Mushroom Music Publishing

We all know a place like Surfers Paradise, or as the locals call it, Surface Parasites. A place caught somewhere between hope and despair, beauty and horror and love and hate. This is the cityscape backdrop for Gold Coast hip-hop stalwarts The Winnie Coopers' third album, Surface Parasites.

Yet this offering is more than a commentary on the neon-soaked and plastic environment the live five-piece call home, it is a vulnerable insight into their growth and development not just as musicians but also as people. "This is definitely our most honest album, and I guess it was time that Australia's most immature group grew up a little...the songs are our letters to home, our journals of life on the road, our goodbyes to those who have passed and our hellos to those we have welcomed to the world," founding vocalist The Educator explains.

Calling in the renowned services of ARIA award winning Brisbane producer Magoo (TZU, Regurgitator and Midnight Oil to name a few) and with guest spots from the indefinable pop songstress Kate Miler-Heidke and the mischievous cult hero emcee Evil Eddie (Butterfingers), this album bleeds Queenslander maroon.

With their hearts on their sleeves, and with nods to those they have toured with, The Beastie Boys, Michael Franti and Ugly Duckling, this is the Winnie Coopers at their humorous and thought-provoking best. After saying farewell to drummer/producer Fingers Malone, the Winnie’s have acquired the skills of Captain James Crook, who has not only taken up the rhythm reins, but has also played various instruments on the latest long player.

Once againthe lines between hip-hop, rock and reggae are blurred with sugary-sweet harmonies and infectious hooks as the Coopers make fun of the industry, the haters but above all themselves. Following up the lauded Worth the Weight (2008) (Rolling Stone 3 stars) and the Triple J favourite Being Different which featured Success, Surface Parasites is sure to get tongues wagging and heads nodding again. Enjoy your stay, but watch your bag.