The Bliss Domestic by Major

Smart Casual stays on rotation and Triple J DJ's start to spot play the tune, Richard Kingsmill giving it a thumbs up in his weekly new music spotlight.

November 2002, Major release The Summer EP, featuring Smart Casual, a collectible digipak and tour the country.

Meanwhile Massive! Records in Japan gets a copy of the album - tentatively titled The Bliss Domestic - and demands that the band record two more songs (recorded by Michael Carpenter to supplement the ten done with Nigel and Paul) and get their arses over there to showcase the album. Major hit HMV stores and Hard Rock Cafes in Japan in May 2003 and sales of The Bliss Domestic chime into the thousands. They do radio, television and karaoke in a breakneck week.

Upon their return, overtures are made from Laughing Outlaw Records, whose love of alt.country and powerpop seem made for the crystalline fusion glittering in the tracks of The Bliss Domestic. So, the deal is done, a film clip for the new radio single 'Shake' is shot and the raucous number is immediately serviced to FBi, JJJ and commercial radio the next week.

An album that gleams with beautiful textures, radiant harmonies and superbly written tunes, The Bliss Domestic will be remembered as a Major classic.

It's guitar pop.

It's glorious.

It's Danny and Jarrod Murphy, Miles Nicholas and Simon Bates baking bread for hearts, minds and souls.

PRESS:

"Sounding something like a cross between Neil Finn and Paul Weller, brothers Dan and Jarrod Murphy play melodic pop/rock that is instantly effective. These brothers' tunes ring with a strange familiarity...and yet their music is original and infused with a genuinely cool spirit. The tunes on The Bliss Domestic are surprisingly catchy and accessible...yet the band's music is a far cry from the commercial dribble that sells so well in the United States. Folks wanting strange and noisy underground stuff won't go for this at all...the music is completely upbeat hummable pop without unnecessary frills and electronics. By playing straight from the hip, these guys are playing to a select crowd...folks who want their pop pure and real. Top picks include "Smart Casual," "Big Deal," "No Regrets No Goodbyes," and "The Time Honoured Way."" (Rating: 4++) - BABYSUE.COM

"Major fling themselves into their EP with Posies-like vigour on Smart Casual - imagine The Who doing Beach Boys vocal arrangements - and maintain that energy throughout." SMH

"Smart Casual is a real eye opener of a recording, like The Jam at double speed. Snappy arrangements, scintillating, lively playing and a vocal approach that shows a clear addiction to strong pop melody and sweet harmony. The EP is packed with great tunes, too." INPRESS

"If you want a war, you've got it. Major fight with beautiful harmonies and sweet guitar licks and all are falling around them...an EP that brims to the rim with sparkling harmonies and a clean driven pop sound..." REVOLVER

"Major is really rather tasty - fleshy, in a sweet, cruelty-free kind of way, juiced up to the hilt & reminding you of summer kind of way.... warm & shiny as a spring day after a sunshower." BEAT

"Sophisticated pop-rock debut from the Aussie quartet." KANSAI TIME OUT (JAPAN)

"Sophisticated and beautiful pop songs. Their sweet melody line and chorus harmony reminds us of something that most 90s bands left behind." STRANGE DAYS (JAPAN)

"They're one of the sunniest bands to emerge from Sydney in many a season... accomplished." METRO

Average Customer Review: