Although six months earlier people were telling New Zealand's Datsuns to give up, by mid-2002 London's music press was hailing them as "genius." By then the Datsuns had already been playing their brand of garage rock for six years, ever since they met at school in Cambridge and formed a band called Trinket.

Back in 1997, as Trinket, they won the local radio station's Battle of the Bands. The following year, now called the Datsuns, they won again. In the years that followed the group released only a handful of singles, all on vinyl and all on their own record label, Hell Squad Records. While beloved of student radio and known for their live Who-like performances, they were a relatively unknown group even at home. Things started to look up in March 2001, when a tour of Australia caused a bit of a stir, especially in Melbourne. Encouraged, the Datsuns made plans to take on London.

First it was the fickle London music press that flocked to the group's gigs, jostling with each other to hail the Datsuns as the greatest thing they'd seen. Record companies followed, waving checkbooks in their faces. One major-label boss flew in from New York to check out the action. Their London tour of duty had started with the band sleeping on other people's couches. Before long, at least one hopeful record company was fronting hotel bills. In July 2002 the band signed with the V2 label. The band then prepped for the domestic release of their self-titled effort, which appeared in 2002. Two years later the Datsuns returned with Outta Sight/Outta Mind. Smoke & Mirrors followed in 2006. Ed Nimmervoll, All Music Guide.

Slick it back
Gimme some grease
You got it
I want it
So baby so sweet

Jett black hair
Leather on thigh
You make me flip baby
Whoa
Everytime

But you don't give a damn
You're just a fink for the man
You sure let me know
You don't give a damn
You're just a fink for the man
You make me flip
Get up and go

The midnight riders hanging round your neck
I wish it was me
Oh, we could be just the best

I seen your letters
They're written with spit
Your taking care of business
But baby
You flipped

I seen your letters
They're written with spit
And you're Fink for that man
You're buying us a big bag of trouble baby
But I know that's your plan

This is the last time I see your smile
And it feels like heaven, so divine
Of course you wonder, wonder why
So make it look good then decide

No tin cans tied back of car
Is that the way the story ends completely?
Cause I sure ain’t happy girl
Just because we say bitter sweetly
We’re outta luck and outta time
Out of money, now I count in dimes
Of course you wonder, wonder why
So make it look good then decide

And I know
I’ll make it look good
And force a smile
Smile

Cause there’s a new way out you see
No sweet reunion, no sweet relief
Of course you wonder, wonder why
So make it look good then decide

Once again you render me known
Once again you blacken my thumb
Of course you wonder, wonder why
So make it look good then deside

And I know
I’ll make it look good
And force a smile
Smile

I grind my teeth, bite my tongue
Look at what we’ve become its
Got me feeling so low
Got me feeling low

I’ll make it look good
And force a smile
Smile

Oh you blacken my thumb