- Brisbane is blessed with an abundance of fantastic pop bands. We All Want To are one such band who, despite not quite being in the nation’s pop consciousness, could easily find themselves there. The Haze, their third album, further reaffirms their cause. In fact, if WAWT was situated in North America, one could imagine their songs ripe for a bigger audience.

Whilst We All Want To was initially a vehicle for Tim Steward’s songwriting, a man who achieved quite a considerable degree of songwriting stature in '90's legends Screamfeeder, it has since become a much more invested membership. The band’s lineup has undergone a few changes over its lifespan, however the hot core of the group remains, alongside Steward, Skye Staniford and Dan McNaulty. Between the interplay of Staniford and Steward’s vocals and McNaulty’s signature drumming style, We All Want To has found its identity.

The Haze continues the story in fine fashion. Perhaps it’s a long bow, but one could compare the sound to Canadian supergroup The New Pornographers. There’s the unabashed pop songs, the sweet rock-out moments, the lush textures, the feeling that it’s not quite an American sound. The band as well boast at least two class songwriters in Steward and Staniford.

As for the unabashed pop songs, there are many on this album. Road to Ruin will have fans of anthemic pop hitting replay over and over. Everybody’s Damaged likewise has sweet guitar tones and melodic interplays that turn into earworms. The Deep End is that deep vein of dreamy songwriting that Steward has turned out time and time again, with those glorious touchstones of Swervedriver, to just name one reference point. One wouldn’t be blamed for asking Steward whether he keeps a dream diary: a lot of these songs seem to emerge from that glorious state of mind.

All in all, this is a very fine sounding album. Darek Mudge, who runs The Shed Recording Studio as well as playing guitar on much of this album, has done a really great job in capturing the spirit of the songs. It’s also interesting to note Wayne Connolly’s mixing input on this too, as he’s been responsible for making many an Australian guitar band chime in a particularly distinct way, for some time now. Essentially though, what we have here, is straight out, more of that solid gold Brisbane action. Long live the gluttony of riches in the Sunshine State!

- Ian Powne.