Here at HQ Woozle we've just had some cork flooring put down and the stench from the sealant is really, really strong. So if I drift off on some kind of weird tangent during this episode you'll know why.
Year ago now I got into a band called Winterpills by mistake. I was looking around for a song about having a broken arm and they popped up. I think it was 2008 then and in 2018 I still love the song and the couple of albums of theirs that I have. It's dreamy folk-pop I suppose. What really matters is that it's good music.
Winterpills - Broken Arm - https://youtu.be/JbZhP4jbB-k
I was looking through my CDs recently to try and find out which ones hadn't made their way into my iTunes library. Spotify renders the library redundant mostly but there are certainly a few artists and albums you can't get there. Judge Mercy were an Australian hard rock band who released their only album (I think) in 1992. It was a good solid slab of rock and had the advantage of being pretty radio friendly to boot. Anyway. it was a bit of a time warp to drag the album out and spin it a few times.
Judge Mercy - Mr Attitude - https://youtu.be/4T2qfX56Yac
Little Steven has been touring all over the USA. Along with the band thing going on, he's running loads of sessions for school teachers called "teachrock". You can get more information at www.teachrock.org - what a cool thing to do. Many episodes ago now I pleaded with you all to have a listen to Stevie's most recent album called "Soulfire". That plea still stands; it's fantastic.
Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul - Soulfire - https://youtu.be/yRqIfs1qXE8
Father John Misty has a new long player out called, "God's Favourite Customer". I'll have a decent listen to it in the coming weeks. His previous recordings reminded me a lot of earlier Elton John. Well, if you mixed old Elton up with Indie-Rock. The latest single is worthy of your time and the clip is an added bonus.
Father John Misty - Mr Tillman - https://youtu.be/j5B5IGqyy2s
Def Leppard are coming to Australia with German rockers, The Scorpions as their support band. And whilst I understand that getting the band, their gear and everything else to Australia is a mammoth undertaking the ticket prices are prohibitive. DJ George often told me that if you could buy a band's whole back catalogue for the cost of a live ticket then they were probably overpriced. There are very few live acts that I'm prepared to pay $150+ to see. I do like their new stuff but if I had to recommend one song to the uninitiated then it'd be this...
Def Leppard - Armaggedon It - https://youtu.be/hHL2Fc0XD50
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is another performer in the "oh my goodness, you're charging HOW MUCH?" group. KWS is a great blues guitarist. If you like classic blues artists then you'll like him too. Here's a bit a a stripped back recording. I really like the fact that a lot of radio stations and magazines are posting these on YouTUbe as they showcase the true performers and those that hide behind studio trickery. KWS is the real deal.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Hard Lesson Learned (live) - https://youtu.be/hEIkywhgdrs
Tom Waits popped up in my Facebook feed apologising for some kind of problem with some of his vinyl re-releases. It was probably his record company talking but you get my drift. I realised that I hadn't listened to Tom for a while so I threw his Used Songs compilation on this week while is was driving around for work. Tom manages to make such a deep, gravelly and potentially ugly voice sound sincere and magnificent. It's an orchestra all by itself.
Tom Waits - Eggs and Sausage - https://youtu.be/TD0PTjPlc2g
Linda Ronstadt also formed part of my listening playlist this last week. She's not someone I had really thought about spending time with and my only exposure in the past was the remake of her Buddy Holly cover, "It's So Easy", to advertise the TAB in Australia many years ago. However, the strength and smoothness of her voice hooked me in and I digested a whole album whilst out for a walk in the cold.
Linda Ronstadt - Tumbling Dice - https://youtu.be/7tt2OkSSguo
I needed a laugh this week and some classic comedy did the trick.
Bottom - Hunting Expedition - https://youtu.be/aC4rEWpMumw
Lenny Henry - Big Love - https://youtu.be/BVPvqkMHk3o
In my "studio" I have five of my favourite album covers of all time hanging on the wall. Not necessarily the best albums but artwork that I really like, Jenny Morris' "Shiver" is up there. It's a simple photo but it's so effective. I love the album as well as it flows well and there isn't a dud song on it. It's a record that you should listen to from start to finish. Here's a great track and a glimpse at the album cover too.
Jenny Morris - Aotearoa - https://youtu.be/j33Tlh5QnQo
I hope that's a few tunes to keep you going for a while. Me, I'm off to listen to a new Henry Rollins podcast and curl up to the heater in the garage...er...studio!
Bye for now,
DJ Rob
"Keep your silly ways or throw them out the window", Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, 1977
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