What makes Sirocco by Australian Crawl notable?

Sirocco debuted at number six on the Australian charts and solidified Australian Crawl's status as one of the key bands of the early '80s rock scene. The album received positive reviews from critics, who praised its lyrical depth and musical cohesion, helping to shape the sound of Australian rock during that era. Released as Australian Crawl's second album, Sirocco followed their successful debut, The Boys Light Up. By this point in their career, they had already established a strong following in Australia and were exploring more mature themes in their songwriting while maintaining their catchy pop sensibility.

How many songs are on Sirocco?

Sirocco has 11 tracks, running approximately 46 minutes.

Sirocco

Australian Crawl · 1981

46 min · 11 tracks · pop music

A vibrant blend of pop melodies and reflective lyrics that captures the essence of early '80s Australian rock.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Errol — This track stands out for its storytelling approach, capturing a nostalgic longing for a simpler time while using vivid imagery to illustrate the character's struggles.
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Lakeside — With its infectious melody and upbeat rhythm, Lakeside encapsulates the carefree spirit of youth, making it a quintessential summer anthem for many listeners.
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Things Don’t Seem — Opening the album with introspective lyrics, this track sets the tone for Sirocco by blending personal reflection with catchy hooks that define Australian Crawl’s sound.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

46 /100

Foothills

Higher than 10% of albums we've rated

Sirocco showcases solid songwriting and production typical of its era, but lacks standout tracks that elevate it further.

What we noticed

The album opens with a strong mid-tempo track that sets a consistent pace for the first half, before introducing more reflective ballads in the latter part.
Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that enhance the melodic hooks, particularly in 'Love Beats Me Up' and 'Can I Be Sure'.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 5/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Things Don’t Seem 3:57
2 Unpublished Critics 5:14
3 Love Beats Me Up 4:35
4 Oh No Not You Again 5:08
5 Lakeside 4:49
6 Trusting You 3:09
7 Errol 3:30
8 Can I Be Sure 3:37
9 Easy on Your Own 3:48
10 Love Boys 3:41
11 Resort Girls 4:35

What to play next

Listen next

Sons of Beaches

1982

Go back to

The Boys Light Up

1980

Full Australian Crawl discography Artists like Australian Crawl

pop music

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata