Song of the Week #361

I really enjoyed the rugby last week. It was the first time that I'd seen New Zealand play live in the flesh and it was fantastic to finally chalk up a win against them. The woman sitting in front of us was crying and almost inconsolable. It was hard to feel any kind of sympathy though as it's almost always us getting a walloping. She did get a shock at the start when we sang both national anthems! Tomorrow night's return match in Auckland should be very interesting.

One thing I try to do is remember new bands and songs that I hear so that I can share them with you. I've tried using a range of electronic note taking systems and they just don't work for me. So I've returned to pen and paper in an effort to get it right. I shall now consult those pages...I hope there's a good track or two for me to suggest or you might get AC/DC's greatest hits again...

Echo and The Bunnymen - Read It In Books - https://youtu.be/65pl_MCO5Ts

The next track popped up during the week and I thought it was someone else. I hit the replay button a couple of times and really started to enjoy it. A while ago I had trialed the album and wasn't able to connect with it at all which surprised me. I'll now go back and try again. Dreamy, folky, quirky, with a tantalising melody and a delicate touch on the guitar...

Sufjan Stevens - Should've Known Better - https://youtu.be/lJJT00wqlOo

Do you watch much TV? I used to but then the programming got worse and worse as well as becoming maddeningly irregular. Pay TV did't really help; great for sport, rubbish for anything other than endless re-runs of CSI. In a fit of madness we signed up for a free month long trial of Netflix. So far I'm impressed. There is a huge variety, $4 a week is good value and the quality and access is good. DJ Bogus even managed to use one of the documentaries for his homework. On demand TV is definitely where it's at. No advertising, no late starts because of M*sterCh*f nonsense and no surprise scheduling changes.

Presidents of The USA - Video Killed The Radio Star - https://youtu.be/EeB_tmdFAdc

Some bands have the coolest names. I think that when I wanted to call our band "Mick Jagger's Bastard Sons" it was pure genius. No-one else agreed. One that I heard a while ago but only recently remembered is this one...a Swedish, all girl, garage rock band named after an Australian racehorse. They actually remind me of a more rock version of The Pretenders.

Sahara Hotnights - Visit To Vienna - https://youtu.be/loPqT7EFxCs

The rather cool website "This Is My Jam" is sadly closing down. It was great in that you chose a song every couple of days and could then follow other people with similar or complementary tastes. I heard a lot of new music by using that free service. RIP. Here's one band that another person's "Jam" turned me on to. Now I need to track down the LP that this is from. If you're interested, this recommendation came as a result of me choosing a track by Canberra's own Witchskull.

The Obsessed - Forever Midnight - https://youtu.be/f2zC_bFEyrU

If you're looking for another way to listen to the radio can I suggest (again) Little Steven's Underground Garage? There are hundreds of episodes to keep you busy and he plays a fantastic range of music. If rock 'n' roll is your thing then you'll be well pleased. It's Steven Van Zandt from Springsteen's band playing the tunes.

Frank Tagliano - My Kind Of Town - https://youtu.be/NNHjNvlwgi8

I don't know much about Kurt Vile. What I do know is that this is a very cool song. There's elements of Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bob Dylan in there. Do try it!

Kurt Vile - Pretty Pimpin' - https://youtu.be/659pppwniXA

What kind of spell checker doesn't know Lynyrd Skynyrd? 

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Three Steps - https://youtu.be/Ep7dp1HgZnw

Years ago I really liked a band called The Georgia Satellites. You may remember them for their mega-hit, "Keep Your Hands To Yourself". Anyway, one of the members of that band released a great country, bluey rock album in 1992. He sings about Lynyrd's "Gimme Three Steps" in this next song. It's a hoot.

Dan Baird - Dixie Beauderaunt  - https://youtu.be/L1LzZ6M4BV4

I'm not sure how to describe the next track. Lo-fi, dreamy rock? Whatever box you might try to fit the band into it doesn't really matter. It's a good listen. The background  guitars remind me of The Smiths.

Best Coast - California Nights - https://youtu.be/7U5LWokfRHY

That's all folks...have a great weekend and rock on!

Rob

"...it's the women I love and the law that I hate...", Palmetto Rose, Jason Isbell, 2015.