World Wide Woozle episode# 498

Today was the day. DJ ZedBoots flew off into the wide blue yonder, bound for London and the start of her career as a paramedic. It's an interesting feeling to be happy and sad all at once. I had a bit of a peaceful trundle on my bike to allow it all to seep in. I'm very, very proud of what she's achieved. A big shout out to all those who have supported her along the way, and continue to do so.

The Beatles - Hello, Goodbye - https://youtu.be/rblYSKz_VnI

As a result of listening to a podcast I've been checking out to a lot of early to mid-80s heavy metal that I missed out on. It's clear that many of them were influences on other bands that I enjoy so it's been a bit of a treat. If metal is your thing then you could do a lot worse than having a listen to Andy Dowling's podcast series, Nod To The Old School.

Sodom - Nuclear Winter -  https://youtu.be/86rzZHLSjfQ

I like bagpipes, I guess it's in my blood. Recently I've been listening to a fair bit of music that features not only Scottish pipes but a range of other types. They pop up in all sorts of music. Nightwish use them quite a bit to great effect. The ones in this tune are Irish Uilleann pipes. Uilleann is the Irish word for elbow and these pipes are played by moving a bellows with your elbow rather than blowing into them. They have a much smoother sound than Scottish pipes.

Nightwish - I Want My Tears Back - https://youtu.be/fV2C9_MAJ0E

A while ago I played you some music by New Zealand metal band, Alien Weaponry, who sometimes sing in Maori. This time I want to play you a track from Shepherd's Reign, who sing this one in the Samoan language. They are a bit more melodic than Alien Weaponry but the language still fits the sound very well. Having a sound a bit like Sepultura seems to work well and they are definitely a band to keep an eye on.

Shepherd's Reign - Le Manu - https://youtu.be/BSNb1LXXk40

Puddles Pity Party has a new song available. I really like this guy. His ability to reinterpret a song, keep a straight face and not blink is all rather special. And man oh man, he can sing. This isn't his best song but that's me being super-critical; it's still quality stuff.

Puddles Pity Party - I Want To Know What Love Is - https://youtu.be/_fJmbcIS-ZI

DJ SlimRollins put me onto Blondie's 2017 album which is called Pollinator. Well, well, well....what a revelation. I was unsure what to expect but it's one of the best complete albums I've heard in a long time. There are plenty of nods to their classic stuff without simply being a tribute to all their old hits. The production is excellent and this is a slick performance all round. If you can't hear Heart of Glass in this next one then clean your ears out.

Blondie - Long Time - https://youtu.be/1-nqMvrk3hA

And finally....this was on in the car today and it never fails to make me smile. I saw the musical on stage a very long time ago in Wellington (New Zealand) and I'd go and see it again any day of the week.

Ipi Ntombi Cast Recording - Shosholoza - https://youtu.be/6k2HVHyHI9E

Come back again next time as I discuss some of the following: eyebrows, Def Leppard, bikes and possibly employment as well. Or none of the above.

Rob

"No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is..." , Tom Sawyer, Rush, 1976. (RIP Neil)

World Wide Woozle #497

If you're not interested in a bit of a rant then you should avoid the next bit. Also if you think that the Daily Telegraph or commercial television (in general) constitutes real news, the the same applies.

It's hard to think about music at the moment. In fact, it's hard to think about anything other than the fact that Australia is burning. Not just a few fires but massive out of control blazes taking out an area bigger than Belgium. Or, for American readers; the area so far burnt is that of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. And it's still growing. We've seen communities only able to take refuge in the water at beaches, the biggest peacetime evacuations in Australian history, deaths, property loss and so much more. The scale of this disaster is hard to comprehend. It dominates the news, social media and the talk in the lunch room at work. Here in Canberra we have the worst air quality for a major city anywhere in the world and it's not going away anytime soon. People once obsessed with Facebook and Instagram now spend their time checking air quality and fire reports. Laying blame for this isn't all that complicated. Successive generations have refused to take serious action to address what causes climate change. Politicians on both sides of the major political ideologies have denied and obfuscated for decades and now we suffer. Everyone suffers. This isn't a problem that can be fixed tomorrow; it needed to be addressed years ago and some brave decisions made but they weren't. So do we allow our politicians, emboldened by a hysterical media and funded by those who play a major part in destroying our habitat to continue in this way? No. We need to change the way that our leaders interact. They are out of touch if they think that this is ok. If the Leader of the Opposition continues to lead with, "I wrote to the Prime Minister...." Stop writing to him. You work in the same building. Talk to him or at least pick up the phone. And if the other members of the Liberal and National Parties can't recognise the giant mess that the PM is making of the whole situation then they should all be voted out. Seriously, it's a complete farce that highlights the fact that our political system is broken. As for the uninformed people trying to blame The Greens for causing the fires by not allowing hazard reduction; three or four minutes reading (again, not the Telegraph) will reveal that this is a complete lie.

Everywhere we look we're overloaded with the fires. it's horrific, it's sad and it should make you angry. But you need to remember to look after yourself and those around you even in small ways. If you aren't directly involved then turn the TV off for a little while. There are a ton of good ways to help out in terms of donations of money or goods. So many people are doing great things and these help both the givers and the receivers. 

I'll admit that I'm struggling with the impact of the fires. As well as the news barrage, the fact that Canberra is almost continually blanketed in thick smoke is tough to deal with. My bike sits neglected at the door, our dogs yearn for a walk and everyone is stuck inside. Again, this is nothing compared to those in fire areas but you live your life where you are. Instead of being a downer, I'm going to play a few specially selected tracks this time around. These are the songs that I turn to when I'm not feeling great. The ones that make me smile or think of good things, people and places. I'll tell you a little about each one. If you're with me on Facebook then please feel free to share a song back with me that you find uplifting....and it doesn't have to be the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! You can comment on the blog too.

In 1984 I was fortunate enough to go to the 14th Australian Scout Jamboree outside Sydney. It was a long journey from country Victoria in a bus that broke down in Albury! At the Jamboree we built bikes and raced them, flew a light plane, went ziplining, got wet and muddy and generally had a great time being kids. The Jamboree had its own radio station and they took requests. My Patrol had this as our unofficial theme song and I'm sure the people running the radio station got tired of our constant requests for it...

Hoodoo Gurus - Like Wow, Wipeout! - https://youtu.be/vFnaNPGe4gQ

Queen was one of the first rock bands that I couldn't get enough of even though I only had their Greatest Hits LP. When "A Kind of Magic" was released it cemented my place as a fan. Funnily enough though, I go to this tune a lot and it isn't on either release. I like this one because it has the most awesome guitar riff. There's a great version of Def Leppard playing it at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert as well. A real foot stomper and never fails to put a grin on my face.

Queen - Now I'm Here (live 1975) - https://youtu.be/uvOuRt_BiRI

Like a lot of people I imagine, I grew up thinking that Blondie were a disco band as a result of their song, "Heart of Glass". I remember having my little mind blown when I discovered their other work and the fact that it was as much punk as it was anything else. Blondie were (are) truly unique. I like this song particularly because if you listen past the pop sounds you can imagine the Ramones singing it too. At least I can. The driving rhythm and the three chord verse is pure punk. Bands like Blink 182, Green Day and The Dollyrots can surely trace their sound back to Blondie as much as The Clash or The Ramones.

Blondie - Denis (live) - https://youtu.be/ZtlnNaTBrUI

"My Island Home" was written about an Indigenous Australian man living in the desert and missing his home on an island in Arnhem Land. It's a great track, admirably covered by Christine Anu, that's quintessentially Australian. During my first visit to Vanuatu it became clear that the people there had adopted it as well. It makes sense and as a Warumpi Band song and as one so loved by my home away from home it always makes me happy.

Warumpi Band - My Island Home - https://youtu.be/yZEodxUx2ME

Billy's reddest song I guess. This one is from what's probably his least popular album but I love it all the same. The original version of this song is from the 19th Century and Billy has updated it a bit as you'll soon see (click here to hear Billy talk about it). I learned about Socialism and Communism at university whilst studying politics. As a result I understand how both have been warped by many people around the world for their own nefarious purposes. My personal ideals of people being equal regardless of gender, colour or background were often at odds with many of my peers and the music of Billy Bragg and the good bits of socialism had a profound effect on me. In Vanuatu, one of my grandfathers told me that he liked me because I understood that all blood was red. That'll do me. Read the lyrics folks.

Billy Bragg - The Internationale - https://youtu.be/yAw0Ri4FSdM

ABBA? Yep....great band. They've got it all: terrific vocals, harmonies, pop, rock and a lot of energy. The synth line at the very start of this song chugs along like any number of heavy metal guitarists. I remember playing in a band years ago and throwing that into a song to see if anyone noticed ha ha! I like ABBA best when they are rocking out and this is one of the best examples. For those unconvinced maybe have a look at this live version.

ABBA - Does Your Mother Know That You're Out -  https://youtu.be/WkL7Fkigfn8

A throwback to my childhood up next. My Mum loved this song and still does. I remember that the b-side of the single was just the backing track! Wham were huge when I was in high school and playing them on the radio station at lunchtimes was always popular. Other than that it's just a great song with a good beat and again, it makes me smile.

Wham - Wake Me Up (Before You Go Go) - https://youtu.be/pIgZ7gMze7A

I'd never heard of Talking Heads until 1987 or 1988. A friend, with a broader tape collection than me (and a big boombox), played their "Little Creatures" album to me whilst we worked at a Scout Camp over Easter. This song has stuck with me ever since. I like the idea of listening to the highway breath!

Talking Heads - And She Was - https://youtu.be/cl3B_FTDKD0

Finally, in terms of songs that make me feel better, is this one from The Proclaimers. It's from 2018 and I know that some of you continue to be shocked that the band are still putting out records. Well, they are and they're full of great tunes. This one has the effect of making me homesick for a town that isn't my home and that I have no memory of visiting. It's an amazing thing to be able to write a song that evokes such strong emotions.

The Proclaimers - Streets of Edinburgh - https://youtu.be/7qTbLoyQ23g

So, welcome to a new decade. The music continues here at HQ World Wide Woozle. Thanks for listening and reading. Oh, we all really enjoyed the new Star Wars movie. I'll write more next time.

Rob

"The river runs red,
Black rain falls, On my bleeding land...", River Runs Red, Midnight Oil, 1990.

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.