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Off The Tracks
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  • Raveonettes Observator

    The Raveonettes: Observator

    Greil

    The Doors: A Lifetime of Listening to Five Mean Years

    Elle Hunt

    Five Albums I’m Loving Right Now: Elle Hunt

    Charles Bradley Victim

    Charles Bradley: Victim of Love

    Sun

    Win Tickets to Cat Power in Wellington

    Doors 68

    The Doors: Live At The Bowl ’68

    Journeys

    Neil Young: Journeys

    George Martin DVD

    Produced By George Martin: DVD

    Bachman

    Bachman & Turner Live At The Roseland Ballroom, NYC

    Bjones

    My Brian Jones Drawing

    Damon Albarn

    The Damon Albarn Interview

    Mark Knopfler

    The Mark Knopfler Interview

    Mavis Staples

    The Mavis Staples Interview

    George Clinton

    The George Clinton Interview

    Sonny Rollins

    The Sonny Rollins Interview

    Elvis Costello

    The Elvis Costello Interview

    SJD

    2013 Taite Music Prize Winner: SJD

    Frank Turner face

    Win Tickets to Frank Turner in Wellington and Auckland

    Aretha Franklin

    Aretha Franklin – Rock Steady

    party

    The Party

    Azealia Banks

    Azealia Banks – 212 ft. Lazy Jay

    Jeff Henneman

    R.I.P. Jeff Hanneman

    Parliament

    Up For The Down Stroke – Parliament

    George Jones

    R.I.P George Jones

    sjd

    SJD’s New Album: Streaming Now

    Phantom Cafe Reader

    The Phantom Billstickers Cafe Reader: Issue # 1

    The Hollies

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1511

    Tracey Distant Shore LP

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1404

    Wilco The Album

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1396

    Gil Scott Heron

    Gil Scott-Heron: The Last Holiday

    David Crosby Name

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1392

    Viva Hate

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1491

    Tom Petty LP

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1383

    Cat Power

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1542

    Smile

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1411

    Ray Coniffs

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1384

  • Gallery

    May 16, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1375

    Donna Summer love to

    Donna Summer, I Feel Love [12”] (1977) Well it’s about Giorgio Moroder as far as I’m concerned. Donna Summer is the voice/name on this record but the reason to listen to it is Giorgio Moroder, writer, producer – wizard. I don’t have a whole heap of 12s – a few have crept into my collection [...]

    Posted in The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 12", 1977, disco, Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, I Feel Love, Midnight Express, Single · Leave a Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 16, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    Daft Punk: Random Access Memories

    Daft Punk helmets

    Daft Punk Random Access Memories Columbia There aren’t that many albums that can trade on pre-release hype/hope but the marketing job for Daft Punk’s new album, the duo’s first original studio record in nearly a decade (not counting the TRON: Legacy soundtrack) has been so huge, so spot-on that there’ll be a queue of people [...]

    Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Daft Punk, Random Access Memories · 9 Replies ·

    Gallery

    May 16, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    Peter Ames Carlin: Bruce

    Bruce book cover

    Bruce Peter Ames Carlin Touchstone Peter Ames Carlin is a decent biographer, particularly his effort chronicling Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys stands out and this book about Bruce Springsteen is more than decent – particularly (for) the early years. In fact Carlin picks over the early years, the making of the man, with a [...]

    Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Biography, Book Review, Bruce, Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Hagiography, Peter Ames Carlin, The Boss, The E Street Band · 1 Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 15, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    Rod Stewart: Time

    Rod Stewart Time

    Rod Stewart Time Capitol It’s very clear that writing his autobiography finally got Rod Stewart back on track in terms of having a go at least; here he’s back writing – or co-writing – songs for the first time in over 20 years. His Grating American Songbook is how a whole generation of Idol followers [...]

    Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Rod Stewart, Time · 1 Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 15, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy: What The Brothers Sang

    Bonnie Prince and Dawn Mc

    Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy What The Brothers Sang Palace Records It’s hard to know what’s trickier: keeping up with Will Oldham’s musical endeavours/releases or spotting anything resembling actual sincerity. Deep in the chase – for the first time in years – I’ve found him at his best and most heartfelt right here with [...]

    Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Dawn McCarthy, Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Faun Fables, Palace Records, The Everly Brothers, What The Brothers Sang, Will Oldham · Leave a Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 14, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    Five Albums I’m Loving Right Now: Megan McCarthy

    megan m

    Megan McCarthy is a Wellington musician. Here are five albums she’s loving right now… I feel that this post should reflect my growth as a musician: where I have come from and where I am now. I have my fiancé Peter Baillie to thank for my musical education of late – but there is still [...]

    Posted in Blog, Special Guests · Tagged Five Albums I'm Loving Right Now, Megan McCarthy, Peter Baillie · Leave a Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 14, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    Andrew Bird: Hands of Glory

    Andrew Bd

    Andrew Bird Hands of Glory Mom & Pop Music Andrew Bird might, at first, have seemed like a gimmick – he maybe still does for anyone first discovering him: loop pedal, whistling, hipster poses and clothing, a hint of colonial throwback that might just be a bit too well manicured/mannered – well it could all [...]

    Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Andrew Bird, Break It Yourself, Hands of Glory, The Handsome Family, Townes Van Zandt · Leave a Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 13, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    Tattletale Saints: How Red Is The Blood

    Tattle Tale Saints LP

    Tattletale Saints How Red Is The Blood Native Tongue When I first heard this I thought it was kinda sweet, it’s certainly nice in that almost-unctuous way that the word ‘nice’ often suggests, both a compliment and then sorta not really a compliment at the same time. And you can’t fault – really – the [...]

    Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, How Red Is The Blood, Native Tongue, Paul Simon, Tattletale Saints · Leave a Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 12, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    The Handsome Family: Wilderness

    Wilderness cover

    The Handsome Family Wilderness Carrot Top Records Husband and wife duo Brett and Rennie Sparks return for their ninth album in their 20-year career; it’s their first in four years and as the band loves a good theme to play with Wilderness sees a record of songs named after different animals. There’s a book of [...]

    Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Book, Brett Sparks, Country, Duo, Folk, Rennie Sparks, Southern Gothic, The Handsome Family, Wilderness · Leave a Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 12, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    I’m Your Man: Gig Preview

    LC

    Next Tuesday, May 21, the event I’m Your Man: An Evening Celebrating The Words and Music of Leonard Cohen will be taking place at the Carterton Events Centre from 7.30pm. See here for tickets/further information. I’ve previewed the event already – it will feature a range of Cohen’s songs performed by local musicians including members [...]

    Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Biography, Blog On The Tracks, Carterton, Gig Preview, I'm Your Man, Interview, I’m Your Man: An Evening Celebrating The Words and Music of Leonard Cohen, Leonard Cohen, Simon Sweetman, Sylvie Simmons, Ukulele, Up With People, Wairarapa · Leave a Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 11, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    The Vinyl Countdown # 1376

    Roots Things Fall

    The Roots, Things Fall Apart (1999) This is the fourth album by The Roots – but it’s the first one I heard; it’s what got me hooked. So it’s the sentimental favourite in so many ways, even though each new record from this band captivates me. Always interesting, always just different enough The Roots is [...]

    Posted in The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged Act Too, Common, Erykah Badu, Questlove, The Roots, Things Fall Apart, You Got Me · Leave a Reply ·

    Gallery

    May 11, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

    Jonathan Biss: Beethoven’s Shadow

    Jonathan Biss

    Jonathan Biss Beethoven’s Shadow RosettaBooks/Amazon Digital Services, Inc. This Kindle Single comes from classical pianist Jonathan Biss. There’s no doubting his abilities as a player and with this work we see – and feel – his skills as an educator, academic and writer. Blessed with that rare skill of being able to analyse, provide context [...]

    Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Amazon, Beethoven, Beethoven's Shadow, Book Review, Classical Piano, Jonathan Biss, Kindle, Kindle Single · Leave a Reply ·
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    • Tattletale Saints: How Red Is The Blood
    • Andrew Bird: Hands of Glory
    • Five Albums I'm Loving Right Now: Megan McCarthy
    • Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy: What The Brothers Sang
    • Rod Stewart: Time
    • Peter Ames Carlin: Bruce
    • Daft Punk: Random Access Memories
    • The Vinyl Countdown # 1375
    • A MusiCares Tribute to Barbra Streisand: DVD
    • Blind Melon: Blind Melon (Reissue)

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