World Wide Woozle episode #574

Hi everyone and get ready for more tunes. I'll be brief this time around as I'm still recovering from a nasty cold (not covid).

The Australian heavy music dealers, Parkway Drive, have a new single out. If you haven't watched the film about the band (Netflix) then give it a look. This is a band that has become huge through sheer hard work. The song has a great guitar riff and a groovy clip too.

Parkway Drive - Glitch - https://youtu.be/bG9Cnh_Orkc

I've been a Stryper fan since about 1987 and that's not going to end anytime soon. Their latest tune is classic Stryper with a bit of classic Judas Priest sound in there too. I'm not 100% sure about the melody in the chorus but it will probably grow on me. Michael Sweet has a heap of side projects out there too if you want the classic metal sound with a different lyrical vibe.

Stryper - Rise To The Call - https://youtu.be/i80jNj3G1QM

I'm only playing the next track because I saw that there's a new live album available and I couldn't resist listening to this track when I read the title. Having said that, it's a cool track and the setlist on the live album looks pretty good so I'll cue it up during the week.

Marillion - Cannibal Surf Babe - https://youtu.be/5Ha58kRVLI4

I heard about the next guy on the Iain Anderson show streamed via the BBC. Adam sings Glasgow street songs, school songs, songs about buildings and songs about Scotland. It's gritty, honest, raw and delivered with the letter R rolled about as hard as is humanly possible.

Adam McNaughtan - Murder In The Chip Shop - https://youtu.be/LtPwC9vSrp4

Lastly, I heard Henry Rollins on a tribute album to Waylon Jennings and had a listen. His track is great (click here) but the next one by Norah Jones was sublime. What a voice!

Norah Jones - Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want To Get Over You) - https://youtu.be/8I3nCKnukYg

That'll do. I'm off to bed.

The Woozle

"I threw my hat into the ring

I've done all the dumb things..."

Paul Kelly, Dumb Things, 1987

World Wide Woozle episode #573

G'day everyone, the blog rolls forever it seems. In what may be a relief for many of you, this is a slightly shorter episode.

After selling my single speed bike, I braced myself and entered the maelstrom known as trying to buy a second hand bicycle. It turned out to be surprisingly easy and I'm now the owner of an older, but rather groovy, racing bike that I can ride to work without worrying all day if it has been nicked from the "secure" parking basement. It's an Avanti bike which is kind of cool as they were designed in New Zealand. The new bike has turned out to be comfortable and pretty speedy as well. All I need to do now is treat myself with a new set of pedals in a few weeks so that I don't have to keep swapping them between my bikes! This morning's 40km in fairly heavy fog was a lot of fun really.

John Farnham - That's Freedom - https://youtu.be/zZIbpexA4g8

The search for a new place to live is on in earnest. With the bank agreeing to lend me a few dollars I've started the hopefully quick process of house hunting. I'm really not fussy but it has to be a little bigger than my last place and not needing renovation! Watch this space.

The Poor - Dirty Money - https://youtu.be/thVXsln2KfU

DJ SamDetective convinced me to listen to the next track. I must admit to being apprehensive and then surprised. Now I've listened to the whole album about ten times and I'm into the band's back catalogue. It's fair to say that you really can't judge this group on their very well known hit song. For fans of The Pogues, Steeleye Span and the like. Give it a chance folks...

Chumbawumba - El Fusilado - https://youtu.be/05j25PHA7l8 

I've been lucky enough to listen to a couple of really good live BB King albums this week. Live At The Regal (1965) is one I already knew but the 1990 recording done at San Quentin Prison really made me sit up and take notice. BB's band is on fire and the man himself is having a great time. Johnny Cash empathised with the prisoners in his jail house concerts whereas BB seems simply intent on helping them have a good time for a while. The energy crackles through this recording and remember that he is 65 years old when he's playing the gig. No other guitarist sounds like BB King.

BB King - Peace To The World (live) - https://youtu.be/uJUlUcKCEhE

Lastly, Chrissie Hynde. She plays a signiificant part in the Sex Pistols series that I've now finished watching. So I went back and listened to some of her music. I'd forgotten what a great voice she has. I'm not a love boy these days but I do have some ink ha ha!

The Pretenders - Tattooed Love Boys - https://youtu.be/yog-meAq1so

That's all folks. Eat your greens.

The Woozle.

"Sometimes you're beaten to the call, sometimes

Sometimes you're taken to the wall but you don't give in..."

Midnight Oil, Sometimes, 1987.

World Wide Woozle episode #572

Hi everyone, buckle up.

 

It's been a cold, cold week here in Canberra. Cold enough to break out almost all of my winter cycling gear. In truth, I could've used it all but some wore out last year, went in the bin, and I haven't replaced it yet. Whoops! After the rain finally gave up we've gone back to clear, very crisp and blue days and that's just another reason why I love living here. In truth, I could probably pack up now and move anywhere with a decent internet connection (so that I could work)…but nowhere else (realistic) really appeals. I don't think the government would let me work remotely from Vanuatu…

 

The Godfathers - Birth, School, Work, Death - https://youtu.be/QO5dcW0P75M

 

I've been seriously enjoying a lot of music in 5.1 surround in the last couple of weeks. So much so that I may have to consider a new system myself when I get a house organised. I had a really good listen to the Steven Wilson mix of Jethro Tull's Stormwatch album. It's already one of my favourites but I heard so much more of it in the immersive experience.

 

Jethro Tull - Something's On The Move - https://youtu.be/_UYhULU3Yb0

 

Let's talk about albums that are a complete listening experience. These are the albums where the tracks flow, you'd never want to skip a song and if you hear them out of order then it just sounds wrong. I've had a few suggestions and I've done some listening. DJ DJ suggested Metallica's Master of Puppets. It's definitely a great, and very influential album. The question here is; is it more than just a collection of great songs lumped together. So onwards I went, listening…thinking and doing more listening. Could I FEEL it for all 55 minutes? Yep. He's right in that it draws the listener in and holds them there. Well it does for me. The album is frenetic and the band, with a couple of albums under their belts, really hit it hard. In the past I must admit that I'd stopped after the first four tracks because they are just so strong. Spending time with the B side of the album, so to speak, has been a revelation. In the words of Robin Williams, "just play it loud, ok!"

 

Metallica – Disposable Heroes – https://youtu.be/sY3KKJdJQ-o

 

I managed to sell my single speed bike. It was lovely but it just wasn't for me. I need a few gears or my back starts to grumble. The physio agreed when I saw him yesterday too. It didn't stop him digging his elbows into me quite hard! I think I'll be on the lookout for an older racing bike that I can use for riding to work every day.

Neil Young - Old Man - https://youtu.be/An2a1_Do_fc

Old punk rockers and anyone interested in good music should check out the miniseries Pistol via Disney+. It's a dramatisation of some of Steve Jones's (Sex Pistols' guitarist) book. I'm a couple of episodes in and it's really well made. 70s England really does look like quite a desperate place to live.

Sex Pistols - Seventeen (live) - https://youtu.be/UTAZtx2305E

It's the Queen's Birthday long weekend in almost all of Australia. It's a fair old time to be on the throne. Marvellous effort that.

Motorhead - God Save The Queen - https://youtu.be/Qa1wdUkeuvE

Finally, a huge thanks to my mate Marty all the way up there in beautiful Bonny Hills for a nudge towards the next band. I'd had a very cursory listen in the past but nothing serious. AND he sent me a link to their NPR Tiny Desk concert which is one of my favourite series. They're a pretty interesting band and if you like Springsteen, Isbell and/or Ron Sexsmith then try them out.

The War On Drugs - Holding On - https://youtu.be/6-oHBkikDBg

Have a great weekend, week, life, whatever. And be kind to each other.

The Woozle

"I spent a week near Myall Creek,

Where the birds screech some truth from the trees.

I just couldn't speak near Myall Creek,

Where the silence brings me to my knees..."

George Huitker & Junk Sculpture, Near Myall Creek, 2017.

World Wide Woozle episode #571

It's chilly for June here in Canberra! I rode to work this morning to find that the hot water in the showers wasn't working. That's a rude shock when it was about 3 degrees outside!

What else? Well I've managed to watch two episodes of the new Star Wars series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and it's awesome. Ewan McGregor both stars and is involved on the production side. I think the last thing I saw him in was Trainspotting 2 so this is a bit different.

Kid Kenobi - Everybody - https://youtu.be/c3b1194K74Q

I had the distinct pleasure of Bing programming an analogue playlist last night by dropping records on the turntable. Seriously; Jason Isbell's Southeastern has to be one of the best albums ever. And on vinyl...woo hoo! Hopefully I'll have a new place before too long and can bust out my record collection in earnest. It's hard not to be touched by cancer these days and as more and more people I know have it impact their lives this Isbell song seems even more poignant.

Jason Isbell - Elephant - https://youtu.be/TZjBH4Xb4L8

Todd and I are off to see the Raiders play on Sunday. We may need wetsuits, snorkels and an ark but Angus organised some tickets and it'll be fun regardless. I remember being there when the Brumbies played and three of us huddling under a tarpaulin in the rain because Angus refused to leave. At the end of the game we emerged, drowned, and there was almost no-one else left!

Ray Charles - It's Not Easy Being Green - https://youtu.be/KHR6HkHySWY

Speaking of cycling as we were...I've come to terms with the fact that the single speed bicycle and I do not see eye to eye. So if you are in Canberra and you want one just give me a yell. I'm going back to my red speed machine.

Steve Stevens' Atomic Playboys - Action - https://youtu.be/1CPdKgFhQIY

DJ SAB has talked me into seeing Sisters of Mercy later this year in the big smoke of Sydney. I know that he's been a fan for many, many years. I only know a few songs but the chance to see such an iconic band, with some friends, was too good to pass up. And for those worried about original members, I'm pretty sure the drummer has had many upgrades.

Sisters of Mercy - Something Fast - https://youtu.be/UI3yKorifpY

Also coming soon but closer to home, is Russell Morris. I saw him a few years ago at the Hellenic Club and he turned out to be a great storyteller and performer. He's out at the Tallagandra Winery in August and it should definitely be worth the trip!

Russell Morris - Black Dog Blues - https://youtu.be/wRjQZP_V35Y

I saw the next track just by chance when flicking through some YouTube recommendations. I'm not a Madonna fan at all really but this remake is full of energy, fun and a keyboard riff straight from ABBA. Check it out, it really had me tapping my toes. Kudos to Triple J radio for keeping this segment going for years and years. There are some totally awesome versions that they've organised.

Telenova - Hung Up - https://youtu.be/HIJQv_KcXHY

That'll do for another episode. I'll try and organise myself in time for the next episode to talk more about the complete album listening experience.

Rock on,

The Woozle.

"I'll let chaos rule supreme for me, 'cause that's the way my life has always been..."
The Mark of Cain, Let Chaos Rule Supreme, 2001.