The Great Australian Songbook is a compilation album that features 40 of the most iconic Australian artist and songs on two CD’s. The CD’s are broken up into ‘Last Century’ and ‘This Century’ and attempts to bridge the gap between old school and new school rock classics.

The first CD comprises 20 Australian rock songs from the last Century that I believe everyone should already have on their iPod. Including Under the Milky Way by The Church, Eagle Rock by Daddy Cool and of course You’re the Voice by John Farnham, who must be about due for another farewell tour.

In contrast, CD number two provides 20 rock songs from this century, including Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet, Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye and Sweet Disposition by the Temper Trap. Not a bad mix, however I must admit that it took a while to get over that slight feeling of blasphemy that you get from the thought of Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil and 4Ever by the Veronicas being placed on the same album.

Aside from this, I have to applaud the creators of the album for their efforts in trying to bring two century’s of Australian rock together. It is one of those albums that everyone should own, because at some point or another in your life someone will ask you to “chuck on that awesome Aussie song that that guy sang that one time.” Nine times out of ten that song will be on this album.

Ashleigh Blucher