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

World Wide Woozle episode #482

I really don't know where to start this episode. A while ago I tried to leave writing about politics to one side but, after Australia's recent Federal Election, it's a hard thing to ignore. Maybe I'll start there. If you aren't interested in Australian politics or my opinion then feel free skip forward a bit.

Midnight Oil - One Country - https://youtu.be/Mz3HShQkdd4

This has been a remarkable election in many ways. Not only did every single pre-election poll get it wrong but so did all of the major political commentators and journalists. Did they underestimate the attraction of the Liberal - National Party coalition? Not really. Only a few LNP politicians recorded major swings towards them in the primary vote. What seems to have happened is that voters not wanting to vote Labor, Green or any left leaning party sprayed their votes among those parties on the right of the spectrum such as the United Australia Party or One Nation. And when their significant number of preferences were brought to bear, the LNP was the clear beneficiary. This has made me sad, angry and frustrated over the past few days. When did it become OK for a billionaire to spend $80m on an election simply to avoid a Labor Government? Why have Australians, renowned for giving people a fair go, voted for a government with an appalling record with regards to the treatment of refugees and minority groups? Why have working Australians voted to allow big business to continue to pay little or no tax? Why did Australians vote to continue to ignore the environment? And why did Australians vote to allow the top 20% of wealthiest retirees to avoid paying tax? I could go on but you probably get the general idea. I do have an answer for you. Firstly, many Australians are almost completely disconnected from the political process. Our politicians, in general, are such a circus that a lot of people simply turn off. As a result, when making their electoral choices they may be greatly influenced by the media without anything resembling a decent level of critical thinking. Secondly, for those actually interested, there is very little balanced newspaper and TV reporting available. I won't even start on the shock jock right wing radio personalities who do little except promote outrage, intolerance and ignorance. The other thing worth mentioning is that the Labor Party went into the election making two key mistakes. One was to actually have a well thought out and readily available range of policies on offer. This was in complete contrast to the LNP for the main part. Voters were scared into thinking that Labor wanted to tax or change everything. And while that may or may not have been the truth, the reality is that many voters made their mark on the ballot paper with one hand on the pencil and the other protecting their wallets. The other mistake the Labor Party made was their leader. Bill Shorten seems to me to be a man genuinely keen to do well by the Australian people (so does Scott Morrison, the Liberal Party leader) but he is simply not popular with voters. And with politics being (sadly) more about personality than substance and policy, he was fighting an uphill battle. In the end, the figures reveal that the LNP got the lowest primary vote they've ever had. I'd say that the message from this election is that the three major parties have a lot of work to do to engage Australians.

The Saints - Know Your Product - https://youtu.be/h9M3b9lh-7s

I've been a Labor voter since I first voted at 18. I was brought up to believe in equality and what Australians call a fair go. At university I discovered, through study and music, political movements and ideals that resonated with me. As a result I lean to the left of the political spectrum. This time around I couldn't vote for Labor though. Whilst no political party is ever perfect there was one issue that stood out for me. The Labor Party committed funding, if elected, to open up coal seam gas extraction (fracking) in northern Australia. This flew in the face of almost everything else they were doing to address issues relating to climate change and the environment. I did contact my local Labor candidate about it but she was either unwilling, or not allowed to comment.

TISM - I'm Interested In Apathy (live) - https://youtu.be/Yv3jcpFjmus

Let me be perfectly clear here, this is not an invitation for discussion about politics in Australia. I'm simply not in a place to be able to do that at the moment. My view is that Australia has ended up with a government that is not at all interested in the values that I think define Australia. Other countries could now fairly see us as xenophobic, greedy and self-serving. 

Spy Vs Spy - Mingle n' Mix - https://youtu.be/gP-QmmQCEhQ

The election, along with a few other issues made me decide this week to take an extended break from Facebook. There's a toxic element to social networking in general that I decided that I didn't need for now. Facebook, and Instagram to a lesser extent, can be wonderful for allowing people to share their holiday photos, significant events and, in my case, this blog. What I have grown to dislike more and more recently is the amount of time wasted on either being angry online or people being self-righteous. I'm only a few days into my self-imposed exile but it feels pretty good so far. I've read more interesting and positive articles on various blogs and have also spent more time offline which I think is healthy.

Kane Gang - Respect Yourself - https://youtu.be/vscJUpNZn78

Good grief; all of that sounds like a therapy session. If you're still with me....THANK YOU!

I've been reading about cyclists who've taken themselves off on longer riding adventures such as across the USA or the length of the UK. In my opinion riding across Australia is simply too dangerous. Our roads aren't designed for it and staying out of the way of cars and trucks is too hard. I did find one interesting ride from the top of South America all the way to the bottom. It's 11,000km. But it's already booked out ha ha! I must admit that there is a certain appeal in setting off on an adventure. For a while longer I'll stick to riding around here but you never know what's coming up...

Metallica - Wherever I May Roam - https://youtu.be/cwPg8gJq_Kw

It's just less than a month before Zoe and I head back to see our families on Pentecost in Vanuatu. It'll be great to be pretty much off the grid and spending time with people who live life at a very different pace to us. That reminds me that I'd better sort out a couple of classic pieces of literature to take with me. In the past I've enjoyed having the headspace to read for pleasure. 23 days to go I think, but who's counting?!

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

I know that song's about Elcho island in Arnhem Land but you hear it non-stop in Vanuatu and let's face it, it's just a great track.

The new running (walking) shoes have arrived. I was going to buy them locally but the $70 difference in price was too much to absorb. I've only been wearing them today and haven't tried running again but I'll get to it shortly. Canberra is being blessed by fabulous Autumn weather which is perfect for being outdoors. I've also been for my foot ultrasound but I haven't got the results yet. What that means is that the Podiatrist's thoughts were correct, meaning that there's nothing going on down there that he didn't expect. That's good news.

Fats Domino - Walking to New Orleans - https://youtu.be/o-eWAuFmjN0

Gee, I haven't written anything about music yet. The truth is that I've not done much listening in the last couple of weeks. A combination of enjoying Angus being home and working a lot has meant that I've really only had the radio on for the news. I have, however, churned through another couple of supposedly essential albums....here are my broef thoughts on them.

Album 31/100 - Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)

Public Enemy differed from their well known contemporaries, Ice-T and NWA in that their message, although often graphic and uncompromising, offered some forward thinking and solutions. I was a big fan of their 1990 album, "Fear of a Black Planet" even if I had been unable to get through a small crowd to meet them one day in Brisbane after being told by another fan that I wasn't welcome because I was white. That was an interesting moment. However, this is a really good listen. Chuck D has THE voice for rap music and all the elements of PE's particular style are rock solid here. The samples, beats and scratches are now legendary on this seminal long player. A couple of years later the band would team up with thrash metal titans, Anthrax, for a reworked version of "Bring The Noise". If you're thinking that you should have a listen to some rap music to see what all the fuss is about then start here. It doesn't get any better.

Public Enemy - Prophets Of Rage - https://youtu.be/_2JoFPHpYzI

Album 32/100 - Various Artists - Guardians of the Galaxy (soundtrack 2014)

I'll admit that I was taken aback to see a compilation album listed in an essential 100 list. And whilst I'm a big fan of the movie (it's a hoot) I didn't think that this soundtrack should be on the list. If any soundtrack was going to be included I'd have the ones from "Good Morning Vietnam" or even "La Bamba". The thing is, once you listen to the Guardians soundtrack album a few times, especially if you're familiar with the film, it sort of makes sense. It all fits together really well and you understand how much of a part the music plays in making the film so successful as a motion picture experience. So; not my favourite soundtrack by a long shot but still a decent compilation.

Blue Swede - Hooked On A Feeling - https://youtu.be/_ZKZ_lQ5FWQ

That'll do folks. I'll try and be on a more even keel for the next episode. Thanks for listening.

Rob

"...this isn't the land I was told it would be,

it's not so equal and not so free...", The Long Run, Redgum, 1980

World Wide Woozle episode #481

This episode took a while to get finished. My apologies.

A fair bit has happened since I last published a post here so I hope you're ready for a long read. Or feel free to skip to the music links; I won't be offended.

Angus has returned home after 18 months living in Vancouver, Canada. Needless to say the dog was very happy to see him. Sooky, our new addition seems to think that he is OK as well. It looks like Angus will be in Australia for the winter at least and after that, who knows. Meanwhile Zoe is doing her final six week practical placement with the Queensland Ambulance Service. After she does that, her and I will fly off to Vanuatu for a couple of weeks on Pentecost followed by her graduation. The London Ambulance Service has changed Zoe's start date to January so she's off to volunteer somewhere in Fiji. At least she'll be warm and she isn't going in cyclone season!

Primal Scream - Movin' On Up (live) - https://youtu.be/Tx-2_JcKkSk

Do you remember my mate Todd who got hit by a car last year whilst on his last bike training session for Ironman? Well, fast forward a year and he became an Ironman on Sunday at Port Macquarie. It was an amazing day and seeing Todd achieve that goal was marvellous. He has to be one of the most determined people I've ever met. 

Rollins Band - Shine (live) - https://youtu.be/r3vv-dwj2wM

Other friends had told me that being a supporter during an Ironman was hard work and they weren't wrong. I was there at about 6:15am to see the 1/2 Ironman competitors start their race and, after hanging out at the course all day cheering Todd on I got back in the car at about 9pm. Nothing compared to the competitors I can assure you but I was pretty whacked and a bit hoarse into the bargain. But my dodgy foot didn't hurt....why, I hear you ask....read on.

In 2011 I was told that I would never run again as a result of an injury near the ball of my left foot. I was devastated. This meant the end of triathlon for me. As a result I became the mad, and perhaps obsessive cyclist that I am now. And I didn't run again. This year, my foot became so sore that even walking around the house was painful so I decided to see if a Podiatrist could help. Well, he can and I got a big shock. After poking and prodding my foot he told me I could go running if I wanted. All I needed were new shoes and an orthotic. This really made my head spin and to be truthful, it still is. I left with instructions to get an ultrasound, new shoes and to report back in a month. I've got a temporary orthotic that I now have to wear in my shoe. And guess what, I stood up for almost 15 hours on Sunday and my foot wasn't at all sore. Good grief! I'm taking this really slowly but if I can walk without pain I'll be ecstatic. I'm really not sure about returning to running but it's nice to perhaps have the option.

Pink Floyd - Run Like Hell (movie version) - https://youtu.be/q68Qwgz1aXQ

Album 29/100 - Lou Reed - Transformer (1972)

I wanted to like this album as Lou's 1989 long player, "New York", is one that I really like. This one, well, I thought it was dreadful. Everyone knows the single, "Walk on the Wild Side" and it's a great track but the rest of the album just put me to sleep. I found the instrumentation dull and the vocals like Bob Dylan but without soul. Maybe you had to be there in 1972 but I found little to like about "Transformer" other than this song...

Lou Reed - Satellite of Love - https://youtu.be/kJoHspUta-E

Album 30/100 - Prince - Purple Rain (1984)

I already knew that I liked this album. The film of the same name is a classic of 80s music and I've watched it many, many times. "Purple Rain" is an album with four well known Top 10 hits and the rest of the record is all high quality. It's a great pop-rock mix of guitars, synths and vocals delivered with passion and style. Prince's guitar skills are often overlooked but you need only listen to the tortured guitar solo at the end of "Let's Go Crazy" to get a glimpse into his rock and roll sensibilities. "Purple Rain" won Grammies and is also one of the top selling soundtrack albums of all time. I'm not a huge Prince fan but this album is an absolute classic.

Prince - Let's Go Crazy - https://youtu.be/XftVhzWeKvY

Long time readers may remember me prompting you all to listen to the Victorian band, Painters & Dockers. Recently I discovered that they'd put their entire discography online. Given that so many of their albums are nigh on impossible to track down this made me pretty happy. I also hadn't realised just how much material they'd put out. This week I've been giving a fair bit of time to their live record, "Overt and Deliberate". Recorded in 1987 in Auckland, New Zealand it really is a warts and all album. And as a result I think it captures the essence of the band; raw, loud and uncompromising. They're pretty funny too. Given that only 500 copies were released of this album, it's a good thing that it's on Spotify for us all. Dock on!

Painters and Dockers - Soul Child (live) - https://youtu.be/Ys7TXrO7P5w

Painters and Dockers - You're Going Home In The Back Of A Divi Van - https://youtu.be/R5Cw043lPCE

That's enough for this time. See you all next time here on the World Wide Woozle...

Rob

"It might not be my place to help,
But don't,

But don't,

But don't,

Be so hard on yourself", Don't Be So Hard On Yourself, Alex Lahey, 2019

World Wide Woozle episode #480

Hey there, hi, hello....let's rock!

I played some tunes from Blackberry Smoke fairly recently. This week their latest album popped up in my Spotify recommendations and I gave it a spin. Wow! It's great. If you like your rock and roll with a blues swagger in the style of bands such as Georgia Satellites, Black Crowes & Lynyrd Skynyrd then this should fit you like a glove.

Blackberry Smoke - Waiting For The Thunder - https://youtu.be/7cIr1DHNSk0

Album 27/100 - Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

This is Elton's seventh studio album and has sold over 30 million copies. So yeah, it's rather well known. In the USA there were three singles, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" and "Bennie And The Jets". The UK market got "Candle In The Wind" with "Bennie..." as the b-side. Those are four stone cold classic tracks. In terms of an entire album, the tunes are reasonably varied but it's a great listen. My only problem is that my favourite track is the first one and I keep hitting the repeat button! I did work hard to stop doing this during the review listenings and as a result discovered more tracks that I hadn't paid a lot of attention to. I think I'll keep the album in my playlist for a while to come.

Elton John - Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding - https://youtu.be/wnPrunEx1dg

Elton John - Roy Rogers - https://youtu.be/nt92o1D94hs

Album 28/100 - The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)

This is an album and a band that I have never listened to. There's no good reason for that and certainly I don't have anything to explain it. A few years ago I really enjoyed Morrisey's 2004 album, "You Are The Quarry" so I guess I had a rough idea what The Smiths might be like. I think this is going to be quite a polarising album in that you'll either like Morrisey's singing style or you really won't. Personally I think it suits the songs and the period in time really well. Mid eighties UK wasn't pretty politically or socially and the sound and lyrics reflect that. Johnny Marr (guitars), who later went on to record with one of my heroes, Billy Bragg, is a master of rock/pop hooks and melody and this album feels like the pinnacle of 80's indie-rock.

The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again (live 1986) - https://youtu.be/h7Ro7HLmUrY

Iggy Pop played some Australian shows in the last week or so. More about him later. The support band at the Melbourne show was The Chats who are a three piece punk rock band from the Sunshine Coast. I saw a few of their music videos a couple of weeks ago and they are hilarious. This is Aussie punk done right. If you liked H-Block 101, Frenzal Rhomb or just classic straight ahead punk rock then you'll like this...a lot!

The Chats - Pub Feed - https://youtu.be/1LGM82uPuvA

The Chats - Smoko - https://youtu.be/j58V2vC9EPc 

On to Iggy Pop. I remember being loaned a VHS of one of his live performances somewhere in the early 2000s. Other than "Lust for Life" and "Candy" I'd never heard any of his work. Well, that concert (Kiss My Blood, Live at Olympia, Paris) was a real rip snorter and after I recovered my hearing I started listening to old and new Iggy tunes. The man himself is now in his early 70s and shows no signs of slowing down. While many his age are opting for pipe, slippers and keeping kids off the lawn, Iggy is unrepentantly shirtless whilst ripping through live punk rock gigs. The man is a living legend. Here's the first song from the concert that made me an instant convert... (language warning on both of these folks)

Iggy Pop - Raw Power (live Olympia, Paris, 1991) - https://youtu.be/nLoz70aUpTE

Iggy Pop - Passenger (live London 2016) - https://youtu.be/D9srgtTTVwk

DJ KungFuHenry reminded me of this artist during the week. The song is always a flashback to breakfast AM radio in the early 80s. Originally from 1960 (click here for the original), Charley Pride released this version in 1981 and it went to the top of the charts in the USA although only to #41 in New Zealand which is where I was living at the time. Great rhythm and a magnificent voice.

Charley Pride - Mountain of Love - https://youtu.be/rrCjOuFWdbs

I'm still looking for a copy of De La Soul's album "3ft high and rising" so that I can review it. eBay prices are silly money and it's not on any streaming service so if you can help please reach out.

It was my 48th birthday last week. Apparently, revealing your age is "owning it" whatever that means. I'm not fussed about the number of years particularly although it was a bit of a shock to find out one of the guys at work is 18. My family bought me a really cool mini drum machine and I'm busy working out how to make it sound more than R2D2 random noises. It's very groovy though and is the size of a pocket calculator. If you're interested in that sort of thing then click here to learn more about it. DJ ZedBoots also got me a great AC/DC "Hell's Bells" shirt...rock on!

AC/DC - Hell's Bells - https://youtu.be/etAIpkdhU9Q

In other birthday news, Angus was 21 on the 21st. Not long now and he'll be home!!

Can we talk about Game of Thrones for just a moment? For all you social media oversharers (and I can sometimes be one of those) no-one cares if you have or haven't watched the show. If you like it; great If you don't that doesn't make you instantly super cool. It's just a show. Watch it or don't and leave your social media feed to sharing funny cat videos.

Bob Geldof - The Great Song of Indifference - https://youtu.be/NoweGN8cm5g

In great news, heavy rock/punk band L7 have a new album coming in May. If you were around in the 90s you may remember their rather sludgy, grungy and rocking release called "Bricks are Heavy". I remember hearing one of the tracks from this record on a sampler cassette and buying the album not long after. This song sounds a little lighter than I expected but it's still worth a few listens. I'll report back on the album when it's out.

L7 - Burn Baby  -  https://youtu.be/bUV9fNLYRZI

And for a step back in time...

L7 - Everglade - https://youtu.be/wQs3VQWtCS4

Well folks, that's it for another week. Tune in next time for more shenanigans, music and hopefully nothing about the election.

Rob

"...the only thing I wanna do is join a guitar band...", Guitar Band, Stevie Wright, 1974.

World Wide Woozle episode #479

Firstly, if you're the person that managed to post on my blog, as me, sharing a Beatles track then please let me know. It's not cool to do that and the post has been deleted. I'm happy for people to post in the comments but not to have the post list me as the author. I've since reviewed my security settings.

On to the music now.

Album 25/100 - The Stone Roses (1989)

Never having paid much attention to the band other than their big hit "Fools Gold" I took some time with this supposedly iconic long player. It's easy to see how bands like Oasis and Blur were influenced by it (among others) but I must admit that I found it rather uninspiring myself. I can't quite put my finger on a decent reason for this reaction. Maybe it's a time and place album; you had to be there. Or maybe it's just overrated and a bit dull in retrospect. I'm sure plenty of people out there will disagree. 

The Stone Roses - Made of Stone - https://youtu.be/sMnm8MsPDeM

Album 26/100 - Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)

This one is an absolute pearler. Pearl Jam's debut record is more rock than grunge despite what lots of people would like to have you believe. Eddie Vedder's vocals are instantly recognisable and haven't really changed much to this day. His voice moves easily from the edge of breaking up to the warm, mellow tone we all know. Listening back to the album in its entirety after all these years I was struck by how Jim Morrison-eque Vedder sometimes sounds. Musically, this is a band absolutely on fire. Loud, quiet and everything in between; they did it all on this record and went on to become one of the biggest bands in the world. Is this essential listening? No, but it's damned close.

Pearl Jam - Even Flow - https://youtu.be/CxKWTzr-k6s

I'm a big fan of Sammy Hagar. I loved his vocals in Van Halen and his subsequent output is usually a lot of fun. And whilst this next video, recorded very recently, showcases his whole band, I want you to pay attention to Jason Bonham on drums (yeah, he's John Bonham's son). He's playing the whole song on a Roland SPD-SX drum pad and that's super-cool in my opinion. Great song, great musicians and great fun. Sammy Hagar is 71...and still rocking out.

Sammy Hagar & The Circle - Finish What Ya Started (live) - https://youtu.be/qwZUrVyTPJ8?t=83

I've played you music from Greta Van Fleet before and I was very much undecided about them. Led Zeppelin ripoffs or the real deal? While no-one can discount their very obvious Led Zep and classic rock influences this live video made my mind up. They are the real deal. Young guys who love rock and roll putting on a good show whilst wearing their influences on their sleeves. Rock on!

Greta Van Fleet - Safari Song (live) - https://youtu.be/PJXizasWnIo

In the battle for the best band name, this next group (from Canberra) must be near the top. I stumbled across them this week when I saw they were supporting another group I am keeping an eye on (Press Club) and just had to check out their stuff. The name is a classic, and the music is pretty good as well. Indie, punky rock and roll.

Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers - Crime Scene - https://youtu.be/HU_ZEHREX50

After listening to Italian retro glam rockers I went back in time and enjoyed a whole swag of tracks from one of their major influences; Slade. I remember this one very well from my high school years and it's still a great track...

Slade - Run Run Away - https://youtu.be/VTj3dh78Zlo

Last week DJ HighPantsToddo and I embarked on an epic bike ride. In the end we clocked up 189km which, for both of us, was our longest ride ever. I was very glad to see the cafe at halfway as well as the finish line at my house. In what may be even more insane we're off for 200km next Friday. Shut up legs indeed!

Supertramp - Take The Long Way Home - https://youtu.be/vFHYzI-Gtbo

Finally, I'm very excited, even more excited than Big Kev. Why? Well, Zoe will be home in a few days for a short stay. And then not long after, our intrepid explorer returns from Canada! Woo hoo!

Kacey Musgraves - Family is Family - https://youtu.be/UhWi2ukHT8Q

Have a great weekend everyone and safe travels H,

Rob

"And you can shake your fist at the T.V. set
And you can slam your hand in the table
And you can cry and curse
Through tightlocked teeth
Just as hard as you are able
But you can't run away from trouble
'Coz there ain't no place that far
No fuel left for the pilgrims
Yeah! That's just the way we are...", Jihad, D*A*D, 1989

World Wide Woozle episode #478

I imagine that being a "real" music writer might mean that you could get quite bored with constantly listening to new stuff. There are times when you just want to put on one of your favourite LPs and let it seep into your bones and your soul. Luckily, I'm just a hack on the internet with the option to do what I want. So I did. After last week's episode went to air I chose my two new albums to review for this piece and started in on them. Arrrggghhh! I couldn't get into either of them. And then I took a step back and left them alone for a few days. The results? Well you'll find out shortly.

But first, finally "The Dirt" was released to Australian Netflix audiences. We had to wait for the USA to catch up; time zones and all that jazz. Well, the short version is that if you are a Motley Crue fan you should really enjoy the movie. If you've never heard of them apart from "Kickstart My Heart" then you may be shocked, after watching the film, that they are all still alive. And for those easily offended by nudity, bad language, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, heavy metal and almost anything else...you should avoid "The Dirt" at all costs. The film holds nothing back and the crazy lifestyle that the band lived through isn't sanitised at all. Sure, there is a bit of artistic licence taken with bits of the band's timeline and guitar nerds will notice a few gear errors but all in all it's a solid effort. Critics will hate it but then critics pretty much always hated the Crue as well. I think I'll read the book now. Motley Crue will always be one of my favourite bands; despite all of their attempts to sabotage their own lives they continued to make great records.

Motley Crue - The Dirt - https://youtu.be/QfenIwtoQzk

Album 23/100 - BB King - Live At The Regal (1965)

35 minutes, 10 songs and it is AWESOME! This album not only has BB King and the audience absolutely exploding with energy, the quality of the recording given the year is top notch. I really enjoyed the fact that BB's voice is so strong and smooth here. You can hear all of the instruments very well in the mix as nothing is overpowering or buried. BB's guitar rings like the bell Chuck Berry told us all about. The final track, "Help The Poor" is a highlight and one that I knew from a rather cool Robben Ford cassette. I think I'll keep an eye out for a vinyl copy of this record; it's one that I can see myself going back to on a regular basis.

BB King - Everyday I Have The Blues (live at The Regal) - https://youtu.be/0RfAHm-HRqE

Album 24/100 - Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible (1994)

This is one of the best band names ever and as a result, I remember listening to one of their albums years ago and being disappointed that it bored me. So it was with a certain degree of trepidation that I cued up "The Holy Bible". Well, well, well...it's rather good. On first listen it's a harder edged indie-Brit-rock album and that bodes well. On subsequent listens I found the insistent nature of many tracks enticing and enjoyable. What happens though when you look at the lyrics and have a bit of a think about them is challenging. This is not a pop album. It reeks of abuse, depression, anxiety and self loathing. Sadly, about six months after the LP's release, lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey disappeared and is presumed to have died by suicide. That puts another dimension on the album. I wouldn't like you to think that "The Holy Bible" is all gloom and doom because it's not. It's a very tight, punchy record that is abrasive in parts and deeply personal in others. I'm not sure if it will encourage me to listen to more from Manic Street Preachers but I'll keep spinning this record.

Manic Street Preachers - Faster - https://youtu.be/rl2Jv4dzFqg

George, with some help from Matt (keys), Callum(guitar) and Tim(sound) has released another song and music video. This one is a very moving tribute to his Dad. I've had the privilege of playing this song with H but never in public. Check it out folks and let George know what you think via the band's Facebook page.

George Huitker and Junk Sculpture (feat Callum Henshaw) - These Flowers - https://vimeo.com/325800851

Speaking of George; he tells me that he needs to sit down with me and discuss what I have advised as "essential listening". That's in response to me recommending Neil Young's "Harvest" album in the last episode. Fair enough; I'm always keen to talk about music. What is essential to me? It's a song or album that, to my mind, defines an artist or says something very special. "Iconic" isn't quite what I mean as the greatest recordings by some bands aren't necessarily those thought of as iconic or seminal. Anyway, H thought that this was essential, open your ears wide and let this one sink in.

King Crimson - Starless - https://youtu.be/OfR6_V91fG8

Italian rockers, Giuda, have a new long player due for release. I really, really, really like this band as they are a lot of fun and wear their glam rock influences proudly on their sleeves. For fans of bands like Slade and The Bay City Rollers this is simply great rock and roll.

Giuda - Overdrive - https://youtu.be/DvX9T1V4QI4

That's it folks. All killer, no filler. Have a great weekend,

Rob

"Don't accept that what's happening
Is just a case of others' suffering
Or you'll find that you're joining in
The turning away", On The Turning Away, Pink Floyd, 1987

World Wide Woozle episode #477

I'm back again after a week off. I had started an episode for last week but it was so decidedly average that I consigned it to the bin and walked away!

My Dad has gone overseas. This time he's off to a few spots in South America including Colombia. It wasn't that long ago that you probably wouldn't have gone there for safety reasons. A quick spot of research indicates that it's much better these days. I'm sure that he's working hard on visiting more countries than anyone else we know!

Gustavo Santaolalla - Apertura - https://youtu.be/8Pr_k87TW8k

The above track is from the soundtrack to the film, "The Motorcycle Diaries". It's a great film but the music that goes along with it is nothing short of fantastic. 

Motley Crue's biopic appeared on Netflix last night. Even though the advertised release was 22 March, they made us wait until that time ticked around in the USA. They've been re-releasing a whole lot of their classic music videos onto YouTube to mark the occasion. Metal at its best. Watch out for my thoughts on the film next time around.

Motley Crue - Dr Feelgood - https://youtu.be/trGX3ET3jTQ

Diamond Head are probably best known as one of Metallica's main influences. They've been around in one form or another since 1976 and have a new album ready to release soon. This track is as much hard rock as it is metal but well worth a listen. I'll be interested to hear the whole album when it becomes available. 

Diamond Head - Belly of The Beast - https://youtu.be/BbnmxqdtTV4

Returning to my quick reviews of 100 albums you should apparently have on vinyl...

Album 21/100 - Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous (1978)

This wasn't a difficult review. I've had this album for ages and I'm a big fan of Thin Lizzy.  "Live and Dangerous" is a double album recorded in London, Philadelphia and Toronto. Depending on who you choose to believe, the album is either three quarters overdubs or three quarters live. Regardless, it's a good view into what was a fantastic rock band. You can hear Huey Lewis playing harmonica on it too. If you've never really listened to Thin Lizzy other than "The Boys Are Back In Town" then this would be a good place to start.

Thin Lizzy - Don't Believe A Word (live) - https://youtu.be/iGjeoCjA0gk

Album 22/100 - Neil Young - Harvest (1972)

There are two Neil Young personas: the grungy, noisy rocker and the thoughtful acoustic troubadour. 1972's "Harvest" album sits pretty much in the latter category. This is the album that took Neil from being a star, to being a mega-star. Just about everyone knows his song, "Heart of Gold". This wasn't an album that was meant to happen. Neil had already written the songs but went to the studio without a band and recorded with whomever was around that night! Whilst this album sounds great and the musicians play very well, it's the song writing and Neil's delivery that make them essential listening. 

Neil Young - The Needle and the Damage Done - https://youtu.be/49M10VIXPk4

Blackberry Smoke come from Atlanta, Georgia in the USA. They've been making records since about 2000 in the southern rock style. I've not listened to them a lot because the first time I did it sounded just a bit to formulaic for me. However, I really like this series of recordings and Blackberry Smoke's contributions are really, really good. Whoever is mixing and recording each band performing inside a converted mobile home is a sonic genius. This is a good listen and you should have a look at some of the others in the series.

Blackberry Smoke - Run Away From It All (live) - https://youtu.be/HSlbR4TYLnw

DJ ZedBoots copped a soaking when she recently attended a very, very wet Kylie Minogue concert. Her comments included that Kylie's new stuff was, "a bit slow". I'd have to concur. This, however, is a pretty cool track.

Kylie Minogue - Golden - https://youtu.be/Q6zw4yQPMLw

Snarky Puppy have a couple of new songs out. This is a band for you if you like jazz, prog, electronica or rock...something for everyone wrapped up in a bit of funk too. DJ Guzbox put me on to this band and whilst they are awesome in the studio, it's worth checking out their live clips to see amazing musicians having a good time.

Snarky Puppy - Bad Kids To The Back - https://youtu.be/fEHpq-BxFm4

You know, I'd always thought of Scorpions as a hard rock band on the strength of "Rock You Like A Hurricane". That's a great song by the way but I discovered more during the week. Uli Jon Roth, one of their guitarists is an absolute monster on the fretboard! This has revealed a bit of a gap in my hard rock listening which I will aim to plug over the next few weeks. See what you think of this...not at all what I expected.

Scorpions - Sails of Charon - https://youtu.be/Zs5NOrYYV2s

We'll finish this week with Don Walker. Many of you will know him as one of the main songwriters and the keyboard player for Cold Chisel. But Don has an interesting range of solo music and work with other groups such as Tex, Don & Charlie. If you're looking for earthy, honest music then have a listen to a few tracks from Don. Just goes to prove that Brian May isn't the only rocker with a degree in physics!

Tex, Don & Charlie - Paychecks (live) - https://youtu.be/jMrHm7An-ak

Don Walker - Harry Was A Bad Bugger (live) - https://youtu.be/k_u5oySGpCc

Don Walker - The Way You Are Tonight - https://youtu.be/XD5F5MVRm94

Have a great weekend folks, I'm off to work!

Rob

"...Well maybe I'm only dreamin' and maybe I'm just a fool
But I don't remember learnin' how to hate in Sunday school...", Jerusalem, Steve Earle, 2002.