'' Eight Step Rail '' reached the ARIA Singles Chart Top 50 in February 1997 . Its feature track , " Shut My Eyes " , received high rotation on national youth alternative music radio station , Triple J – it was listed at No . 81 on the station 's Hottest 100 for 1996 . AllMusic 's Jonathan Lewis described how " their wall of guitar noise ( somewhat reminiscent of '' Siamese Dream '' - era Smashing Pumpkins ) made them an overnight success on Australian radio . Sounding like a cross between Liz Phair and Catatonia 's Cerys Matthews , McLeod 's voice was a major drawcard ; strong , confident and rarely lapsing into the girlishness that characterized some of the Superjesus ' contemporaries . " Jasper Cooper of Oz Music Project felt that on the EP , " Musically , the band inherited much from contemporaries such as the Smashing Pumpkins , but McLeod 's appeal at the band 's fore , lent The Superjesus their own niche and stature . The single track ' Shut My Eyes ' was the band 's tour de force , something that was still unmatched in their latter albums . " They followed with a tour of Australia 's east coast , then supported shows by Clouds , Hoodoo Gurus and United Kingdom band , Bush . As songwriters , Tennent typically composed the music and McLeod supplied the lyrics – the pair had also developed a personal relationship . In January 1997 the Superjesus appeared at the Big Day Out and , in April , they travelled to Triclops Sound Studios , Atlanta to record their debut album , '' Sumo '' , with Matt Serletic ( Collective Soul ) producing and Jeff Tomei ( Smashing Pumpkins , Hole ) as audio engineer . At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997 they won Best New Talent for '' Eight Step Rail '' and Breakthrough Artist – Single for " Shut My Eyes " . McLeod and Tennent 's personal relationship had ended and late that year ; he temporarily left the group . Aaron Tokona ( of Weta ) filled in on guitar when the Superjesus toured New Zealand . Tokona turned down the offer to become a permanent member and remained with Weta
ARIA Music Awards of 1997
ARIA Music Awards of 1997
The Superjesus