The 1990s was a great time to venture forth as a teenager into the world of South African rock music. Bands like Battery 9, Springbok Nude Girls, Nine, Wonderboom, Sugardrive, Boo! and Lithium became regular listening on my stereo.
However, as the years have passed, I am disheartened to see that there is a disturbing trend where front men from these staples of 1990s’ South African rock decide that they still have something to offer South African audiences sans their bands. The most high profile of these are Arno Carstens and Chris Chameleon who have focused on the adult contemporary market, leaving them competing with the likes of the Parlotones and Prime Circle in the commercial rock arena.
Sugardrive’s Paul Flynn and Wonderboom’s Cito have also gone the solo route, with some very disappointing solo albums and gigs resulting. Now we have Lithium’s David Beretta Owens’s new solo album, The Order of Things. I really don’t know what to say about it, except I battled to make it all the way through. Technically the album sounds great, but Theo Crous is the producer so that’s hardly a surprise.
However, the songs sound way too cheesy and the lyrics made me cringe. So if you are into commercial adult contemporary South African rock, then check this out, otherwise avoid it like the plague.