Powderfinger’s second album, Double Allergic, turns 30 on 2 September 2026, marking three decades since the record established the Brisbane band as a significant force in Australian rock.
by Paul Cashmere
Released in Australia on 2 September 1996 through Polydor, Double Allergic represented a decisive step forward for Powderfinger. Produced by Tim Whitten, the album reached No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart, spent 10 weeks in the Top 10 and was eventually certified triple platinum in Australia for shipments of 210,000 units. Thirty years later, it remains one of the key recordings in the band’s catalogue and an important document of Australian alternative rock in the mid-1990s.
Double Allergic followed Powderfinger’s 1994 debut album Parables for Wooden Ears, but the group approached its second record with a clearer idea of how it wanted to sound. Guitarist Darren Middleton described the material at the time as the band’s best work to that point, while singer Bernard Fanning identified the increased space within the arrangements as an important characteristic.
Rather than deliberately attempting a radical change in direction, Fanning said the development was a natural progression. Guitarist Ian Haug similarly characterised the new material as more melodic and simpler than the earlier work, with fewer changes in time signature and less structural complexity.
The recording process was also more economical. Powderfinger had previously worked with producer Tony Cohen, but selected Whitten for Double Allergic. The band entered the studio with a stronger understanding of the sound it wanted, allowing the record to be made for less money while, according to the band’s assessment, improving the result. Middleton credited Whitten with bringing his own ideas to the studio while remaining receptive to those of the musicians.
The album’s commercial performance was significant. Double Allergic was released on 2 September 1996 and ultimately reached No. 4 in Australia. It finished 1996 at No. 44 on the national year-end albums chart and returned at No. 53 for 1997. Its triple-platinum certification represents at least 210,000 units based on certification shipments.
The singles helped establish Powderfinger’s wider audience. “Pick You Up”, released in April 1996, peaked at No. 23 on the ARIA Singles Chart and became the album’s highest-charting single. It also reached No. 6 in the 1996 Triple J Hottest 100. “D.A.F.” followed in August, reaching No. 39 and No. 18 in the Hottest 100. “Living Type”, released in November, reached No. 42, while “Take Me In”, issued in May 1997, did not chart.
The songs also demonstrated the breadth of Fanning’s writing. “Living Type” examined the Manson Family cult, while “Take Me In” was written in response to newspaper reports concerning perceived hypocrisy within the police. The title “D.A.F.” was derived from the song’s chord progression, a deliberately simple explanation later given by bassist John Collins.
Double Allergic also contained an unusual feature that rewarded listeners who stayed with the album. Following the main recording on track 12, “(Return Of) The Electric Horseman”, three hidden songs were included within the extended track time: “Vladimir”, “SS” and “Come Away”. The latter was notable as the first Powderfinger recording to feature Middleton as lead vocalist, while Collins contributed the spoken voice sample heard at the end. “Come Away” had also appeared as a B-side to “Pick You Up”.
By the 1997 ARIA Awards, Double Allergic had accumulated five album nominations, including Album of the Year, Highest Selling Album, Best Alternative Release, Producer of the Year and Best Group. “D.A.F.” received nominations for Single of the Year and Song of the Year, while “Pick You Up” had been nominated in both categories the previous year. Powderfinger did not win any of those nominations.
The album’s legacy is tied to the point at which Powderfinger’s ambitions and songwriting became more clearly defined. The move towards more melodic arrangements and greater use of space gave the five-piece a sound that could operate within alternative rock while reaching substantially beyond its earlier audience. The record’s eventual sales and chart history demonstrate the scale of that transition.
Thirty years after its Australian release, Double Allergic stands as the record that connected Powderfinger’s early work with the larger national career that followed. Its four singles, distinctive album tracks and hidden recordings document a band refining its identity rather than abandoning it, with Whitten’s production providing the framework for that evolution.
Tracklisting
“Skinny Jean” – 3:57
“Turtle’s Head” – 3:23
“Pick You Up” – 4:19
“D.A.F.” – 3:30
“Boing Boing” – 3:37
“Give” – 2:28
“Oipic” – 4:09
“Living Type” – 3:25
“JC” – 2:50
“Glimpse” – 1:43
“Take Me In” – 2:51
“(Return of) The Electric Horseman” – 18:57 (actual track time 3:47)
Hidden tracks included within track 12:
“Vladimir” – 4:47
“SS” – 3:26
“Come Away” – 3:55
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