World Wide Woozle episode #668

Welcome back, let's rock. I just wanna have some kicks...

Ramones - Rock N' Roll High School - https://youtu.be/oz7KYUkdlvE

World Wide Woozle playlists are here. It's the cure for what ails you.

Hang on to your hopes, my friend

I've got time on my hands, and quite possibly too much of it. Whilst working my way through listening to every single CD I have, I noticed something interesting. My level of frustration with Spotify and YouTube has ramped up significantly. I don't want the same ten songs or albums recommended to me all the time. I Got You, by Split Enz is a wonderful song, but I don't need it to be suggested three times a day. As a result I have gone back to listening to Spotify only for podcasts, audiobooks and new releases. Then I discovered that back in the day I had converted all my CDs to MP3 using a lower than optimal bitrate. So the quality isn't fantastic. Remember I said I have time on my hands? Well I've been re-ripping all of my CDs so that I can listen to them on the move. The point that I'm eventually getting to is that this has been a great way to expand my listening. There are CDs I'd forgotten I had as well as quite a few not on Spotify.

Jim Breuer and the Loud & Rowdy - Old School - https://youtu.be/dx_e8YaQpS0

I'm writing this over a long weekend that includes International Women's Day and thus a good opportunity to highlight one of my favourite artists. Fanny Lumsden is from regional NSW, not all that far from Canberra really, and I've been a fan for a while now. You may remember me going to see her play live a couple of years ago; what a great gig! Recently I ordered one of her CDs that I didn't have. At the same time I took a chance and ordered a book that Fanny had written about the album. Now, what arrived in the post is an excellent example of how to engage with your fanbase (because we all know that money from streaming services is a joke). The CD was in there, the book is very cool and also autographed, then there was a signed photo, bookmark, and a sticker. That's neat. If you're reading this from the UK then lookout as Fanny and her band, The Prawn Stars, will be there very soon.

Fanny Lumsden - Great Divide - https://youtu.be/ISMLkHrHCWo

Know your product

A few years ago I became aware that Painters & Dockers had released a live CD recorded at a show in Auckland back in the late 1990s. Their 1986 live record, Bucket, was a cassette I played over and over towards the end of my high school years. My investigations revealed that only 500 copies of the Auckland CD were ever pressed so I resigned myself to either listening to it via streaming, or maybe finding a pirate copy somewhere. A copy of Overt and Deliberate popped up for sale during the week via Dixon Records in Melbourne. Ooooh, my precious! I quickly hit the buy now button and the CD should be here this week. Hmmmm, it was a bit extravagant but I know I'm very happy to be able to have a physical copy! 

Painters & Dockers - The Boy Who Lost His Jocks On Flinders Street Station - https://youtu.be/ym2bvFrpQ6E

Tonight, I'll be starting all over again

Just as I thought I was going to be back riding my bike, Murphy and his law came calling. It hasn't been any fun at all. The upshot is that I have some new drugs and I may be getting a couple of injections in my spine. Knowing how much I love needles this is going to be quite a challenge. At this stage I don't care if the injections work for three days, three weeks, or three months. I just need a break. Of course, they might not have any impact at all.

Divinyls - Back To The Wall - https://youtu.be/yrBd96o7y4Y

Old man, take a look at yourself

This year I'll turn 55. One of the things about poor mental health is a tendency, for all the wrong reasons, to want one's affairs in order. Recently, whilst feeling decidedly unhappy I renegotiated my mobile phone plan and my health, vehicle and home insurance. It truly astounded me just how much money I could save with about fifteen minutes of effort for each of those. Now that the cost of living is about to rise again, I'm rather glad I did it. The impending birthday has meant that every person and their dog send push emails, social media posts, and the odd carrier pigeon regarding retirement. As a result, I put on my big boy pants and spent some time with a financial advisor. The first meeting was quite a revelation as apparently I will be able to retire at 60 if I want to. To be honest, I thought I'd be working for a lot longer, and I still might. Our government is far from perfect but here in Australia we've had compulsory superannuation since 1992 (thank you Mr Keating), and I've had it since I started working in 1989. I have another meeting later today where I am sure the advisory company will no doubt want me to be investing in stocks, shares, property, weapons of mass destruction and the like. Frankly, it's no secret that I am Scottish and quite risk averse so they might be disappointed! If I can pay off my house, afford to eat, and buy a CD or record once in a while then I think I'll be OK. I'm also wearing out sneakers at an astounding rate but that's a story for another day.

Bowling For Soup - Getting Old Sucks (But Everybody's Doing It) - https://youtu.be/N4e_IZFwTfM

Put his ear to the wall, then like a distant scream

HELP! If anyone out there has an old iPod gathering dust that they don't want/need then please get in touch before I'm forced to eBay or the hell that is Facebook Marketplace! I've got a couple of them here but they don't hold many songs. I'm looking for one of the larger capacity ones so that I can continue my offline music listening quest!

I ain't got no home, I'm just rambling 'round

And lastly, by the time I publish this it will be Canberra Day. I came here in 1989 expecting to be staying four years and never coming back. I'm still here. A few years ago, when I was the only one in the family left here, I seriously considered going somewhere else. Then I thought about it and realised that I really like Canberra, and nearly all of my friends are here. Canberra isn't a big city, but it's got everything in a relatively small space. Most importantly, the bush isn't far away and it has a fairly progressive social demographic. For many, many years I've thought about the fact that I don't really have a hometown. I've been here since I was 17 so maybe it's time to admit that I'm a local. This song is clearly not about Canberra, but it's a great example of Gerry singing about his hometown.

Gerry Cinnamon - Diamonds In The Mud (live at Hampden Park) - https://youtu.be/bz8JPzOGR3Q

Keep smiling,

The Woozle

"Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don't change come what may"

Neil Young, Four Strong Winds (Ian & Sylvia cover), 1978.

World Wide Woozle playlists

365 days with The Woozle: Spotify version | YouTube version

• World Wide Woozle current listening
• 2025 Aussie rippers
• WWWoozle sadsongs

World Wide Woozle episode #667

Welcome back to World Wide Woozle Sea Cruises for a three hour tour. Vomit bags are available, just ask the friendly crew, or wave in a desperate manner.

In truth, if I never go on a boat again in my life it will be far too soon. If there is a punt to take me across the River Styx one day then it would want to be a very, very short ride.

Lionheart - Don't Pay The Ferryman (cover) - https://youtu.be/gNiqfVSPoJg

Albums that matter episode #5 went live recently. Please check it out at this link. Episode #6 is well underway and going through the requisite quality control, spell checking, and me throwing it all out and starting again (twice).

Sigh, I got caught out by some AI generated music. Spotify served it up in my Release Radar playlist and, to be honest, I thought it sounded pretty good. And then my spider-senses started tingling. Why did a relatively underground punk band from the 90s suddenly sound very, very much like Queen. It just didn't add up. The song credits are suss,  and I am fairly sure that this is definitely NOT the same group. If the members of 7 Year Bitch have indeed experienced some form of reincarnation then of course I will be only too happy to say that I was wrong. I'm not playing the song in question here but you can find it easily. If you do, let me know what you think. Meanwhile, here's the band in full flight.

7 Year Bitch - Hip Like Junk - https://youtu.be/tlNIshpjkVI

I also read that Spotify has no issue with publishing AI created music. It's not real, and it's not creative. It's just shit. This may cause me to cancel my Spotify subscription. 

Megadeth are a metal band that folks seem to really love or dislike intensely. I know very few heavy music fans who sit in the middle somewhere. Dave and his current iteration of the band have released what is to be their final album. They're also out on the road doing a final tour, including shows downunder supporting Iron Maiden. I'm in the minority. I don't hate them but I am very much not a fan. They're OK. I have spent some time listening to the final, self-titled long player. It's solid. Lyrically there are a few cringe-worthy moments but other than that I would be loath to complain. This is hard, heavy, and I guess, traditional, thrash metal albeit a bit slower these days. Dave can't help that he was born with that singing voice, and it often fits well with the feel of the band and the lyrical content. Like some other singers though, I get it, I respect it, but I find a whole album a bit of a challenge. The production of albums means more and more to me in recent times and Megadeth have nailed it on this release. Everything is clear and sits in a space without muffling something else. That can be quite a challenge in heavy music when the bass drum, bass guitar and low strings on the guitars are all in the same range. 

Megadeth - I Don't Care - https://youtu.be/-E4O5VlRYOY

Assuming that I don't fall off my perch overnight, or simply forget, the 365 Days with The Woozle playlist will have made it through two months without a hiccup. Some days I am torn regarding which song to add and I have to remind myself that this is an ultra-marathon project rather than a challenge to Allan Wells (look him up). If you've forgotten the links, or not checked them out yet then your choices, for now, are Spotify or YouTube.

Jet - Rollover DJ - https://youtu.be/Pd5QE-UXq2A

Last week, after 7 months of waiting, and a couple of false starts, I rode my bike twice. It was nothing fancy and grannies on step through, fixed wheel bikes, could probably ride faster, but it happened. For about 40 minutes each time, I felt better than I have in such a long time. Of course, it's slow progress but the setbacks are getting smaller, less painful, and a bit easier to deal with inside my head. My next trick is retraining my body to sit down for longer than a few minutes at a time. Other than a couple of occasions, and in the car, I haven't sat down much in that whole 7 months.

AC/DC fans.net House Band - Stand Up - https://youtu.be/Z-kLeedpilg

That'll do. Collect your belongings on the way off the SS Minnow.

The Woozle.

"All the kings and queens in the Bible

They could not turn back time
So what chance have I, of a miracle
In this life of mine?"

Vika and Linda, If I Could Start Today Again, 1999.

World Wide Woozle - Albums that matter episode #5

Hello music fans, and welcome back for episode #5.

Album # 5: Johnny Cash - American III: Solitary Man (2000)

In the early 2000s I bought this album, on cassette, from a clearance bin, on a whim. I thought the cover looked cool. At the time I knew who Johnny Cash was but had never listened to him, at least not knowingly. Here's what happened...

If the Pogues were the gateway into one type of music then this Johnny Cash album was another. After the initial jaw dropping moment of how he covered Tom Pettys', I Won't Back Down, this long player seeped into my bones and it's still there around twenty-five years later.

This is a dark album which I imagine reflects that Cash was quite unwell at the time of recording. Johnny, with producer Rick Rubin, took some of his originals along with a wide range of covers and turned them into a statement. Later on I would learn that Cash, always clad in black, sang songs for the downtrodden, the poor, the "lonely old", and the outcasts. If you've ever felt left out then listen to this album and, for at least 42 minutes, you won't be alone.

American III introduced me to Will Oldham's music, made me go back and listen to some old Nick Cave, and beckoned me down a path towards country music. Without this album I doubt I would have got to Kris Kristofferson, The Chicks, Steve Earle, or Gillian Welch.

Years later, in the band, we'd do a version of I Won't Back Down. I'd introduced it to them because I loved the Cash version. I don't think anyone ever listened to it though and, apart from the intro, it was much more Tom Petty. Still, it will always be a Johnny Cash song for me.

Over the years I have enjoyed reading and hearing stories about this album being recorded. From Tom Petty dropping in to sing backing vocals on his song and doing another into the bargain, to the buffalo that didn't like the air conditioner on the cabin the studio was in...they'd butt into it so it had to be turned off to record!

Not long after getting this cassette I saw a collection of Cash's songs on CD. That collection was called Murder, and all the songs were about that. Later I'd discover that there were also great related anthologies called Love and God. Murder is an exception, in that it's a compilation worth listening to. It's sad, angry, and full of people looking for redemption.

Nowadays I have a lot of Johnny's albums. It can be a bit overwhelming trying to sort through the multitude of compilations but there are great CD versions of his early long players out there for only a few bucks. Still, if you've never listened before, or only know Ring of Fire, then grab a copy of American III: Solitary Man, and settle down for quite the experience.

Johnny Cash - Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) - https://youtu.be/F5LMaF6ThOs

Thanks for reading this,

The Woozle

World Wide Woozle episode #666

Welcome back. 

The one on the left was - in the middle, and the one in the middle was - on the right
Did you watch the Super Bowl? After having the amazing experience of attending an NFL game with DJ DJ in late 2024, and the associated research I did prior, I understand a bit more of the game. From an outsider's point of view, the NFL is a spectacle totally made for television. Comparing it to other forms of football, I often reflect that it would be improved with less fluffing around between plays as well as coaching players to be able to tackle and catch. To be fair, it's a sport with a lot of the team having almost no skill other than being able to run into each other. It is also a multi-billion-dollar industry so someone must be enjoying it. The entertainment was amusing to say the least. We had Green Day who either censored themselves (unlikely) or were told which verse of American Idiot wouldn't cut the mustard. Then at halftime there was Bad Bunny, admittedly not my thing, with the requisite not so casual misogyny of a million dancers shaking their rear ends at the camera. My mate DJ DUG alerted me to the fact that the alternative halftime show was live via YouTube. One guy singing about how anything that wasn't old, or that he didn't like wasn't ok, Kid Rock doing half a song, and some cookie cutter country music. Dreadful. Let's hope that the AFL weren't watching. Remember when Prince played at half time? Now that was a show. 

Little River Band – Playing To Win - https://youtu.be/GbtiUrHUhRw

U2, and Blondie, and music still on MTV
Van Halen's album, 5150, was released in 1986. You can shove your David Lee Roth vs Sammy Hagar arguments where the sun doesn't shine. They are both excellent, and very different singers. This was Hagar's first album with the band, and it is an absolute ripper. I was excited to see that we are getting a 40th anniversary version with a whole lot of stuff including the concert, Live Without a Net. Seeing them play Summer Nights was the first time I remember seeing a headless guitar. For a short time, I had one but sold it. Never sell guitars folks, 99% of the time you'll regret it! Live Without a Net was the first VHS concert I owned and now having it available on BluRay will be pretty much worth the price of admission. I better keep an eye out for a deal!

Van Halen – Summer Nights - https://youtu.be/coDVcuVoINU

Across the universe
I remember the excitement in the late 70s that TVNZ managed to create around their broadcast of the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. I know I didn't watch it all the time, but I do have some memories of it and how cool it was. Seeing those Colonial Viper spaceships punch out from the launch tubes was just awesome. Yep, I've watched the more recent version as well, it has its moments. A while ago I was interested to see that Amazon Prime has the original twenty-four episodes available. I've been slowly working my way through them, and it's been a lot of fun. Yes, there are some seriously cheesy moments including the bicycle helmets painted gold, but the overall story generally holds up well. I'm almost at the end and I must say that if you enjoy sci-fi then you should have a look at this. It's a classic for a reason.

Divinyls – Science Fiction - https://youtu.be/AiCv9F_GRBA

My name it is a number, it's on a piece of plastic film
It might be time to consider upgrading the World Wide Woozle computing facilities. This Macbook Air is almost 10 years old and is just starting to slow down. I remember being given it, as a gift, and worrying if I'd enjoy computing on the dark side! I think it's been awesome but now I want to be able to use more up to date music recording software as well as having more than a couple of applications at once. I've discovered that an iPad can be used as a secondary monitor with most recent Mac products which is cool and I think I'll stay on this side of the divide. There may be a new Mac Mini in my future, but, being full of Scots blood, I do like to overthink major purchases!

Petra - Computer Brains - https://youtu.be/HpqCgnq_bAU

Don't need no credit card to ride this train
Nostalgia can be a lot of fun. It's 40 years since the first Back to the Future film was released. I may have mentioned before not being able to justify, or afford, the replica that Gibson has produced of the guitar that Marty plays at the Enchantment Under The Sea dance. Or indeed the specially released Casio calculator watch. So I was happy to find out that my mate Bing has the movies on BluRay and was happy to loan them to me. It really hit me how many pop culture references come from this film as well as how much fun it is. There is also a small LEGO version of the DeLorean which is now sitting in my place. I find LEGO is absolutely excellent for mindfulness as when I'm concentrating on a build, my mind rarely wanders. It seems to be a good tool in training my brain to focus for longer. The only downside is that there is only so much shelf space at HQ World Wide Woozle!

The Ramones – I Don't Wanna Grow Up - https://youtu.be/JtKEvR3qspM

Looking forward, looking back
Goodness me, there's a lot of looking into the past in this episode. I am also looking forwards, but physical limitations mean that a lot of what I might like to plan is on pause. A few months ago, I thought that it was on a permanent stop but now I see some light at the end of the tunnel. It's still a long tunnel, but there is hope. My bike might get to do more than sit in the spare room! There is so much good, new music around if you can wade through the AI slop and overly processed rubbish. For instance, Aussie prog band Karnivool have released their first album in thirteen years, Sleaford Mods have new stuff out, Megadeth's final album has hit the stores, and Meg Mac has a new long player coming in about nine days. It's not the best of times for me, but it's not the worst.

Meg Mac - Outdone - https://youtu.be/Pu73qmFywWo

Please don't forget these playlists that I have available:

• 365 days with the Woozle – Spotify or YouTube - I'm adding a song a day for all of 2026 (I hope)
• World Wide Woozle current listening playlist

Keep smiling,
The Woozle

"This can't go on, I must inform the law
Can this still be real, or just some crazy dream?
But I feel drawn towards the chanting hordes

Seem to mesmerize, can't avoid their eyes"

Iron Maiden, The Number of the Beast, 1984

World Wide Woozle - Albums that matter episode #4

Music fans, stalkers, groovers, here we are again.

Album # 4: The Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray (1992)

In 1992 I had never heard of The Lemonheads other than perhaps their 1989 cover of the Suzanne Vega classic, Luka. It was also a pivotal year in my life for many reasons. I ran away from the Army (I don't recommend this but it worked out in the end), and Alison and I got engaged. 

In the olden days, there were a couple of ways to get exposure to new music. Of course, at this time in Australia, Triple J radio had not long gone national and was essential listening. One could read the local music press which even in the relatively small market of Canberra was a significant influence via the free publication, BMA. Record shops were king, and here it was Impact Records. I spent a lot of time, and money, in this fantastic shop which sold every kind of music imaginable. I'd go in, knowing that two of my idols, Matt and Lucy from Armoured Angel, worked there, but was initially too shy to talk to them. I've only ever purchased two albums on the strength of hearing them playing in a shop. One was Sacred Reich's, The American Way and the other, well, keep reading. Oh, and I had to wait for Sacred Reich to finish on the store CD player because it was the only copy.

In 1991 Impact Records moved away from their original location close to Electric Shadows Cinema and The Terrace Bar. The new spot, in what is now the Civic Bus Interchange, was definitely more central, and larger, and for a while it was awesome until JB HiFi took it over.

Impact Records was fabulous. I remember calling them, from a payphone, during a holiday, to ensure that they would keep a limited edition Metallica box set aside for me. 

One fateful day in 1992 I was in the shop doing one of my favourite things, browsing. I was playing in an indie band by this time and the Canberra music scene was such that you were likely to meet someone you knew and then discuss what they were listening to. On this day, It's A Shame About Ray was playing and I remember being transfixed. Acoustic guitars mixed with a bit of grunge, folky melodies, and the energy. So I bought it and took it home. 

I was excited. No-one I knew had heard of this band and the album was magnificent. Then it happened. They released a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's, Mrs. Robinson, and hit the charts. My version of the album does not have this song on it, they added it a bit later. Suddenly everyone knew about them! We saw them live in March 1993 at the ANU Refectory. They played plenty of songs from the album, but to the crowd's disappointment, not that huge single. And they ended with a wall of noise that took the shine off a good evening.

It's A Shame About Ray was re-released in 2022 and it still stacks up in my opinion. One of my favourite all time lyrics is on this LP; "she's the puzzle piece behind the couch, made the sky complete".

For me, this album is about time and place as much as it is about the music and lyrics. At the time it was the kind of music I wanted to play in a band and we sort of got there with Lovesmudge.

The Lemonheads - Confetti - https://youtu.be/SOiTkEfNAPU

Thanks for reading this,

The Woozle

For those that came in late, the first three episodes are:
AC/DC - Blow Up Your Video
Jason Isbell - Southeastern

The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God

World Wide Woozle episode #665

Welcome back, please switch all phones to silent and attempt to live in the moment.

And you know that I love you, here and now not forever

Before I get into it, can I please remind all y'all of a playlist that I spend far too much time curating. 365 days with The Woozle has gathered no moss and now adds one song for each day of 2026. Some selections reflect my mood, but most are those that I unexpectedly find myself singing in my head. For those of you who don't use Spotify, I have also created the playlist over here at YouTube.

I paint a picture of the days gone by

My mate Garry, from Walthamstow, passed away a number of years ago. In the olden days before we had streaming music he would pop albums in the post that he thought I needed to hear. Only once did he recommend something I didn't like and that was Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. One group I could never thank him enough for introducing me too is Alabama 3. Some of you will know that one of their songs was used in the opening credits for the TV show, The Sopranos. I really like their mad mix of country music, acid house, and lyrics that mean something. Alabama 3 also has a particular drum and bass sound that is instantly recognisable, well to me at least. This is the new release from their rather groovy EP, Algorythm And Blues. 

Alabama 3 - Sex Machine Learning - https://youtu.be/-y55fTpIeEE

And I go back to December all the time

The truth is, this song was in my notebook for inclusion at a later date. It's one that I don't want to listen to if I am at all melancholy or sad. I'm in a good place though, and this is a truly beautiful song. 

Don Walker - The Way You Are Tonight  -  https://youtu.be/XD5F5MVRm94

Drive along these shit town lights

During the week I read some commentary from a friend who has been in and out of treatment for cancer over a number of years. One of the things that struck me was his feeling that some of his friends had become burnt out by his experience. He wasn't angry or even cross, he understood. I don't have cancer, but I think I've been burning people out too. It has been weighing heavily on my mind and I had a chat with my psychologist about it in an attempt to gain some perspective. So, if you're here reading and totally over hearing about what I'm going through then I understand and I'm dialing it back. I have other outlets, and I apologise. Thanks for sticking around in whatever form that has taken. The good news is that, after almost seven months, I feel that there is room in my brain for some positive things, and less of a compulsion to punish and hide myself away. Enough about that, I love youse all.

Kasey Chambers - A Love Like Springsteen - https://youtu.be/37VryZq_-_Q

That's all for this time folks. Thanks for being here.

The Woozle.

"Talk to myself for hours, yeah..."

Nothing But Thieves, Flowers (Miley Cyrus cover), 2023