No Way to Treat an Animal is the debut extended play (EP) by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, which was issued independently on 16 November 2017. It was predominantly produced by Rob Grant in East Fremantle. Supported by the band's debut single "Still Running" and their breakthrough hit "Feeding the Family", the EP peaked at number 23 on the ARIA Charts in December 2020, three years after its release.
| No Way to Treat an Animal | ||||
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | 16 November 2017 | |||
| Studio | Poons Head, East Fremantle | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 23:48 | |||
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| Spacey Jane chronology | ||||
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| Singles from No Way to Treat an Animal | ||||
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Background
editWhile in high school, Caleb Harper and Kieran Lama from Geraldton played in a grunge band called Sicchino. They met Ashton Hardman Le-Cornu and Amelia Murray in 2016 while studying in Perth, and the four formed Spacey Jane.[3] The band played at local venues very regularly, performing around "one or two shows a week for a good year and a half."[4]
Writing and production
editThe bulk of recording and mastering from No Way to Treat an Animal was done at Poons Head in East Fremantle with Rob Grant. "Still Running" was originally a Sicchino song, and was produced and mixed over the space of nearly two years, with band members in and out for travel.[3][5]
In an interview with Perth-based music publication Pilerats, Harper said the EP is "mostly a reflection on experiences, from childhood through to young adulthood – things like breakups or growing up in church, and how they shape identity."[6]
Release and packaging
editOn 18 August 2017, Spacey Jane released their debut single "Still Running" at Mojos Bar in Fremantle. At the same venue on 29 September, "Feeding the Family" was released.[7][8] Just five days before the EP's release, on 11 November, the third and final single "Thrills" was premiered on Perth community station RTRFM.[9]
Spacey Jane would later win the annual Needle In The Hay Australian music competition for "Thrills", with a limited-run vinyl pressing and music video released as the prize.[10] The band held a launch party for the EP at The Bird, a bar in Perth, on 16 November 2017, with supporting performances by Carla Geneve and Childsaint.[11] No Way to Treat an Animal was issued digitally and on a limited run of CDs, and was pressed to LP vinyl in 2020.[12]
The title of the EP is derived from Kurt Vonnegut's autobiography A Man Without a Country, which writes "Life is no way to treat an animal. Not even a mouse."[6] Fremantle-based visual artist Alice Ford designed the cover art as well as promotional posters for its release.[13]
Reception
editAustralian music publication Pilerats called No Way to Treat an Animal a "garage-pop odyssey that sounds crisp as hell," and "one of the year's best local EP releases."[6] Nathan Robert, writing for the same website four years later, praised its singles that "disregard psychedelic sensibilities and pay homage to a cleaner, harder rock sound."[14] Writing for Happy Mag, Freya McGahey said "Still Running" was "impressive and impeccably crafted," pulling off "clarity of tone and sharp lyricism with perfection." She praised the band for "hav[ing] integrated a bold indie pop sound with their own raw Australian top coat."[5]
Gareth Bryant writing for online publication Scenestr commended "Feeding the Family" as a "sensational ear-worm with an infectious riff."[15] The track was also ranked number 44 on Perth station RTRFM's 2022 listener poll ranking the 45 greatest songs from Western Australia.[16] Online magazine Eat Your Water called the EP an "immediate radio success."[17]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, Caleb Harper and Kieran Lama; "Feeding the Family" co-written by Amelia Murray.
| No. | Title | Producer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Thrills" | Rob Grant | 3:29 |
| 2. | "Feeding the Family" | Dave Parkin | 4:44 |
| 3. | "Papava" | Grant | 3:53 |
| 4. | "Feels Better" | Grant | 4:37 |
| 5. | "Still Running" | Chet Morgan | 3:33 |
| 6. | "Never Been Sure of Anything" |
| 3:30 |
| Total length: | 23:48 | ||
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Bandcamp.[12]
Musicians
- Caleb Harper – vocals, guitar, writing
- Amelia Murray – bass guitar, writing (track 2)
- Ashton Le Cornu – lead guitar, writing
- Kieran Lama – drums, writing
Additional personnel
Charts
edit| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[18] | 23 |
References
edit- ^ Rats, Pile. "Exclusive: Stream Spacey Jane's extremely good time new EP, No Way To Treat An Animal". Pile Rats. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ Davies, Hayden. "Premiere: Perth's Spacey Jane returns with new double A-side, In The Meantime". Pile Rats. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ a b Collins, Simon (15 June 2020). "Perth's indie darlings Spacey Jane thought they'd never play music again". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ Byrne, Declan (30 January 2020). "The secret life of Spacey Jane". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
- ^ a b McGahey, Freya (18 August 2017). "Premiere: The debut single from Spacey Jane almost didn't make it, but we're so glad it did". Happy Mag. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "Exclusive: Stream Spacey Jane's extremely good time new EP, No Way To Treat An Animal". Pilerats. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ "Some time soon (August 18), in a galaxy far, far away (@mojosbarfreo), SJ will be launching..." Instagram. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "ROUND TWO!! Supports + other cool stuff still TBA, strap yourselves in..." Instagram. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Hey friends, we're premiering the opening track from our debut EP tomorrow..." Instagram. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ Innes, Matt (24 September 2018). "Spacey Jane Extend Their Orbit". Scenestr. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Launching our debut EP at @william_street_bird next month! Joined by @childsaintband & @carla_geneve..." Instagram. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ a b "No Way To Treat An Animal, by Spacey Jane". Bandcamp. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ Ford, Alice. "Musician Art". Alice Ford. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ Robért, Nathan Hugh (1 May 2021). "Spacey Jane, and the meaningful magic of Booster Seat one year on". Pilerats. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ Bryant, Gareth. "Fremantle Indie Rockers Spacey Jane Really Love Their Dogs". Scenestr. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Are These The Greatest WA Songs Of All Time?". The Music. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Spacey Jane - From the West". Eat Your Water. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Spacey Jane – No Way to Treat an Animal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 December 2022.