Feelin’ Kinda Sporty by Dave Graney ‘n’ The Coral Snakes – A Rock Gem That Still Kicks
Man, there’s just something about Feelin’ Kinda Sporty that sticks to your ribs like a good pub meal. Released back in ‘97 (yeah, I’m talking late 90s vibes here), this Aussie rock album from Dave Graney ‘n’ The Coral Snakes feels like it was made for those lazy afternoons when you’re not sure if you wanna get off the couch or crank the volume up. It’s indie rock meets alternative rock with a dash of swagger, and honestly? It works.
Let me tell ya, two tracks on this sucker really stand out. First up is “Don’t Puddle Up On Me.” Oh man, this one hits different. It’s got this loose, almost sloppy groove—like Graney didn’t care too much about perfection but still nailed it anyway. There’s a rawness to the guitars, and his voice? Dude sounds like he’s half-singing, half-talking his way through life’s little annoyances. You can practically picture him shrugging while he sings, like, "Eh, whatever." But weirdly enough, that makes it relatable. Like yeah, we’ve all had days where we don’t want anyone puddlin’ up on us, ya know?
Then there’s the title track, “Feelin’ Kinda Sporty.” This tune has this sneaky energy to it—it starts off kinda chill, then BAM, hooks you with these sharp riffs and lyrics that are pure Graney: clever, quirky, and dripping with attitude. What gets me every time is how effortlessly cool it feels. It’s like he’s daring you to take yourself less seriously. By the end of it, you’re either tapping your feet or laughing at how absurdly catchy it is. Probably both.
And look, credit where it’s due—the production ain’t fancy, but it doesn’t need to be. With Andy Baldwin engineering and Don Bartley mastering, they kept things tight without losing that rough-around-the-edges charm. Plus, let’s give it up for Dave Graney himself—he wrote the music, penned the lyrics, AND produced the whole thing. Guy wears many hats, huh? Feels like he poured everything he had into this record, and it shows.
Here’s the kicker though—listening to Feelin’ Kinda Sporty now, over two decades later, it kinda feels timeless. Not in some grand, poetic sense, but more like… oh, this could’ve been recorded last week in someone’s garage. Maybe that’s why it resonates so much. Or maybe it’s because deep down, we all feel kinda sporty sometimes—even when we’re just sittin’ around doing nothing.
So yeah, do yourself a favor and throw this album on sometime. Just don’t blame me if you find yourself humming “Don’t Puddle Up On Me” while stuck in traffic.
