In My Day,” and the self-important suit of “New Media.” “Sudanese” is another stand-out, a clever satire of multicultural Australia.
While these characters are Songs from the 86 Tram greatest strength, they’re also its biggest weakness. I found it quite difficult to understand the voices of many of the figures; they speak too softly, or too quickly, or with accents that I can’t quite grab onto. The music too tends to overwhelm the lyrics at times, making it difficult to pick up each and every word. There were other instances where I felt I was simply out of the loop. Perhaps it comes from living my life in suburban New South Wales, as a friend from Melbourne insists this album is one of the greatest he’s encountered. However I found that Victorian-centric approach difficult to embrace. Comedy is all about the message, and when you can’t communicate it – whether the message isn’t heard or simply not understood – that humour is lost.
Having said that, there’s a lot to like about The Bedroom Philosopher and his Songs from the 86 Tram. Musically it’s incredibly strong, and there are some genuinely funny moments. This is a very clever disc, but it might not be as clever as it thinks it is.
