The Church

I saw their video for their single "Reptile" on VH1's 80s Alternative hours. It's got one catchy guitar riff, plus their bassist is a cross between Hooky and Andy Rourke.

Anyone else heard of them? Any good albums to start off listening to?

Hell yeah. They were a stunning fourpiece in their day, their Heyday, as it were. I know there are a few more fans on here too. They're still kicking out jams today on really small labels and continue to tour down here. Their quality hasn't really diminished over time and they're criminally underappreciated in my opinion.

The easiest entry point is to follow that Reptile single into its fold on the Starfish album. Their most commercially accessible opus, it offers their only real US hit "Under the Milky Way" (late 80s). You'd know it, it often still gets prominent airings on indie-cool soundtracks (like Donnie Darko). That album's a bona fide classic. They also pumped out a Best Of in the last five years, perhaps seek that out too. To be honest they really haven't put out a dud album - there's no Republic bad apple in their barrel - at least as far as I can remember.

The band magic comes from the interplay of lead singer Steve Kilbey's plaintive delivery and really trippy but beautiful lyrics; the jangly rhythmic guitar (sort of Byrds or Psychedelic Furs style); and the sparkling lead riffs of Marty Willson-Piper of which that Reptile single you saw is a prime example.

They were also a pretty good-looking bunch in their prime, even if there were a few early paisley shirt crimes.

:\pimp3:

simply love them! they were really big here in greeceduring late 80s early 90s

I have a couple of albums, and really like them. One of my fav songs are "Numbers".

Never seen them live though.

They did a gig here in 9/88 with Peter Murphy.I still kick myself for not going.Got a really good deal on the 2 cd set Hindsight on ebay,Starfish does bring top dollar on ebay though.

Always been a fave of mine. Seance, Blurred Crusade and Heyday from the earlier period, the aforementioned Starfish and Priest=Aura from the "hit" period, and Hologram of Baal, After Everything Now This and Forget Yourself from the later period are all worthy albums.

Hadn't thought of these guys in 20 years, then Saturday I grabbed some of their songs off a friend for old times sake. Still sounds good if very 80's.

Under the Milky Way. Beautiful.

Nuff said

thanks mil for finally putting me right on what Barney said about the robots. i only managed to decifer 3/4 of it.

boy does starfish take me back to high school. especially 'under the milky way' and 'reptile.' they sure put out some good songs--i lost interest after gold afternoon fix, mind, but i still listen to milky way and reptile relatively frequently.

get Heydey, Of Skins and Heart and Remote Luxury. forget the rest.

classy aussie band.

best songs are: The Unguarded Moment Almost With You Reptile Under The Milky Way