Hoodoo Gurus Magnum Cum Louder

For 1989's Magnum Cum Louder, Australia's Hoodoo Gurus changed record labels and went back to producing themselves. There's still a grand rock sound here that's in tune with the late '80s, and while it emphasizes the power over the pop, it's within Dave Faulkner's wheelhouse. Tunes like "Come Anytime," "Another World," and "Shadow Me" immediately greet the fans who'd been seduced by Stoneage Romeos and Mars Needs Guitars!. The years had also taught the band how to straight-out rock, and "Axegrinder" and "Glamourpuss" go for broke. "Baby Can Dance (Pts. II-IV)" stirs up the idea of an acoustic ballad before ramping up for a full-band finish. "Where's That Hit?" turns in a cow-punk groove for a baseball metaphor about the desperation of the music business. Several additional tunes ("Cajun Country," "Spaghetti Western," "Lover for a Friend") have been filtered into later issues of the album, giving Dave Faulkner's songwriting talents even greater exposure.