World Wide Woozle episode #496

A warning...this is not a Christmas episode. It may, however, contain a Christmas tune. Apologies to those who may have seen some of them already via by Facebook feed! And yes, you're not dreaming, this episode is a day early. That's what happens when you have to clear your time in lieu at work ASAP!

Back to my review of the 100 supposedly essential albums....

Album 45/100 - Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise (2005)

I became aware of this album when asked to play one of its songs in the band with Bing and The Chief. I learned the song never having heard the original. Not long after that I got the CD and away I went. For the uninitiated, this is a rather eclectic recording. There's some folk, some dreamy pop, piano songs, horns and woodwind and Sufjan's light vocal touch. Long song titles are de rigeur here; longer than most Iron Maiden songs and that's saying something! My thoughts are that if you are open minded about music then you'll probably take some time with this album and end up really enjoying it. "Illinoise" is a broad soundscape, a bit of a carnival, and a long burn. Here's the song we played a while ago now...always haunting...

Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy Jr. - https://youtu.be/otx49Ko3fxw

I had occasion this week to introduce my brother to the music of The Whitlams. This came about as he sent me this cool link to a video about the drummer Louis Burdett, who The Whitlams have a song about. Anyway, here's that song and also my favourite from the band. 

The Whitlams - You Sound Like Louis Burdett (live) - https://youtu.be/V-C1rHsUGU4

The Whitlams - I Make Hamburgers (live) - https://youtu.be/aIi3RYd-TOs

I played some music from Soul Asylum a few episodes back. Well, they've just released a new single and it's great. I can't tell if it reminds me of "Scarborough Fair" or "Working Class Hero" so maybe there's elements of both in there. There's a tour on the cards but nothing about a new album...yet. Fingers crossed.

Soul Asylum - Dead Letter - https://youtu.be/wyKLbUIyw0E

I've just finished reading "Tommyland", the autobiography of Motley Crue drummer, Tommy Lee. It wasn't a bad read but it wasn't earth shattering either. I imagine if you want actual information about the ins and outs of Motley Crue then you need to read "The Dirt" as well as watching the film. This book was very much about Tommy's colourful life - warts and all. I did really enjoy the fact that he wrote about the many different types of music he enjoys and their influence on his solo records. Other than that the book is a bit of a response to every celebrity magazine and TV story about him. For fans only.

The Dropkick Murphys are an American punk/folk band who make an awesome anthemic racket combining influences like The Pogues and The Clash. They're not afraid to make fun of themselves either. Merry Christmas indeed!

The Dropkick Murphys - The Season's Upon Us - https://youtu.be/qTx-sdR6Yzk

RockWiz's demise left a gaping hole in TV entertainment here in Australia. Thankfully, a lot of the best moments are still available online. Here's a great version of a Simon and Garfunkel classic for you all to enjoy. One of the things I wish that I could do is to sing in harmony. I can't though, I have enough trouble sticking with the melody!

Emma Louise and Husky Gawenda - The Sound of Silence - https://youtu.be/relfz3ZFsZA

And then there's this little gem. of a tune....what a voice!

Connie Mitchell - What A Feeling - https://youtu.be/iJUNznsc4JI

It's not long now until DJ ZedBoots packs up those boots and moves to London. We're making the most of her time here by making her cook dinner and empty the dishwasher ha ha! This afternoon the three of us are off to see the new Star Wars film woo hoo! But here's a beautiful rendition of a song that's been in my mind for a while... Not all the lyrics fir this situation but you get the idea I hope. More harmonies too....

John Denver and Cass Elliot - Leaving On A Jet Plane - https://youtu.be/NKdknYaSHgE?t=108

Have a great Christmas everyone. 

Rob

"Why don't you get a haircut and get a real job?". Get A Hair Cut, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, 1993.

World Wide Woozle episode #495

Still reeling from the untimely death of Greedy Smith last week, I've been hit hard in the last few days as well. Marie Fredriksson who was one half of Swedish rock duo, Roxette, died recently following a long battle with a brain tumour. Roxette might not be a band that you might think that I'd be a fan of but I am. In 1994 or 95 friends of ours won tickets to see Roxette here in Canberra. They couldn't go and so Alison and I went along. I can assure you that I wasn't all that keen at the time. After two sets from the warm up act (a covers band who liked Phil Collins way too much) we saw Roxette and they were amazing. It was full on guitars and rock and roll from start to finish. After that experience I listened to their music quite differently now casting aside my prejudice born of hearing "The Look" Way too many times at Canberra's "Private Bin" nightclub. Roxette are a guitar band. Per Gessle, the other half of the duo, loves vintage guitars and amps and it shows on stage and in their albums. Marie was just 61 when she died this week.

Roxette - Lies (live 1994) - https://youtu.be/GyHVeK7hEx4?t=220

Roxette - She Doesn't Live Here Anymore - https://youtu.be/LNcEQOVumYA

After a worldwide farewell tour and signing legal documents to say that they'd never play live again Motley Crue are back. Maybe they're broke (I doubt it) or perhaps they just miss playing music (more likely). So if you want to see a band play really well and the singer slur every lyric to every song then get along to one of their shows. I've listened to Motley Crue since I was in high school and they're a bit of a sad parody of their former selves. But I guess it's obvious they're not miming!

Motley Crue - Wild Side - https://youtu.be/IlRDZUaJ8fs

I'm taking a short break from reviewing the essential 100 albums this week. Be assured that I'm still listening and preparing but I need some more time with the couple I have in progress. Alongside these reviews I'm going to start including what I consider essential albums that aren't on the list. These are albums that I came late to or that caught me by surprise...or both!

Skyhooks - Straight In a Gay, Gay World (1976)

I was given this album a while ago, on vinyl, by DJ BingVanDerGraaf. I've been a casual Skyhooks listener on and off for a while. For the unenlightened, Skyhooks were an Australian band in the 70s and 80s. What I particularly enjoy about this LP is that every song is great and the album flows well. Skyhooks pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable to be released commercially back in the day and although some of it might seem a bit tame these days, it still sounds edgy. This album has rock, pop and country as well as a touch of glam. "Straight in a Gay Gay World" is the sound of suburban Melbourne from start to finish. It's the sound of a band challenging conservatism. Most importantly, it's a record that still rocks.

Skyhooks - Million Dollar Riff - https://youtu.be/ThhZBjSUBjY

Skyhooks - This Is My City - https://youtu.be/cgZSOzW9I7Y

Angus is back in Vancouver living the snow life. During the week he went to see two Australian bands, Hockey Dad and DZ Deathrays. There's not much unusual about that, he digs good music. However, after the show both bands came back to his house for a party! Rock on Angus!

Hockey Dad - I Wanna Be Everybody - https://youtu.be/vCjXvpj4jpI

DZ Deathrays - IN-TO-IT - https://youtu.be/zxzfPbBgknk

Finally, and I mean FINALLY, my copy of Jethro Tull's 40th Anniversary edition of "Stormwatch" has arrived. There's four CDs and two DVDs for me to get through so a review will be a while coming. I still reckon it's a great album for one I listened to on the strength of the cover art!

Jethro Tull - North Sea Oil - https://youtu.be/P1PKYImTFXc

Pink Floyd post-1987 is almost as polarising as the Van Halen Hagar vs Roth debate. There is a new collection out of remixes of material from '87 onwards. Personally I think that some of the earliest Floyd is just a few guys making as many strange noises as they can and recording them. You may disagree and that's OK. I really quite like a lot of the more recent stuff. "Delicate Sound of Thunder", the live album, was the first Pink Floyd album I bought. Anyway, it all sounds pretty good and I'll enjoy reading all the comments and debate from serious Floyd fans about the rights and wrongs of these remixes.

Pink Floyd - On The Turning Away (2019 remix) - https://youtu.be/A7ZnvwCm8TI

Caroll Spinney died on 8 December. He was most famous for playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street from 1969 until late 2018. Generations of kids, and their parents owe a lot to Caroll.

Johnny Cash with Oscar the Grouch - Nasty Dan - https://youtu.be/H75eQX006jA

NPR in the USA puts out a lot, and I mean a lot, of quality content. Their "Tiny Desk" series is excellent and I can't recommend it highly enough. Seeing a very wide variety of artists play stripped back and intimate version of their songs works really well. The latest one I've watched is from Sheryl Crow. The show is the equivalent of your favourite group playing in your lounge room. If only Sheryl had played, "Steve McQueen" this show would've been perfect!

Sheryl Crow - Tiny Desk Concert - https://youtu.be/kCcmk4-FZwY

Rock on Brothers and Sisters,

Rob

"All I want for Christmas is.....", Mariah Manson, All I Want for Christmas is the Beautiful People, 2019 (Bill McClintock mashup)

World Wide Woozle episode #494

Like a lot of people, Spotify recently sent me a snapshot of my listening habits. None of them were particularly shocking but I did get a smile that the next track was my favourite for 2019 because it certainly is. The happy thing for me was that The Preatures were a band I became interested in as a result of going to a live show when I knew almost nothing of their music. So a big thanks to DJ CherryP for dragging me along to one of the best shows I've been to in years. This song reaches me on many levels; it has a great groove, the guitars are cool and the lyrics....well...they are sublime. For anyone who didn't read about it when I featured the track a while ago, the band wrote it with the help of speakers of one of Sydney's Indigenous languages. It shows a genuine deep respect to the first inhabitants of Australia.

The Preatures - Yanada - https://youtu.be/wO4tW5GqzGA

The Dollyrots release a lot of one off cool stuff for their fans as well as regular albums. Their Christmas track this year is a cover of a very famous song by The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl. Luis and Kelly's diction is a bit (well, a LOT) better than Shane MacGowan's but I'm a bit undecided about the fact that they sanitised a few of the lyrics. Regardless, The Dollyrots carry on their joyous pop-punk approach and it's a good one to dance around the room to if no-one else is at home.

The Dollyrots - Fairytale of New York - https://youtu.be/RAhSPc24d7E

Album 44/100 - The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)

Another episode and another album out of the supposedly essential 100 that you should have. Pet Sounds may win the award for worst cover but we're here to talk about the music. Here's the thing, I grew up wearing out a copy of The Beach Boys Greatest Hits on vinyl but as we all know, a compilation is a bit different. If you believe the music press, Brian Wilson liked The Beatles' album, "Rubber Soul" so much that he wanted to expand the type of music he write. Fair enough except that what he created, while sounding good, is really quite boring for the main part. The album starts with an absolute ripper of a track in "Wouldn't It Be Nice". It's an anthem dedicated to growing up that always takes me way, way back. When the massive drum beat hits just after the introduction you know you're in for something special...and you are. This track has everything. What then happened to the next few? It's like we left the fun-fair and went to a funeral. They sound lovely but it's a bit of a downer. After six tracks the classic Sloop John B rolls along. Gone is the maudlin dirge and The Beach Boys are back for a couple of tracks before it all slows down and gets dreamy but not in a good way. I loved the variety of sounds and instruments across the entire album; aurally it's a treat but in terms of the songs themselves the whole album has a lot of filler.

The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice - https://youtu.be/3y44BJgkdZs

Fair warning, the next album I'm listening to for this series of reviews is from Kanye West. It's lucky I already have a shrink.

Kylie Minogue has a new medley of her hits out. Nothing new but it would be a great party tune. Get down and boogie folks, I did!

Kylie - Step Back In Time F9 Minimix - https://youtu.be/FiWvVqdgsa8

There was very sad news last week with the untimely death of Mental As Anything singer/keyboardist Greedy Smith. Greedy was still playing regular gigs with the band and died from a heart attack whilst driving his car. Mental As Anything are one of Australia's iconic bands. They are more than a little crazy and a bit hard to put into one genre other than that of "good music". I was lucky enough to see them not that long ago. RIP Greedy.

Mental As Anything - He's Just No Good For You - https://youtu.be/mQVz9nuel7I

Ozzy Osbourne has some new tracks out. You may or may not like them. I'm undecided and we'll talk about them in another episode. However, a couple of of live tracks from days gone by have also been released and the version of "Suicide Solution" with guitarist Jake E. Lee is great. Yep, the song isn't a happy one, it's about Ozzy almost drinking himself to death. A cautionary tale I guess.

Ozzy Osbourne - Suicide Solution (live) - https://youtu.be/-5IO66MIq_U

I'll finish off this episode with The Pretenders. As a result of last episode's tattoo question (to be answered in a subsequent post) I listened to their first album...for the first time ever. I'll admit that I was put off by Brass In Pocket being chronically overplayed on TV music video shows! What a huge mistake, this album is great. There's so much going on and the whole thing works so well as an album. It's also got my favourite type of electric guitar sound (after the Young brothers) and that's a classic 80s lightly overdriven sound with phasing/flanging/chorus added. 

The Pretenders - Up The Neck (live) - https://youtu.be/PBtsiupIzmA

And just like that...I'll disappear into the haze of bushfire smoke that's enveloping us at the moment. Of course, it has NOTHING to do with climate change according to our glorious leaders.

Get to the chopper!

Rob

"...went into his room and smashed his Billy Bragg record,

didn't want him to hear that communist lecture...", The War's End, Rancid, 1995

World Wide Woozle episode #493

Episode #493 is a bit long...but stick with it folks, we've got both quality and quantity on offer!

Firstly, a word about my David Bowie review from last week. Thanks to those who emailed or messaged me about their experiences with the Ziggy Stardust album and to tell me why they love it. Thank you also for understanding that my point of view isn't an attack on that of anyone else. If we were all the same then life would be a bore!

Bodyjar - Not The Same - https://youtu.be/36a6KI6o9VY

Last night, my good friend DJ Bing was unable to attend the Ian Moss gig here in Canberra. I was the beneficiary of him being double booked and gladly hopped on the light rail into town to see Ian and his band. For those unaware, Mossy was (is) the guitarist and sometimes singer in legendary Australian band Cold Chisel. Chisel wrapped up for the first time in 1983 and Mossy released his first solo single, "Tucker's Daughter", in late 1988 with an album, "Matchbook", following in 1989. Last night he was at the Canberra Theatre which turned out to be good and bad. Good in that the seats are comfy and the crowd (mostly much older than me) could sip their champagne or imported beer in comfort. Bad in that live bands feed off the energy in the room and there wasn't a lot. As such I thought that the show was pretty tame. It wasn't bad by any means, it just seemed to struggle to ever get going other than right at the end. I know that Mossy also plays solo acoustic shows so I'll be keeping an eye out for gig dates in the future. Great guitarist, great songs, just a tired crowd on a Friday night.

Ian Moss - Tucker's Daughter (live) - https://youtu.be/51A0TMnrPuc

There are bonus points on offer if you can spot the current singer from another classic Australian band singing in that Ian Moss clip.

Some of you may have seen the band BAD//DREEMS, along with Peter Garrett, covering Warumpi Band's classic tune, "Blackfella/Whitefella". This is one of my favourite Australian songs of all time. Released on the back of Midnight Oil's, "The Dead Heart" along with a track from Coloured Stone, it's a ripper of a track. The cover is here if you want to try it out. Initially I wasn't that enamoured with the new version but it's growing on me. The didgeridoo playing is fabulous and the vocals in one of Australia's indigenous languages really add to it. There's also an almost punk energy to the guitars. But...this track made me check out BAD//DREEMS and I was pleasantly surprised. They remind me of maybe bands like Radio Birdman, The Sunnyboys, Courtney Barnett and VSpy VSpy all mixed up with Paul Kelly. I'll be adding some of their music to my playlist for the coming weeks.

BAD//DREEMS - Hiding To Nothing - https://youtu.be/P35nX4ULTBs

Album 43/100 - Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)

I'm almost at halfway in my quest to review what are apparently 100 essential albums. This one was difficult as there aren't many bands that I dislike as much as Radiohead. As always, I committed to listening to the whole thing at least three times all the way through with no skips. After the first session I was ready to admit defeat and end this crazy quest. After the second listen I was bordering on never listening to music again. Horrible. Angst for angst's sake complete with wailing more grating than any elevator music or manufactured boy-band. I started to question my own sanity as well as all those Radiohead fans out there. And then, after a couple of days I put my big boy trousers back on and subjected myself to a third dose of this seemingly turgid, overblown, pretentious shite. At this stage, in the lunch room at work, I heard something different in the tunes. Sure, still bloated and self indulgent but there were melodies and guitar work in there that started to click. I still think that there's way too much tortured singing but there were good moments in there as well - enough to keep me interested for a few more listens. I get that some people's majestic is simply a yawn-fest for others. As such I found OK Computer to be easy to hate and hard to like. What I do think though is that if you're prepared to persevere with this album that there are some great tracks and moments to be dug up. I'll never be a huge fan but I dislike Radiohead a little less as a result of this experience.

Radiohead - Karma Police - https://youtu.be/1uYWYWPc9HU

If you were a fan of Southern Blues/Rock in the early 90s then you'd be very much aware of The Black Crowes. Their debut album, "Shake Your Moneymaker" is a deadset classic. Get a copy now. Well, although they are famous for the lack of love between the Robinson brothers, it seems that they've worked it all out and got the band back together. Here's an old track and then a very, very recent live recording to get you excited. If The Black Crowes come to a venue near you then get a ticket.

The Black Crowes - Jealous Again - https://youtu.be/8V38Qej-3Tw

The Black Crowes - Hard To Handle (live 2019) - https://youtu.be/dzEwjwMZjOs?t=77

In the mid-90s, Ice-T put together a heavy metal band called Body Count. He described it as a mix between Black Sabbath, Slayer and hardcore bands like Suicidal Tendencies. In the past here I've played Body Count's cover of a Slayer track which is, in my opinion, one of the best metal covers ever done. For some reason though I had missed their cover of "Institutionalized" which is originally by Suicidal Tendencies. The ST album was one of my favourite records when I was 16 and it holds up today just 5 short years later (ha!). Body Count take a tongue in cheek approach to the song changing the lyrics a bit but the power, speed and attitude of ST remain. I'm seriously impressed by the musicianship here as well as Ice-T's diction on a song that I really needed a lyric sheet for in the past to decipher the fastest parts. Please be aware that this track contains strong language.

Body Count - Institutionalized - https://youtu.be/X9jXnZS3ouU

Sometimes the Spotify algorithms get it right and other times it's a real lottery. The next track was recommended so I thought, why not...I played the song and although it sounded a lot like Thin Lizzy it had my head nodding and my foot tapping. It was pretty funny to find out that the band, Grand Slam, was originally formed by Phil Lynott after Thin Lizzy broke up. Laurence Archer, the original guitarist, is still in the band and the singer sounds like a cross between Lynott and Gary Moore. Good times.

Grand Slam - Gone Are The Days - https://youtu.be/ySRJdHW0cyw

U2 are here. Hooray. DJ Pinky tells me that he paid about $200 to be at the show and also to be over 100m away from the band. For $200 I want to be onstage with the band! I get that it's not cheap to put on a massive concert tour but when does it all become a bit of a farce? 

Postmodern Jukebox - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - https://youtu.be/8EbLlgKFk9c

I can't comment on Australian politics for another few weeks. What I can say though is that I remain constantly amazed at the ability of men in power, and their minions, to completely misread public sentiment. Who'd be a Prince? Not Andrew it seems. How long can people in America and the UK continue to accept leaders that seemingly lie non-stop. Sigh. The next track is about the USA but it could easily be any number of countries.

Neil Young - Let's Impeach The President - https://youtu.be/rIoFGlkJmYw

DJ Declutr suggested that I find out from my readers what line from a song they would choose if they were going to get it as a tattoo. I've had some very cool suggestions via Facebook and some hilarious ones too. If you've got an idea then send it through. I'll write about it in a future episode. After a lot of consideration I'm almost set on "Let There Be Rock" but that could change!

Pretenders - Tattooed Love Boys - https://youtu.be/rRV7PWZZquU

Dropkick Murphys - Rose Tattoo - https://youtu.be/9d8SzG4FPyM

Rose Tattoo - Scarred For Life - https://youtu.be/Ec5g1qdGw-o

It's Christmas Day at HQ Woozle tomorrow. With Angus heading back to Canada on Monday morning at zero-dark-hundred hours we've decided to celebrate early. Having the four of us in one place is a rarity and who knows when it will happen again. There's a reindeer festooned with flashing lights in the lounge room and Xmas movies are playing too. So, Merry Christmas everyone!

Stryper - Winter Wonderland (live) - https://youtu.be/FwD57Y58s4E

Bye,

Rob

"I think you got a low self opinion man
I see you standing all by yourself.
Unable to express the pain of your distress
You withdraw deeper inside.
You alienate yourself
And everybody else
They wonder what's on your mind.
They got so tired of you
And your self ridicule
They wrote you off and left you behind...." Low Self Opinion, Rollins Band, 1992.

World Wide Woozle episode #492

We could rename this episode as Episode V - Return of the Woozle. Ha! After a month in the musical wilderness here we are again friends. Read, listen, comment and as always; rock on!

A lot has happened in a month. We sold our house. We moved out. We did a lot of cleaning. Two removal guys and a truck played a game of Tetris (tm) with most of our possessions and a storage unit. DJ Declutr and I have both been working full time, I finished university for the year (with decent grades) and there's probably a heap more. We'll officially hand over the keys to our old house on Friday. That means we'll be debt free and hopefully have a weekend to ourselves.

Mental As Anything - Working For The Man - https://youtu.be/uG_Rg3xMMGs

DJ ZedBoots has returned from Fiji (after a short stopover in NZ). She's now pausing from saving the world, one developing nation at a time, to get ready to move to London. Two small dogs and her parents are rather pleased to see her! Our other champion will be heading back to Canada in 10 days. I think he's determined never to see Summer again!

Let's have some music. We'll start with a group who are one of the founders of thrash metal. Slayer have been assaulting our senses at breakneck speed since 1981. They're presently on their way through a farewell tour and have just released a live concert film, "The Repentless Killology", filmed in California. Out now on DVD, BluRay and CD this is Slayer at their brutal best. I'm disappointed that I didn't get to see this at the cinema but the BluRay will suffice in the near future.

Slayer - Repentless (live) - https://youtu.be/tqvvaY2LvuI

Seemingly a heap of people have a clown phobia and I must admit I don't get it. Too many horror movies as young children perhaps? Out of nowhere (to me anyway) came this next artist. I almost clicked past the first video I saw and then he opened his mouth and sang. Oh wow.....amazing! In the last couple of weeks I think I've watched everything he's released at least three times. See what you think...I think it's brilliant.

Puddles Pity Party - Friday I'm In Love (The Cure cover; Springsteen style) - https://youtu.be/65UbQXB-xFs

In the 90s I really liked a band called Soul Asylum, you may remember their hit "Runaway Train". Dave Pirner's vocals on the edge of cracking sort of reminded me of Neil Young but the songwriting was more rock and soul influenced to my ears. I hadn't heard anything about the band for years and then Spotify threw up a concert that they recorded playing at a school prom for two lots of kids whose celebrations had been cancelled due to big floods. Anyhoo, it's a cracking live set that contains some unexpected covers (Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Glen Campbell, Alice Cooper) as well their own material. I'd forgotten how much I liked this next song.

Soul Asylum - Misery - https://youtu.be/u3_SBdepXh4

I'm still really enjoying the latest releases from Ghost. That's the live album, "Ceremony and Devotion" as well as their most recent studio effort, "Prequelle". Whilst listening to a few tracks I chanced upon this version of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" performed to sound like Ghost. You'd swear it was the band themselves even down to Papa's accent...but it's not. Props to these guys for pulling off a great, and original, cover version...

Melodicka Bros - The Sound of Silence - https://youtu.be/JabZV8GIQSk

Another band that I always thought I should get into, but haven't yet, are The Pixies. They've been around since 1986 so I really haven't got an excuse. Plenty of bands that I like namedrop The Pixies often so here we go. I've started with the most recent release and I'll work my way through their discography over the next little while. It reminds me a bit of Red Kross, Weezer and The Lemonheads. That's a good thing.

Pixies - Long Rider - https://youtu.be/thxrujYnY6c

Scream for me people, Iron Maiden are coming back to Australia. They'll be here in May to rock our little socks off. You may remember that I was lucky enough to see them back in 2010. At the time I thought it might be my only chance to get to an Iron Maiden show. Maybe they'll outlive us all...except Keith Richards!

Iron Maiden - Revelations (live 2019) - https://youtu.be/-22u95BxknE

I really don't care what anyone thinks, my opinion is that Taylor Swift is awesome. If you have doubts including autotune and backing singers and other musicians then can I direct you to the link to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert? It's Taylor by herself doing four songs. She's funny, obviously enjoying herself and very much at home in front of a small audience (as opposed to in a stadium). Try it.

Taylor Swift - NPR Tiny Music Desk Concert - https://youtu.be/FvVnP8G6ITs

Album 42/100 - David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)

This proved more difficult to review than I thought it would. As a result I've had it on heavy rotation for a few weeks. I've got a number of friends out there who are huge Bowie fans. My opinion, and it's just that; an opinion, is that Ziggy Stardust is a bit patchy. There are cracking songs here such as "Suffragette City" but then there are some that frankly are a bit blah. Not filler material by any means but just slightly below the amazing standard that one expects from Bowie. Some songs sound beautifully warm and full (these days we'd say analog!) whereas others suffer from thin production. I may be harsh here...1972 was very different to 2019 but the record feels disjointed to me. Some great songs but as an album it doesn't work for me.

David Bowie - Moonage Daydream - https://youtu.be/JFDj3shXvco

It would be remiss of me to promise another episode in a specified timeframe. You're as likely to get one this week as perhaps before the end of the month. But what you should know is that I think about what to write a lot. I listen a lot. I take notes. Working full-time with a bit of a crazy roster means that I just don't have the energy to write as much as I would like. However, my contract is up in mid January and that'll give me some more time at home and here wasting your time!

Let's finish with a track that, to my everlasting embarrassment, I played main lick in the wrong key during the start at a big gig...serves me right for not being able to read music and having to rely on patterns on the fingerboard of the guitar! I worked it out by the end of the first verse thankfully. Sorry to all that were there...

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run (live 1975) - https://youtu.be/ajbJqfNS0aA

If you don't follow Bruce on YouTube you're missing out. He's recently released a whole swag of classic live footage.

Rock on,

Rob

"Does it feel that your life's become a catastrophe?
Oh, it has to be for you to grow, boy
When you look through the years and see what you could have been
Oh, what you might have been,
If you'd had more time...", Take The Long Way Home, Supertramp, 1979.

World Wide Woozle episode #491

Let's start with another review from the 100 albums that are supposedly essential. Remember that these aren't being ranked by me, I'm just numbering them so that you know how many have been done!

Album 41/100 - Elvis Costello and The Attractions - Armed Forces (1979)

I really like Elvis Costello. His voice and delivery are unique and he writes catchy pop/rock songs. Along with the well-known singles, "Oliver's Army" and "Accidents Will Happen" this album is a deadset classic. The production is very radio friendly and almost glossy. The lyrics present a counterpoint being often acerbic and pointed. Whilst there may be contention about what "Oliver's Army" is actually about (and Costello himself is vague about it) there is no denying the bits of social commentary combined with the ABBAesque piano riffs combined well to produce a hit. Throughout the album, however, it's the bass guitar that really surprised me. Listening through headphones I reflected on the fact that the bass line very much comes from the McCartney school of doing so much more than plodding along on the root notes. There are tons of great songs on this album but "Goon Squad" is probably my favourite. Costello manages to keep you tapping your foot while making your brain think about the issues he explores.

Elvis Costello and The Attractions - https://youtu.be/XrYGEaiu3dc

Ayreon are a Dutch band / project. It's a bit like Pink Floyd meets Dream Theater meets Queensryche meets Coheed and Cambria. Space prog rock might be a fair description. The songs are constructed in a fantasy sci-fi world which just adds to the feel of the records. There's quite a few releases and the songs range from full on guitar driven rock to introspective psychedelic musings. Good stuff.

Ayreon - 2084 - https://youtu.be/k-HeUIrgw_4

I mentioned Billy Bragg's new Live at the BBC double album a few episodes ago. It's now been released and I've listened a few times through. If you like Billy then you'll like this. Mostly it's just him and his guitar doing what he does best. On a few tracks there's a second guitar or a backing vocal but in the main it's just the man himself. The collection is career spanning which is good. Billy's early stuff is great but tracking his development as a performer and songwriter is a real treat. There isn't a whole lot of this album available to share with you (buy a copy or stream it) but here's a track done solo which is also on the album. Remember, "wearing badges is not enough, on days like these..."

Billy Bragg - The Boy Done Good (solo, live) - https://youtu.be/GW2cO_qGhUY

Lots of bands try acoustic versions of their songs. And some are actually good. This is one of them. Even though Papa is hiding behind his ever present mask, there's no hiding when you're unplugged and live. A great version indeed from one of my favourite bands. 

Ghost - Dance Macabre (live, acoustic) - https://youtu.be/iYj5YP8ovEU

Buckcherry are coming to Australia. This is sure to make a lot of hard rock fans very, very happy. Their uncomplicated AC/DC / Guns n Roses / Black Crowes style music is best listened to in a car on a hot day or alternatively in a sweaty live venue. If they're playing close to you then get on down and rock out.

Buckcherry - Lawless and Lulu - https://youtu.be/RQi3QYfTrxQ

Years ago I heard a band called Danko Jones on the radio but couldn't find their CD for love nor money. Of course, it didn't help that I thought it would be filed under J for Jones...it wasn't. The album I finally got hold of, "We Sweat Blood", showcased the Canadian three-piece as masters of a groove and hard hitting rock. They've got some new songs available now and as soon as I'm finished listening to next episode's album from the 100 essential list then I'll be rocking out to Danko Jones.

Danko Jones - Fists Up High - https://youtu.be/Csj3FpCc_jk

I almost cued up the next track during the last episode but I forgot in the end. No matter, it's still available and I still like it a week later! Paul Gilbert is famous as a guitar virtuoso and for his work in Mr Big. Here, he's the guest of Martin Miller who has a first rate band. There's something inspiring in seeing jaw droppingly good musicians playing as a group rather than trying to outdo each other all the time. I love this song and this version is a lot of fun,

Martin Miller band with Paul Gilbert - Superstition - https://youtu.be/HXRh-7BJD2E

I played The Highwoman a few weeks ago. Since then I've had a chance to listen to more of their work. It's country but not the airbrushed, boring corporate stadium variety. This song is a cover of one made famous by their male namesakes, The Highwaymen.

The Highwoman - Highwoman - https://youtu.be/P3A_Mv-vYCQ

How's that then? Enough to be going on with? Stay tuned for next time. I've got to get to the new Nick Cave album as well as Brittany Howard, Liam Gallagher and, if I'm lucky, a Jethro Tull remix and re-release. One week until the house auction too; should we be nervous yet?

Rock on,

Rob

"Who do we call the enemy?
The enemy is poverty, 

And the wall keeps out the enemy, 

And we build the wall to keep us free. 

That's why we build the wall; 

We build the wall to keep us free." - Why We Build The Wall, Anaïs Mitchell ft. Greg Brown, 2010.

World Wide Woozle episode #490

So, what have I learned since the last time I posted something here in the blog (September 6^th)? I've learned that you can't work full-time, study part-time, sell a house AND write a blog regularly. I just ran out of time and energy. The semester at university has finished though so here I am.

Back In The High Life Again - Warren Zevon - https://youtu.be/Mo3lxKrjABE

 

Firstly, Kris Kristofferson. I was lucky enough to benefit  from the fact that one of my work colleagues was unwell and couldn't attend the concert. She gave me her ticket and I had an amazing evening. Not only was I in the middle of the theatre, in the fifth row, but the concert was sublime. Kris, at 83, sounds better live than he does on most recordings. His band, borrowed from Merle Haggard, were effortless and amazing. Kris played for an hour and forty-five minutes with a fifteen minute break. I also really appreciated the fact that he started dead on 7:30pm! Great to be home early on a school night ha ha!

 

Kris Kristofferson – The Pilgrim, Chapter 33 - https://youtu.be/fMVUILVM0Xw

 

You all know that I enjoy looking for new rock music acts, or ones that I've not heard before. This week American band, Dirty Honey popped up in my feed. A couple of listens to their eight song EP had me hooked. Props to DJ DJ who very rightly thinks that they sound a bit like Australian group Baby Animals – they do. I can't wait for a full album release.

 

Dirty Honey – Rolling 7s - https://youtu.be/42rmUlDiQDI

 

The Beatles…remember them? The Abbey Road album has been given the super deluxe treatment with a re-mix and release including demos etc. Sgt Pepper's was great, the White Album was fabulous and this one takes the cake in my opinion. Wow! I haven't had the pleasure of listening to it in surround sound yet but the stereo mixes, through headphones, are nothing short of magnificent. The clarity and emotion in the recordings is so much better than I remembered. The demos and outtakes are worth a listen: it's not just people talking and fiddling around. "The Ballad of John and Yoko", recorded during the Abbey Road sessions, is particularly good with John telling Paul, who is playing drums, to "go a bit faster Ringo". I've chosen the next song not only because it is one of my favourites but because the new video clip is really well made.

 

The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun (2019 mix) – https://youtu.be/KQetemT1sWc

 

The Cult's 1989 album, Sonic Temple, is one of my all-time favourites.  It's not in my top 10 but it's close. Scarily enough it's 30 years old and as such has been given a re-release. Here's the thing though, it's not remastered or remixed. Yes, you get the original album along with a whole slew of demo and live recordings but the original stays as it is. I listened back to it and the truth is it still sounds great. For fans of The Cult who are more attracted to their Goth and New Wave influences this isn't the album for you. If a great hard rock album is what you're looking for then Sonic Temple ticks that box.

 

The Cult – Sweet Soul Sister – https://youtu.be/pqcAidqgqmU

 

Earlier I mentioned the Baby Animals. Years ago their first release appeared on a single along with Aussie legends, The Angels. Fast forward to 2019 and the two bands have done the same albeit this time with each band recording one classic song from the other. The Angels make an attempt at "One Word" which I think falls a little flat. It's not bad at all, it's just not very alive. In comparison, Baby Animals make a good fist of "Marseille". There is a tour coming so keep an eye out.

 

Baby Animals – Marseille – https://youtu.be/Hl1aiafr_4E

 

Album 40/100 – Van Morrison – Moondance (1970)

 

This album was better than I expected. There's never any denying the quality of Van's voice and this group of songs (rock, pop and soul) showcase it well. I don't really have much to say about this record other than you should give it a try. I did and it will be on my playlist for quite a while to come and it has encouraged me to try more of his music.

Van Morrison - And It Stoned Me (live 1980) - https://youtu.be/cuyENi0cPjg

One of my friends, DJ GreySeal, is in Scotland at the moment. He mentioned a couple of bands that he was listening to and it occurred to me that I hadn't listened to all that much of one of them. Mogwai, from Glasgow, are that band and I'm planning to spend some time with their music. Some people describe them as being "post-rock", whatever that means. I'm not sure but if you like the spacier side of Pink Floyd then this might appeal to you.

Mogwai - Don't Believe The Fife (live) - https://youtu.be/ZIhDdVaqF8U

Whilst packing up our house I came across the cover for the first demo recording I played on. We recorded it in 1991 and the band I was in was called Mr Walker (the Phantom's real name). Somewhere I have the master cassette of the mixdown that we made from the 4-track recording. I'll get around to putting a couple of tracks on YouTube sometime. Engineered by DJ DJ, I remember one of the main challenges being to convince the other guitarist that he didn't need to use so many effects on his guitar sound. Once he worked that out it was great. Of course, recording drums, two guitars, bass, vocals, backing vocals and sometimes saxophone onto 4-tracks wasn't easy. DJ DJ managed to mix what was essentially a live performance into a coherent 4 tracks for us to use; all without being in a soundproof booth whilst recording! Anyway, I'll get the songs available soon but what it did remind me of was the fact that for every gig we ever played, this was the first song.

Georgia Satellites - Hippy Hippy Shake - https://youtu.be/3v8BxD2o-1g

I think that should be enough music for a while. Hopefully I'll be back again on Friday with more tunes for you. I'll leave you with a track from Joe Elliott's (from Def Leppard) side project, Down 'N' Outz. This is their tribute to David Bowie and it's a ripper. If Bowie and Mott The Hoople style music are your thing then you'll love this band,

Down 'N' Outz - Goodbye Mr Jones - https://youtu.be/A8-lyQbu1mM

Bye,

Rob

"....it's been a long time since I rock and rolled..." Rock and Roll, Led Zeppelin, 1971.

World Wide Woozle episode #489

Here we go again and almost on time! Not long and I'll be on the countdown for episode #500.

Album 39/100 - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III (1970)

Like many people around my age I became aware of Led Zep as a result of "Stairway to Heaven". As a result, the first album I bought of theirs was the one with that track on it (Led Zeppelin (1971) - commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV). I found it a bit underwhelming really at the time I must admit. And after that I gorged myself a few months later on the 4 disc version of their first lot of remasters. Maybe I had this all wrong in that I never spent any time at all with any of their other albums and I was spoiled by the remaster set which is in essence a very long greatest hits compilation. This week I've had Led Zeppelin III playing a lot and it's been a bit of a revelation. It's what I like best in that it's a complete album rather than a collection of songs. There is plenty of variety to keep even the casual listener interested. Blues, folk and rock all get a workout. There may be better Led Zep albums but given my reaction to this one I'm very happy to recommend it (and it has my favourite track by the band on it as well).

Led Zeppelin - Bron-Y Aur Stomp - https://youtu.be/oC-9aEf0Q-A 

Led Zeppelin - Gallows Pole - https://youtu.be/RSZca1Q9IWA

TOOL have a new album out right now. For fans of the band it has been a long wait as their last record was released in 2006. I'm not a fan. I don't dislike them, I've just never been into their music or spent any time with it. They hype for "Fear Inoculum" dragged me in I must admit and it's been a good result. Unlike many folks out there this was a different experience for me; one with no baggage. Reviewers and commentators are quite polarised in their opinions and I've come down firmly on this side of thinking that it's a great album. Yes, the songs are long but that's kind of the point. This isn't a record of four minute radio hits...it's a band making music the way they want to. It's is an album that needs to be listened to in its entirety when you actually have time to listen. It's not background music and some of it might be challenging. But I think it sounds fantastic. Great guitars, moody rhythms and percussions and vocals that sound amazing. It's like earlier Pink Floyd meets today's heavier prog music. Again, highly recommended.

TOOL - Fear Inoculum - https://youtu.be/q7DfQMPmJRI

As mentioned last time, I headed out to see The Screaming Jets and Rose Tattoo at The Basement here in Canberra. Sadly, my two wingmen were unable to come but I wasn't about to give up the chance to see two great bands so off I went. Just me and my new, super groovy earplugs! The Basement is an intimate venue and getting close to the bands wasn't a problem. The Screaming Jets were up first and ripped through a great set including their hits and some more recent tunes. Yup, they were loud, in fact really loud, but more about that later. For a band that are now 30 years old they had plenty of energy, a great sound and were most definitely crowd pleasers. Singer, Dave Gleeson, has a great singing voice but since the early days of the band many of us have wished that he'd keep his between song banter to himself. Nothing has changed. You can't deny that he has personality however!

The Screaming Jets - Blue Sashes (live) - https://youtu.be/yZ93m4ubl1U

I really enjoyed The Screaming Jets and if they'd been the headline act then most people would have gone home very happy. Rose Tattoo, not to be outdone, were equally as good and enjoyable. With Mark Evans (ex-AC/DC) on bass and Bob Spencer (ex-The Angels) on guitar this was a star studded version of the band that has been around since 1976. Dai Pritchard on slide guitar was the perfect guitarist to fill the shoes of the sadly missed Pete Wells. John Watson (Aus Crawl, Daryl Braithwaite, Men at Work etc.) made a small drum kit sound absolutely massive. This was a band that was tighter than tight. I was very worried during the first few songs that the band was on fire and Angry Anderson (vocals) was on another planet. Happily, he sorted himself out one way or another and the rest of the show was brilliant. Rose Tattoo are legendary in Australia but not so much overseas sadly. Guns n Roses know who they are though having covered "Nice Boys" Early on as well as having the Tatts open for them in Australia. Whilst the whole band was just great, Bob Spencer made the night for me. His approach to rhythm guitar was Malcolm Young-esque; get in a groove and just push the whole band along. There were so many of their classic songs played and only three twits who had to have a fight during the last song threatened to spoil the show. All it meant for me was I ended up almost in the front row. 

Rose Tattoo - Nice Boys (live) - https://youtu.be/nkdUmMPlzb0

The earplugs I bought were a revelation. They claim to cut the sound level but not the clarity. The gig certainly sounded and felt loud enough but when I got outside and took the plugs out I was pleasantly surprised. No ringing at all. They'd done a wonderful job. If you like live music and being able to hear as well then get to your local musical instrument shop and get a pair. There's plenty to choose from.

Let's back it off a little...Neil Young has a new single out and an album due in October. This one is again with his band, Crazy Horse. Years ago I was on holiday in Adelaide and I'd just got a cassette copy of Neil's album, "Sleeps With Angels" (the one with the song "Piece of Crap" on it). This track, to me, would be right at home on that album; moody. I like it. 

Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Milky Way - https://youtu.be/y_-9qcbuLcA

In the, "shut up and take my money" stakes, Billy Bragg wins again. Coming very soon is a double album of tracks recorded live for the BBC. Awesome! And along with the album you get an enamel pin of his famous Burns Steer guitar. You all know that I'll be needing that for my guitar strap!

Billy Bragg - Valentine's Day Is Over (live) - https://youtu.be/_-MH9nRSXAg

Without getting ahead of myself, I might have a new musical project in my near future. Before I can get to a rehearsal with my guitar I need some serious practice though. It's been a long time since I did anything other than strum a few chords. Fingers crossed (but not whilst I'm playing!)

Lenny Kravitz - Fields of Joy - https://youtu.be/kESn-Df34ug

I listen to a lot of music; usually with intent. I find music in the background distracting as I'll try to tune in to it. Albums and songs come and go and, as you'd expect, a few stick. As an example, if I'm needing a pickup then AC/DC's "Powerage" goes on. I came to John Moreland's music via a cover of one of his songs done by Jason Isbell's guitarist, Sadler Vaden (yeah, that's not convoluted at all). Anyway, the Moreland album, "In The Throes" is one that I've been coming back to for more than a few months now. His vocal delivery and guitar work is simply exquisite and that's before we get to the songwriting. I was disappointed to see that the album is actually out of print and therefore not all that easy to get at a decent price. I'll keep looking however whilst streaming it very regularly. If you like Neil Young, Springsteen (quieter stuff) or maybe Neil Finn then John Moreland should be on your radar.

John Moreland - Break My Heart Sweetly (live) - https://youtu.be/zHAGMBABAJE

Here's a quick 80s flashback. Many people are very quick to dismiss 80s music as inconsequential. Sure, there was a fair bit of rubbish released but have you had a go at the top 10 lately? I've always played the intro to this song on my guitar for a bit of fun. One day I should actually learn the whole thing. Eurythmics were a great band and Annie Lennox is a legend.

Eurythmics - Thorn In My Side - https://youtu.be/_AmkmqYEarw

Finally, a tale of life going full circle. When I played in my first real band, Mr Walker, DJ DJ was our sound engineer, bouncer and good friend. I remember being really pleased to meet someone who was as passionate about heavy music as I was. DJ DJ was, and remains, a huge fan of the band Queensryche and his enthusiasm got me into the band. Well today we scored tickets to see Geoff Tate, the original Queensryche vocalist, with his band performing the classic album, "Operation: Mindcrime" in Sydney early next year. The ins and outs of Tate vs Queensryche is a legal saga that I won't bore you with other than to say it's sad. Tate, judging by recent recordings, still sounds like his voice is in good form and this will be a gig to look forward to.

Queensryche - Revolution Calling - https://youtu.be/guzQnr-02jM 

Sweet Oblivion (feat. Geoff Tate) - True Colors - https://youtu.be/HYsLG2VtTN0

That's it for this week folks. I've got a garage to finish emptying out before I start full-time work on Monday. I've got a short-term contract until mid-November to keep me busy. It'll be nice to be out of the casual workforce for a little while. As I'll be employed by the government my social media feed will leave politics aside for that period of time!

The Nightwatchman - The Road I Must Travel - https://youtu.be/vohUk1ydFYc

Rock on friends,

Rob

"You know it's all in your head
You'd better put that business to bed
What you see nobody sees
It only brings you to your knees", Did It Again, Kylie, 1997.

World Wide Woozle episode #488

First things first; back to my reviews of the supposedly 100 essential albums.

Album 37/100 - Kamasi Washington - The Epic (2015)

This is the debut record from the American jazz saxophonist and it's a triple album. I spent many listening sessions trying to understand why this album is so highly regarded and I have failed. It sucks. What is supposedly "avant-garde" and/or a "barrage of sound" just turns out to my ears to be cacophony. It's like every band rehearsal you go to where, at the start, everyone is doing their own thing whilst adjusting levels and sounds. The difference here is that Kamasi Washington has recorded and released it. 

Album 38/100 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced (1967)

For many guitarists, Jimi Hendrix is the greatest ever. There's no doubting his enduring influence on rock music. And whilst Jimi isn't my favourite axe grinder, he's firmly in my top 10. "Are You Experienced" was his first outing and in just eleven tracks he reinvented guitar playing and popular music. From the angst of "Manic Depression" to the incendiary blues work of "Red House" to the psychedelia of the title track, this is a truly great record. I think that "Are You Experienced" is the best Hendrix album by a country mile.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxy Lady (live) - https://youtu.be/_PVjcIO4MT4

Next Friday I'll be heading out to see two classic Australian rock bands. To be honest, I'm a little shocked that they're playing here in Canberra but I won't complain. It promises to be a hell of a night with these two. If you're reading this from overseas and you think AC/DC are great rock then you should enjoy either the Jets or the Tatts.

The Screaming Jets - C'mon - https://youtu.be/svuBQwCv4Qw

Rose Tattoo - Rock 'n' Roll Outlaw (live) - https://youtu.be/CK0wGCFiAlI

Last weekend I had the opportunity to sit down with DJ Bing for a listen to the 5.1 surround sound mix of The Beatles "White Album". I'll do a full review later on but just let me say that it was a lot of fun. Overall the surround experience might not have been as impressive as it was with Sgt Pepper's but it's a very different album. The next song was an absolute ripper!

The Beatles - Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey - https://youtu.be/4fv_gCn1CUU

Listening to a few more Beatles tracks online I very quickly got an appreciation for how much Japanese fans love the band. Check out these guys...wow!

I watched the latest incarnation of the film, "A Star Is Born" during the week. So many people I know had really liked it that I felt I should give it a whirl. I think my opinion might be unpopular though because I thought it was dreadful. The good bits were that Lady Gaga has a great voice and Andrew Dice Clay (aka Ford Fairlaine the Rock and Roll Detective) starred as her father. The rest was average at best. I'm just a hack guitarist but if Bradley Cooper spent a year learning the guitar for the film you'd think he might look like he was playing it. It just looked forced to me. Frankly I thought the acting was pretty wooden and the way the story was told struggled at the best of times. There is, however, a Jason Isbell penned tune that you hear a lot in the movie and it's a cracker.

Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires - Maybe It's Time - https://youtu.be/mnbrNfg2EY8

Killswitch Engage are a very heavy band and for some reason I've never been able to get into their music. This week their new track popped up in my feed and I almost moved straight onto something else. Wow, am I ever glad that I didn't make that mistake. This is a brutal, intense slab of metal complete with both guttural and beautifully sung vocals. I reckon the drummer must have leg muscles the size of a horse though with all that double kick work. Definitely one for lovers of the heavy stuff.

Killswitch Engage - The Signal Fire - https://youtu.be/2N0ShfOOEq4

In the late 80s I became a Lionel Richie fan after DJ DubyaDee gave me a copy of the "Can't Slow Down" LP. Lionel might seem a little bit easy listening at times but his voice is just so smooth. Anyway, this is a cover of one his biggest hits but I really liked it.

Dave Fenley - Stuck On You - https://youtu.be/iDD2Gpu9BdQ

A couple of my favourite musicians are fairly active on social media. I guess in some ways it brings them closer to their audience. For me, the main benefit is that I get to be pointed to music and artists that I may not have otherwise been aware of. The next singer-songwriter is one that Jason Isbell is always talking about. When I started to listen to his work I found a track about a town destroyed for coal mining. This resonated with me since I spent my high school years living next to Yallourn, a town which suffered a similar fate.

John Prine - Paradise - https://youtu.be/ediaZ5DhYjw

That's it folks. I hope this wasn't too disjointed, but if it was you can blame the fact that I'm trying to finish off an essay for my course!

Rock on,

Rob

"She lives in Mojave in a Winnebago...", San Ber'dino, Frank Zappa, 1975

World Wide Woozle episode #487

Here we are again and still no announcement about an AC/DC tour or album. They've been hitting social media hard of late so one would think that something must be happening sooner or later. Meanwhile, we wait not so patiently.

AC/DC - Shake Your Foundations - https://youtu.be/Bayek5lLZWY

Staying with Australian rock, The Poor Boys. who later became The Poor are an excellent band, very much in the style of AC/DC and they are currently playing live shows around the country. We used to play this song in a band I was once in...it was a lot of fun. What a great riff! Oi!

The Poor - More Wine Waiter Please - https://youtu.be/lt7pfTnaPR4

Rob Hirst, who most of you will know as the drummer in Midnight Oil, has a new record coming out. The first single has been released and is described as a cross between kraut-rock and psychedelia. I have to agree with H's thoughts that the vocal are a bit weak. See what you think...

Rob Hirst and Sean Sennett - Nothing More / Nothing Less - https://youtu.be/P8SxzZlE0A4

The "Abbey Road" album turned 50 this week. There will be a remixed super-duper edition released in a few weeks that is guaranteed to please your ears and lighten your wallet. I listened to, and watched, heaps of versions of Abbey Road songs played live to present one here for you. Paul McCartney has a heap out there but, with the most amazing amount of due respect to him, he struggles to hit a lot of the notes. So, I hope you like this one. I reckon it's a brilliant tribute to a great album.

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) - Abbey Road medley (live) - https://youtu.be/KNE2bpE-DIE

The Darkness have been around for a while now. More than long enough for personnel ups and downs, rehab, reformation and amongst all that, some great rock and roll. The might not look like they take themselves all that seriously, but among the Queen, Bowie and AC/DC influences is an amazing band. This is their latest...wait for the chorus to hit you...

The Darkness - Rock and Roll You Deserve To Die - https://youtu.be/KNE2bpE-DIE

I shared this one during the week on Facebook. Most of the time I leave the music recommendations here in the blog but this one needed to be played. America; you're broken.

Extreme - Rest In Peace - https://youtu.be/BigqPM4NZus

I have a great big smile on my face this week...Billy Bragg tickets have been secured! Thanks to my brother, we'll both be seeing Billy for two nights in May 2020 in Wellington, New Zealand. Wearing badges will not be enough...

Billy Bragg - Days Like These - https://youtu.be/mAjFO61ndLc

Did you read in the news this week about the guy who dumped his old refrigerator down a hill? The police caught him and made him pull it back up. As Scot pointed out, perhaps the cops were Arlo Guthrie fans. It's a long song folks but take my advice and listen to the whole thing. 

Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant - https://youtu.be/m57gzA2JCcM

In non-music news, we're selling our house. It's time to downsize, reduce our impact on the planet and further embrace living more with less. If you're interested in a rather fab house then reach out! We're hoping to move to somewhere close by.

Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop - https://youtu.be/QV9JJmSCiI8

Sting - We Work The Black Seam - https://youtu.be/s4CQJTGw72I

Jason Isbell fans (surely some of you are converts by now) might like to know that there is a new entire concert recording available on YouTube. Some of the audio mix is a little average but all in all it's great. Here's a link to one of my favourite tunes...

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Outfit (live) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs2JLLqh91A&t=3064s

The Highwomen is a new country music group. I noticed them due to a bit of activity on social media. I quite like their sound and I get the feeling that it isn't going to be the by-the-number C&W that we're all so sick of.

The Highwomen - The Chain (Fleetwood Mac cover) - https://youtu.be/jVLNB3d-2cA

How do you deal with bad or sad news? Usually I'd ride my bike just a bit further or harder up a few hills. Recently though, as you all know, that's not been an option for me. I can trundle sedately around the lake but nothing too strenuous for a while yet. Retreating into music is my other go to. Whether it's playing my guitars, which I haven't done for a while, or just listening, it's a good way to spend some quality time inside my own head figuring things out. Macca; I'll leave this track here for you.

The Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - https://youtu.be/Ye4cELYLzJM

That's it folks, rock on...

Rob

"...well keep your shiny side up and your dirty side down", Is This America, The Skyhooks, 1976

World Wide Woozle episode #486

I remember the excitement when the 486 computer became available. It was a brave new world of speed and processing power. Hopefully episode #486 here will be inspiring to you in some small way. Loads and loads of tunes this week. As DJ Laff would say, "gutloads".

My recovery from the pinched nerve in my back continues. I spend my spare time rolling on a spiky plastic physio ball, contorting myself in stretches and not sitting down much at all. But it's working. I'm finally back at work and yesterday I had my first ride on my bike since June 12th. Todd and I didn't ride far, or fast, but it was simply fantastic to be out in the sunshine rolling around on two wheels. 

Weddings Parties Anything - Rain In My Heart - https://youtu.be/5jx3c5yk744

You've heard from The Chats here once before; new old school Aussie garage band punk. Hilarious and serious all at once. If "Pub Feed" didn't fill you up then try this out...

The Chats - Identity Theft - https://youtu.be/TOuGH9Gpeos

It's no secret that I'm not a Bob Dylan fan and not for lack of effort on my behalf. When I heard that Sheryl Crow had Jason Isbell around to play guitar on a new track I was rather excited as I think they are both great musicians. And then the truth was revealed; it's a Bob Dylan cover. It turns out I quite like it but your mileage may vary.

Sheryl Crow with Jason Isbell - Everything Is Broken - https://youtu.be/bhWiq3BE3zY

In the early 90s I spent an inordinate amount of money at a record shop here in Canberra called Impact Records. Sadly, Impact has been gone for a long time. It was everything that an independent record store should be and so much more. Anyway, one day I was browsing and the music coming over the sound system was just fabulous. I had to wait until the album finished playing to purchase it that day though as they only had one copy. Fast forward to the current day and the same band have just announced an Australian tour. Very much for fans of metal and politics. This clip has the lyrics included and they're kind of the point.

Sacred Reich - The American Way - https://youtu.be/A0SMz0NTF58

You may have heard by now that the concert to mark the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival has been cancelled. There's a million reasons going around including that two of the main acts pulled out; Miley Cyrus and Jay Z. I'm not sure that people celebrating 50 years since the festival that included such amazing acts as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sly and the Family Stone, Joan Baez and The Grateful Dead would be all that interested in Miley or Jay. Yes, there are a few of the original artists who were slated to perform but that's not really my point. In the interests of fair play I will say this; Miley Cyrus has a great voice. You be the judge...

Miley Cyrus - Joelene (live) - https://youtu.be/wOwblaKmyVw

Years ago, DJ DJ introduced me to a band from Adelaide called The Mark of Cain. We saw them finish off a music festival, playing after silverchair, and to be frank blowing them away (and silverchair were great). TMOC play heavy, moody, industrial-esque rock music. If you mixed up Joy Division with Black Flag you might be there. Bands like Helmet and Rollins band are similar in terms of musical structure and delivery but TMOC had their sound earlier. Later on this year they are touring in recognition of the 30th anniversary of their debut album, "Battlesick" and yes, tickets have already been procured for Angus and I. I've seen TMOC play in Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane and it's almost a religious experience. Be there.

The Mark of Cain - Interloper (live) - https://youtu.be/y4x18kURD9w

I like to give everyone fair warning regarding upcoming, essential tours and with that in mind.....Billy Bragg will be here in May 2020. It seems a long way into the future but tickets went on sale today so get yours now. He's playing three nights in every city that he visits with three different setlist. Perfect again for mixing pop and politics...

Billy Bragg - Saffiyah Smiles - https://youtu.be/pkNN81Ta2ik

And DJ SAB would be oh so sad if I didn't mention that The Sisters of Mercy are coming to Australia. They were a major influence on the music we played in The Dark Violence of Beauty. Hopefully we'll score some tickets. This is one of my favourite Sisters tracks...

The Sisters of Mercy - Dominion / Mother Russia - https://youtu.be/2LntQlbvu_o

David Byrne isn't coming to Australia (that I know about) but I simply have to play this video for you. He's taken a pop classic that we might not have ever wanted to hear again and made it his own; that's the mark of a great cover version. This was such an unexpected find and I love it!

David Byrne - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (live) - https://youtu.be/izx8J6U7xzo

In other news, I've gone back to university. After a few years where I've drifted a bit in terms of work and direction I got a bit of a push and made the decision to retrain. I'm doing a Masters degree in Information Studies. Essentially that's librarianship but man oh man is that a diverse field. This is Week 3 and my head is spinning in a good way.

Bo Diddley - Back To School - https://youtu.be/1FtwNV99Eb4

Last time around I played Clampdown by The Clash. Well, a live version by Bruce Springsteen popped up thanks to the algorithmic joy of YouTube. I like it a lot, you might too.

Bruce Springsteen - Clampdown (live) - https://youtu.be/GqRN7N7lH8o

There's more tour and music news but I might save it for next time. With any luck AC/DC will have announced a tour or an album (or both).

AC/DC - If You Want Blood (You've Got It) - https://youtu.be/6EWqTym2cQU

Rock on,

Rob

"A ragged cup, a twisted mop

The face of Jesus in my soup..." , The Mercy Seat (Nick Cave cover), Johnny Cash, 2000

World Wide Woozle episode #485

Well, this episode took a lot longer coming than I expected. During our trip to Pentecost, Vanuatu, I hurt my back. It was manageable (just) whilst we were there but the plane flight and then bus ride to get home did me no favours. The result was a pinched nerve that caused severe pain down my left leg and into my foot. It's been dreadful but it is slowly improving I'm pleased to say. I can now walk to the end of the street and back and I can also get out of bed without an hour of screaming agony. So, from my temporary standing desk....let's rock!

Rollins Band - Are You Ready? - https://youtu.be/1MwYamaRn6s

Vanuatu was fantastic. Injury notwithstanding, DJ ZedCycloneBoots and I had a great time. We stayed for one week with each of our families on Pentecost and had a couple of days on Santo at either end waiting for flights. And we did a lot. We helped a bit to build a new kitchen, we taught Grade 5/6 at Level, we assisted in the gardens where our family's food is grown, went to church four times and played tons of games with loads of kids, Zoe worked in a health clinic for 3 days and we generally looked around, talked to people and had an amazing time. It's a great lifestyle and on top of that both of our wonderful families are quite different.  One of my favourite moments was at Lavusi which is where the Hinge family live. It's almost at the northern tip of the island and the views are spectacular. Godden and his family have built their house on the top of the hill in their village. As a result I was able to stand and look out to see the islands of Maewo and Ambae. On the first night Ambae was in the clouds but the sun was between it and the rain clouds coming over the water towards Pentecost. The effect of the sun, the rain and the clouds was indescribably beautiful. It may just be the best thing I've seen in my life. At Level School there are now new buildings for almost all of the classes and the final one is set to be built soon. Many thanks to all the generous people who have helped us to assist that community. Lots of people go to Pacific islands for a holiday in a resort and that's great; you'll enjoy yourselves and it definitely helps their economies. If you get a chance, even for a short trip to see how the locals live then take it. As you know, island life changed mine.

Lucky Dube - Different Colours - https://youtu.be/R4csXJXHVGA

On Pentecost people go to bed early (they get up early too) so I found myself with a bit of spare time in the evenings. I'm not a fan of reading by torchlight so I had downloaded a whole heap of podcasts to listen to. Some nights I just lay and listened to the sound of the night (interrupted by dogs, roosters and cows at times) but I also tried out some podcasts. One I listened to was Chuck D (Public Enemy) narrating a series about the history of UK punk group, The Clash. It was an excellent eight episodes and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in popular music. I found a new appreciation for their history and music as well as understanding a bit more about the punk scene in the UK.

The Clash - Clampdown - https://youtu.be/psB0cidB5bg

The other podcast I'd like to talk about is called "Song Exploder". It's pretty self-explanatory, artists discuss the making, meaning and bits and pieces of a selected track. One of the best I listened to was about The Cranberries final album. The vocals were demoed by Dolores O'Riordan and then the band used them to make the album after her tragic death. It put quite a different spin on the album for me...

The Cranberries - All Over Now - https://youtu.be/h1lMxX8doSU

A new release for you all...I found this one during the week whilst trying to distract myself from the pain that felt like a nail being hammered into the side of my knee...only loud music stood a chance and these guys were the tonic. It's a healthy and heavy mix of bands like Motorhead, Black Sabbath and Kyuss. They're from Sweden.

Jesus Chrüsler Supercar - Never Sleep Again - https://youtu.be/llVjfrjJekw

I'm not sure if I've featured the next band before or not. Apologies if this is old news but "The Bird and The Bee" are super cool. They're a duo that mix electronica with jazz and 80's rock and they sound sensational. They've got a Hall and Oates tribute album out and a Van Halen one ready to be released and that's before their dreamy originals. Different and so groovy.

The Bird and the Bee - Private Eyes (Hall & Oates cover) - https://youtu.be/mfP7hjjId3E

The Bird and the Bee - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love (Van Halen cover) - https://youtu.be/53DAU_6z7Rc

SBS TV has been running excellent and varied programming for NAIDOC Week. Top of my list was the documentary about the life of Gurrumul. It was hard to watch knowing that he would be dead not long after the film was made but don't let that put you off. You'll get an in depth look inside the culture of his family and the profound impact of it on his music and life. 

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Bapa (live) - https://youtu.be/gyAa1-jOZpI

I'll get back into reviewing the 100 essential albums in the next episode. 

American pop-punksters The Dollyrots have a new album, "Daydream Explosion" due for release in two days (12 July). Their music is always high energy and a lot of fun. Order direct from them to support the band or stream their songs over and over OK?

The Dollyrots - Everything - https://youtu.be/QpKL5Jcm07s

Gerry Cinnamon has a new track out and it's worth your time. His accent isn't particularly strong in this one but there are lyrics included in the video in case you're challenged when listening to Scots people sing...

Gerry Cinnamon - Canter - https://youtu.be/zWYjG9Cxbyw

Whilst we're on the new tracks, how about this one from Taylor Swift? It's a great sound that continues to make me think that she has a thing for 80s synth pop and disco. The lyrics, however, are great. One for all of the social media users who are always outraged about something. Take it from me (and T-Swizzle), you need to calm down!

Taylor Swift - You Need To Calm Down - https://youtu.be/Dkk9gvTmCXY

Metallica have been around for a long time now and are showing few signs of slowing down. They record every live show they play and make them available online for their fans. The archive of recordings is amazing. They also put a whole heap of live songs out on YouTube, warts and all. Here's the band from just over a month ago playing in Ireland...

Metallica - Whiskey In The Jar (live - Thin Lizzy cover) - https://youtu.be/9MNdOCQYOL8

Anyway, that's it for this time. I apologise again for the delays in getting this out and also if it's disjointed. I'm sure you understand.

Our crazy orange cat passed away whilst Zoe and I were on Pentecost. Xena had lived a long life dedicated to leaving fur everywhere, sleeping in strange places and knowing when one of us was feeling blue. RIP Xena.

Bongtevuha,

Rob

"Everybody hurts, sometimes...", Everybody Hurts, REM, 1992.

World Wide Woozle episode #484

Hi everyone,

Lots to talk about this week so without further ado, here we go.

My foot; I get to keep it. Amputation was only a tongue in cheek remark. The outcome is that I have a bursa where a bursa doesn't belong and it hurts a lot. The good news is that the temporary orthotic removes the pain and with any luck the issue may resolve or at least become much less painful over the next couple of months. I'll have another scan after 12 weeks and then we'll see if I need a permanent orthotic or not. Regardless of what the final outcome is, the fact that the pain can be almost totally removed with a simple shoe insert is a huge bonus. 

We've got two very different albums this week from the top 100. 

Album 35/100 - Madvillain - Madvillainy (2004)

I had never heard of this group or album and also never knowingly listened one of their tracks. This is an album full of samples, scratching, rapping and a lot more in a fairly eclectic soundscape. The first time I listened to the album I must admit that I was very, very underwhelmed. It sounded derivative and quite bland. But then I listened some more and the feel of the record started to sink in. The lyrics are sometimes almost nonsensical but the million or so references to everyday things makes you listen more closely. As the record goes on the diversity of sounds grows on you and you never really know what's coming next. This is almost the free-form jazz version of hip hop except that the free-form jazz is more formulaic if that's possible. In the end I think that this is a great listen if you're prepared to give it some time. A lot of the grooves and samples are very Public Enemy-like so if you like their stuff then that's a springboard into the madness that is Madvillain. 

Madvillain - Bistro - https://youtu.be/PRRMPtkmJjA

Madvillain - Rainbows - https://youtu.be/yDpaCiXJTEk

Album 36/100 - Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall (1973)

Live albums are very hit and miss. This one is a huge hit in my book. Bill starts the show with one of his hits and even does an encore of it all before we get to the second song! The recording is such that you can almost feel the crowd in the room with you. And they love Bill. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album; as a live concert it is amazing, some close listening revealed something extra for me. If you listen carefully on the left channel there is a wonderfully funky wah guitar (check out the second track from Bill below). Every now and then it comes a bit further forward in the mix but it's always there adding texture. In fact the whole band is just perfect. This is an energetic and joyous recording of what must've been a great concert to be at.

Bill Withers - Grandma's Hands (live 1973) - https://youtu.be/erARI_f9AvA

Bill Withers - Friend Of Mine (live 1973) - https://youtu.be/j3NkxLkVtKQ

Lou Gramm is well known as the original vocalist for the band Foreigner. The next song was a solo release in the 80s which I just loved. It was the guitar riff that hooked me in. Anyway; Lou suffered from a nasty brain tumour in the late 90s and for a while his singing voice seemed to have gone. Happily, recent live footage shows that Lou is getting his voice back and enjoying performing live although he's no longer in Foreigner. 

Lou Gramm - Midnight Blue - https://youtu.be/7cRdgIZgobs

Foreigner (with Lou) - Juke Box Hero (live 1985) - https://youtu.be/lPWGOvHBCZU

I shared this next track with a couple of people throughout the week and everyone gave it two thumbs up. What else can I say other than it's awesome...

Paul Simon & George Harrison - Homeward Bound (live) - https://youtu.be/UODI6JmUnMA

I've written enough about the band Ghost in the past. Their particular brand of heavy metal, KISS meets ABBA mixed with Alice Cooper, is a lot of fun. So when I found a couple of professionally recorded acoustic live tracks I was pretty pleased with myself. All the doubters will see (hear) that these guys are great musicians and not just a comic book show.

Ghost - Rats (acoustic and live) - https://youtu.be/neRhGoW3Kbc

Ghost - Cirice (acoustic and live) - https://youtu.be/TL-cgyWnPCM

This time next week I'll be in Vanuatu with DJ ZedBoots. She will have completed her university degree and is ready to be let loose on the world as a paramedic. At least if I need medical attention whilst we're overseas I'll be in good hands. I'm super-dooper proud of what Zoe has achieved. She's also stopped telling me some of the more graphic details which is really, really good. Not long now before she's whizzing through the streets of London with lights and sirens going full blast.

Ralph McTell with John Williams - Streets of London (live) - https://youtu.be/urtnT72dVnw

I was really tempted to play the Anti-Nowhere League's version of the above tune but I couldn't resist the presence of John Williams in the one I chose. If punk rock is your thing then click here.

Finally, a book recommendation. I recently read "The Quaker" written by Liam McIlvaney. I generally avoid crime fiction these days but this one is a cracker. Set in Glasgow and centred around a string of murders at The Barrowlands Ballroom in 1969 it does the trick of transporting you back in time. It would be lazy writing to simply say if you like Ian Rankin then you'll like this but it's true. I never know "whodunnit" and this one kept me guessing even longer than usual. I pictured the cast of "Life On Mars" transported north, and a lot less clean cut, as the main players in this book. There's a copy here if anyone wants to borrow it.

Gerry Cinnamon - Sometimes, What Have You Done (live at The Barrowland Ballroom) - https://youtu.be/gZYvFrGXw8Q

That's all folks, you may or may not get another episode next week. We'll see. Otherwise I'll see you back here for more mayhem in July.

Rob

"When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall", Kodachrome, Dr Teeth & The Electric Mayhem (Paul Simon cover), original version 1973

 

World Wide Woozle episode #483

After my rather long and involved blog entry last week I had a look at how many people had read it via the website. Not many. I was a bit surprised but then I guess my rather sporadic output may be a contributing factor. Of course, I have no way to tell how many people actually read the email I send out. I won't lie; I had a bit of a "why am I bothering" moment. The truth, however, is that with the exception of a couple of episodes, I've always felt that I had something I wanted to write about. I'm not a writer, just a guy who always wanted to be a radio announcer and who is genuinely interested in music. So I'll keep writing. It's a bit like playing a gig. You always give 100% because that's what rock and roll is all about. If it's two blokes and a dog in the crowd you still play as if there was a thousand screaming punters. Ever onward...

John Cougar Mellencamp - You've Got To Stand For Somethin' - https://youtu.be/czra89vntkY

In 1992, then Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna was fired from the band. His replacement was John Bush from Armored Saint who would front the band until 2005. It's messy as to when Bush left and Belladonna came back as there are reunion gigs and a whole lot of other stuff involved. My point in telling you all this is that it was recently the anniversary of the release of Anthrax's first album with Bush. "Sound of White Noise" (released on May 25, 1993). I wasn't particularly keen on Anthrax in the pre-Bush era but his strong vocal delivery really added something to the band's sound and any releases that he sang on are well worth checking out. There's also an excellent live DVD available called "Music of Mass Destruction". Anthrax have released some excellent albums with Belladonna more recently but in my opinion, while being a solid singer, they should've hung onto John Bush.

Anthrax - Room For One More - https://youtu.be/XfT25gfatFk

Anthrax - Caught in a Mosh (live) - https://youtu.be/eM11x00D1iI

If you're a metal fan, you could do a lot worse than to follow @ThisDayInMETAL on Twitter. 

Ahab, named for the character in Moby Dick, are a German band who play music that moves from quiet and melodic, through to funeral, doom laden dirges complete with death metal guttural vocals. It's a hard listen at times but, if you're reasonably open minded and don't mind heavy and progressive music then it might grow on you. It's a bit like Jethro Tull and Black Sabbath had a baby with a sore throat...or not.

Ahab - The Isle - https://youtu.be/YyjOvaMo5Ec

Earlier in the week, while walking...trying out my new shoes...I was listening to some old Divinyls songs. What a great band they were. Pure Aussie rock and roll. I didn't realise that guitarist and songwriter Mark McEntee was also in Air Supply way back in the 70s! What a trip! Anyway, here's Divinyls doing their thing...

Divinyls - Sleeping Beauty - https://youtu.be/wdk0vCzs3A4

Divinyls - I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore (live) - https://youtu.be/ChnJlOhZZj0

Alan Parsons, well known for his music as well as for being lampooned by Mike Myers in the second Austin Powers film (click here if you haven't seen it) has a new single. It's quite laid back and would almost fit on a Travelling Wilburys album. Anyway, I liked it and the clip is great as well.

Alan Parsons - As Lights Fall - https://youtu.be/qImCjQ4K988

The next song is from a group of New Yorkers called Vampire Weekend. The track is catchy and definitely reminds me of Van Morrison. And with winter definitely coming here in Canberra this summery tune is a welcome ray of sunshine. I'll be checking out more from this band in the near future.

Vampire Weekend - This Life - https://youtu.be/FwkrrU2WYKg

For many bands, getting to play their songs along with a symphony orchestra seems to be the thing to do. Groups like KISS and Metallica have done it well. This is not that kind of example. It begins well and I love Status Quo but in the end the orchestra is wasted. Maybe it was better on the night.

Status Quo - Whatever You Want (live) - https://youtu.be/SWBRcWDsHkk

Earlier I mentioned my new running (walking) shoes. Well, so far I've had a couple of long walks and one walk/shuffle/jog in them. And without wanting to appear too hopeful it's all going well. I'm off to the Podiatrist shortly for my scan results and to find out if I either get orthotics, continue to limp forever or have my foot cut off. Fingers crossed for a good outcome. The long walks were good and the jog was amusing and it'd be good to be able to run for a bit longer than 1km.

The Spencer Davis Group - Keep On Runnin' (live) - https://youtu.be/TyZrK9meebo

Whilst KISS are travelling the world, lip syncing their way through another greatest hits farewell tour, former band member Ace Frehley is playing live shows and putting out solid new material. Don't get me wrong, plenty of people are loving the KISS experience but even for them feels a bit fake. Ace has just released a video for his song "Mission TO Mars" which comes from his 2018 album, "Spaceman". Good song, fun video.

Ace Frehley - Mission To Mars - https://youtu.be/n92S-3K1WyA

Bruce Springsteen also has a new track available. You can listen to it here. If you're a fan of The Boss then please let me know what you think. Personally I thought it was a bit bland.

What's not bland is the next rendition of a Springsteen classic. How much fun do you think all of these 1000 Catalan folks are having?

No Surrender Festival - No Surrender - https://youtu.be/alorNxGo0FM

On to my two album reviews for this episode.

Album 33/100 - Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

This is an album I grew up with. My family's record collection included this one as well as 1966's "Sounds of Silence". I still have a cassette I made with one album on each side. Simon & Garfunkel successfully bridged the gap between folk, Americana and popular music. There was something for everyone without ever selling out. From the beauty of the title track, through the complicated and catchy rhythm of "Cecilia" to the deceptively simple sounds of "The Boxer" there is so much to dig into on this record.

Simon & Garfunkel - Baby Driver - https://youtu.be/J8i4Rp3qizk 

Album 34/100 - The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971)

In my opinion, this is the best Rolling Stones album. Others have big hits on them for sure but this one is the most consistent to listen to right through. Whatever happened in the writing and recording of "Sticky Fingers" it all just seems to gel. For guitar nerds; this is the first Stones album with Mick Taylor. If you only had to have one Rolling Stones album then I'd recommend this one.

The Rolling Stones - Can't You Hear Me Knocking - https://youtu.be/Gz5mI6tqm_Q

Steve Earle - Dead Flowers (live - Rolling Stones cover) - https://youtu.be/NPCkv-N7GsU

Surely that's enough for one episode. 

See you next time around,

Rob

"Nothing to see where the sleeping souls lie,

And don't it feel good...", Chemical Warfare (don't it feel good), Slayer / Katrina & The Waves, 2019