Savage Gardens second album is well underways despite Hayes living in New york and Jones remaining in brisbaine. The first 
single "the animal song" is the lead track in The Other Sister, a big tear jerker comedy starring Juliette Lewis.  So what is the song about? "Its about going back to innocence. When my life is crazy and i havent got a minute for myself, I want to run from it all and get back to a simpler way of life. Thats what the song is saying. I just want to make life a bit better for three and a half minutes." Many of the albums that made Hayes' life better as a kid are still trvelling on tour with him. 

Fleetwood Mac: Tusk WARNER 1979 

"I was raised on this. Mum and Dad both worked really hard so i was often at home with my sisters and we had to do the chores. My older sister would bribe me with Michael Jackson If i cleaned the toilet but her cleaning music would was fleetwood Mac or Diana Ross or Marvin Gaye and thats how i got inot that kind of music. Tusk is the soudtrack to my childhood and when I listen to it when Im far away I get emotional because we all grew up with it." 

Michael Jackson: Thriller SONY 1982 

"This is the first record I ever bought. The reason why im here today is Thriller. I saw Michael Jackson live in Brisbane and i 
thought I was going to drop dead because he thrilled me so much. The songs are so great- 'Baby be mine', 'PYT ( Pretty Young Thing)' and 'The Lady in My Life'. This is some of Micheals finest singing. Its not as musically challenging as Off the Wall but Thriller has sentimental value.Iit represents a whole period of innocence for me about the music business." 

U2: Achtung Baby POLYGRAM 1991 

"I was asleep tp music before this record. U2 didnt turn me onat all until i was in my girlfriends car and she had a tape called 
Achtuing Baby. I was allways into science fiction and blade runner so i just got it, it turned me on. It was recorded in Germany around the time the [Berlin] wall came down and I looked at Bono in dark glasses and I thought, 'i dig you, i think your really cool.' It was all post apocalyptic, all doomy but funky as well. Id never seen that side to U2 before and now Im a huge fan. The whole reason my hair is black is because i went through a period of wanting to be Bono. When I was in cover bands I was the biggest wannabe Bono. Im that kid who thought he was E.T., then I thaught I was Micheal Jackson until I relised I wasnt black and then I thought- I am Bono." 

Carole King: tapestry SONY 1971 

"When I was working in a record store, my boss Gary Really opened me up to all different kinds of music. This just moved me on a really basic emotional level, Its as good as songwriting gets. 'So Far Away' is a beautiful song, if youve ever loved someone and had to get on a plane ...its so moving. i think weve only written one good song, probably 'To the Moon and Back', but this is a whole album of great songs, every track is a killer and theres no production, just her voice and piano and a little drums. I love it." 

Prince: Sign o' the Times WARNER 1987 

"This is Prince's finest moment. I cant believe its a double album full of brilliant songs. I had a tape of Purple Rain on my first 
ever walkman and the big thing then was stereo delays and effects moving around in your head. If tusk was the soundtrack to my childhood, Sign o' the Timeswas the soundtrack to high school. I saw him three weeks ago, he was playing in Madison Square Garden and he did all the hits. He had the most unbelielavable love sogs and 'I could never take the Place of Your Man' is a brilliant rock song." 

Madonna: Ray Of Light WARNER 1998 

"I've allways been a Madonna fan but this is the one record i started listening to in a tough time of my life just after the Australian tour. i was very confused about where the band was going and why I was in the business. I was changeing a lot and haveing to make decisions overnight whereas Madonna had a whole career to work things out. A lot of the songs are sad songs about breakdowns in relationships. I was fascinated that she worked with William Orbit and for a long time we thought about working with him because its the best work shes ever done." 

K's Choice: Cocoon Crash SONY 1998 

"This is a band from Belgium but they sound American to me. I heard a single from this record called 'Believe' and it just grabbed me. I moved to New York and listened to that record alone and all these songs are incredible.'20,000 Seconds'is devestating, I love it and at any one time theres about 5 copies floating around on tour with us. There great pop songs, very emotional, very real but they kick ass with a lot more guitar than youd think I would be into." 

Cyndi Lauper: Night to remember SONY 1989 

"This is the soundtrack to my first girlfriend, our life and love. Cyndi Lauper was so underrated as a vocalistand Billy Steinbergand Tom Kelly are incredible writers. Its a really emotional record. 'My first night without you/ Will I be able to sleep/ What if i weep/ Will I dream about you'. The lyrics are so tragic and its what you feel when you love someone. 'I dont want to be your friend' was a very bitter farewell song. I applied that song to all my breakups and to all the people who screwed me over." 

George Michael: Listen Without Prejudice SONY 1990 

"Ive allways loved Geroge Michael but i was never into Wham!. I think he is an amazing singer, he has more funk than anyone 
gives him credit for. The bass lines are so great that when we did our first record we wanted him to produce it. This album is so honest, theres a lot of personal history in that record about break-ups of relationships. it can be self indulgent listening to it and you can start feeling sorry for yourself but its one of my favourite albums even though it didnt sell that well." 

Sarah Mclachlan: fumbling towards ecsatcy BMG 1994 

"Ive heard her songs for years and didnt relise it was her. I saw Lilith Fair in Texas and she just blew me away, her voice was so angelic. There is something in her music that was like Peter Gabriel and then I heard she was a fan. Shes a real poet, its really honest, spiritual music. I met her when she sand 'Building a Mystery' with with us on stage and I swear to God i dont think I hit one note right. i was just thinking, 'Sarah Mclachlan is on stage with me.'"