I Grin at Thee, Thou Grinning Whale Quiz

Answer: Hard Act

"Hard Act to Follow" (2004) is one of Grinspoon's finest moments and showcases the band at their "rocking best". Focussing on drug abuse, it is now a "mirror" that reflect the issues and battles the song's co-writer, Phil Jamieson, was experiencing with crystal meth (ice), at the time. In a candid interview with Andrew Denton on the television programme, "Enough Rope", some years later, he would reveal the vicious cycle/connection between the habit and his ability to write "great" songs. Whilst he could see the damage the drug was inflicting, he put his dependence down to the fact that it stimulated his creative side, making it so much harder to admit that there was a problem.

The song was used to launch their fourth studio album "Thrills, Kills and Sunday Pills", which is also a line from this single's chorus, and would be performed by the band at the closing ceremony for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Answer: Me

The third single from Grinspoon's 2004 album "Thrills, Kills and Sunday Pills" would be as far removed from the Grinspoon sound as possible. Their producer, Howard Benson, sought something radio friendly and the band delivered "Hold on Me", a song with catchy hooks and a soaring set of vocals from lead singer, Phil Jamieson, that he hasn't matched since.

Originally, Jamieson had planned to call the song "Showpony" (a braggart), because the sound was too "poppy", but Benson vetoed the idea because he'd never heard the term before.

Answer: X3

The alternative title to this track, which is the second single to come from Grinspoon's debut album "Guide to Better Living" (1997), is "Dead Cat, Three Times". If you feel that is confusing, try reading the lyrics. In an interview with The AU Review with Josh Champion in 2015, lead singer and song-writer Phil Jamieson, was asked what it meant; "It's just about a hex. So, I was watching a film called "Drug Store Cowboy" and in that film, Matt Dillon believes a cowboy has a hex on him. Then I drove to rehearsal and I passed a dead cat on the side of the road and I was like, 'Someone should pick up that cat, that's pretty weird'. Then I realized I'd forgot my lyrics sheet so I had to turn around and I passed the cat a second time. Then I got my lyrics sheet, smoked some weed, got back in the car and passed the cat a third time. Then when I got to rehearsal late, Pat was playing that riff and the first thing that came out of my mouth was 'Dead cat three times'. Kinda makes a whole lot of sense now, doesn't it?"

No Phil, it doesn't.

Answer: You Are

This is the opening track of the "Grinspoon" EP (Extended Play) released in 1995. This is sometimes referred to as the "Green" EP and it represented the band's first released recordings. Whilst "More Than You Are" was not released as a single, it is so much a part of the Grinspoon fabric that it would be remiss of me to leave it out.

With a sound, not dissimilar to the Foo Fighter's hit, "Monkey Wrench", that would appear two years later, Grinspoon's "More Than You Are" assaults you in top gear and barely lets up. It is a full stomping rocker that threatens to tear at you and, in doing so, set the benchmark for Grinspoon's early work. It is little wonder then that the song is a live show favourite.

Answer: Chemical

Grinspoon fans were in for a shock when the band released their third studio album "New Detention" (2002). It was launched with this single, a ballad. What the heck was a grunge rock band doing releasing a ballad to launch an album? It turned out to be one of the band's finest hours. For a change there was emotion in the song-writing and in the presentation.

The critics loved it while the fans, initially, were turned off by the directional change but would return as future singles shone a stronger light on one of the band's more potent albums.

Answer: Ace

This would be Grinspoon's fourth single to be released from the album that saw them nominated for the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Award) for Breakthrough Artist - Album of the Year, "Guide to Better Living" (1997). The album lost out to Natalie Imbruglia's "Left of Middle". "Just Ace", released in 1998, solidified Grinspoon's audience, finished in eighteenth spot on Triple J's Hottest 100 poll for 1998 and renewed interest and sales in the album, pushing it to platinum status (70,000 sales).

Answer: Control

"Lost Control" was released as the second single from the album "New Detention", which was released in 2002. The song was one of those singled out by critics as the presentation of a new sound by the band. The video for the song was deliberately set up to show the band in their strongest light... on stage.

It features a woman driving to one of their concerts in Bondi where she arrives to find the audience out of control. Whilst the chaos is a play on the song's title, the stage is appropriate for it.

The song, which drifts away from their grunge sound toward pop-punk, is fun, catchy and a live show favourite. In (alternative music radio station) Triple J's "Hottest 100" countdown for 2002 the track came in at number fourteen. The song would later be used as the theme for the video game "AFL (Australian Football League) Live 2004".

Answer: Bleed

Grinspoon's fourth studio album, "Thrills, Kills and Sunday Pills" (2004) would go on to win the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Award) for Best Rock Album in 2005. "Bleed You Dry" would be the fourth and final single to be lifted off the album and it works to complete the process producer Howard Benson had put in place to "narrow" and "properly define" the Grinspoon sound.

The film clip for this track was put together by James Hacket and Jean Camden and was successful in being a finalist in the 2005 SoundKILDA Music Video Competition, which was held as part of the St. Kilda Film Festival.

Answer: Miles

There are two ways to look at this single, the fourth to be released from Grinspoon's 2002 album "New Detention". One, that it's a clanger. In other words, it jars with the other tracks on the album and detracts from it. Secondly, separate it from the rest of the album and it is a hard, punchy rock song that is delivered with a sense of fun. Lead singer, Phil Jamieson, endeavours to employ a growl in his delivery which, whilst it's not necessary, does show the band in a relaxed frame of mind.

The video for the song never did make it to television. Despite being an animated clip it does come complete with nudity and presents Phil Jamieson, as a preacher, promoting the virtues of alcohol.

Answer: Alone

Phil Jamieson would describe Grinspoon's fourth studio album, "Thrills, Kills and Sunday Pills" (2004), as one that focussed on relationships. The band had encouraged him to wear his heart on his sleeve with his lyrics and, in doing so, produced one of his most poignant moments. Between his rock and roll duties and his girlfriend's role as a runway model, the pair were struggling to find time together and, during the compilation of songs for this album, Julie had been absent for four months and, in Jamieson's words, she was just "a dark-haired screen saver" on his mobile phone.

The song became the second single off the album and found its way to number 26 of Triple J's Hottest 100 poll in 2004.