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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
