Maria Taylor - "Leap Year"

I like leap year. It's like getting a free day thrown in as a gift... for no reason at all. Although there is a reason, as we all know, it's a correction day for the 365 "and a quarter" days the earth takes to orbit the sun. So technically it is just adding the quarter days up that were not accounted for... so not really a cause for a celebration. But I think it should be celebrated all the same, why not? It is more relevant than Guy Fawkes or Halloween in this country. It could be a day for doing all the things you never get around to doing... no excuses as it's an extra day. Although, making it a holiday cancels out that idea because half the places you will need to go to will be closed... stupid idea. Or some government departments or organisations could use it as an amnesty day... more practical than interesting, that one.

Thankfully, an artist as good as Maria Taylor has a "Leap Year" song... so I didn't have to resort to some MOR lameness.
I hope you all enjoyed your extra 24 hours and made the most of it.

Miss Li - "Oh Boy"

Miss Li is a singer-songwriter from Sweden and "Oh Boy" was a single from her 2006 debut album 'Late Night Heartbroken Blues'. It is probably well known to Bitter FM listeners but may be a lost treasure to most other music fans.... hopefully not. This is singer-songwriter pop music done in a jazz-cabaret style.... if that doesn't make sense, then it's best you take a listen. A sing-a-long song for cool parties.

Herbie Hancock - "Rockit"

Herbie Hancock had already had a long and successful career as a jazz musician before his groundbreaking hit "Rockit" was released in 1983 from the 'Future Shock' album. He had worked with Donald Byrd early in his career followed by a long period with Miles Davis. This apprenticeship gave him some confidence to take jazz in many other directions thereafter. His use of synths on his 'Headhunters' album in 1973 set the template for the jazz/funk fusion genre, of which he basically started. In 1983 the 'Future Shock' album did the same for the electro/funk genre and was very influential in the development of hip-hop. "Rockit" was a huge hit that crossed over to the mainstream and had a successful 'Godley and Creme' video to match. Genre defining with the turntable techniques and scratching by GrandMixer D.ST. This could possibly have been the birth of hip-hop.

Adam Page - Solo @ Downstage Theatre

I have just got back from a weekend in Wellington for the cricket One Day International between New Zealand and South Africa. We played quite well but South Africa are a class act and won convincingly. But this blog is about music not sport... so time to move on. A trip to Wellington is not complete without going to Cuba St and this trip was no exception. I went into a record shop just around the corner from Cuba St and there was a guy there with instruments scattered around him, a loop pedal and a mic. He announced to the small crowd of shoppers that he would be the entertainment for the next hour or so and once he started it was clear that I had stumbled upon something quite special. His name is Adam Page, originally from Australia but now based in Wellington. He is a multi-instrumentalist and the saxophone is possibly his instrument of choice... but that is only a small part of what he does live. The loop pedal is a great innovation for solo artists... but I have never seen it used this well. He creates a full band sound in no-time... even with dance beats, at times. Improvisation is a big part of his live performance. Brilliant stuff... the highlight of my weekend.

iNDEED - "Black Tears"

iNDEED are a hip hop crew featuring DJ Burn One, Ricky Fontaine, The Professor and Walt Live. "Black Tears" is doing the rounds on Bitter FM and we are looking forward to future releases. This won't be underground for much longer... it's too good for that, iNDEED it is!

The Flaming Lips with Peaches - "The Great Gig In The Sky"

The Flaming Lips covered Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon' album in full with Stardeath and White Dwarfs and special guests Henry Rollins and Peaches. "The Great Gig In the Sky" originally sung by guest vocalist Clare Torry on the Pink Floyd album, was given to Peaches for this remake album and she turned the eeriness up a few notches. Frighteningly beautiful.

The Chills - "Rolling Moon"

The first single from The Chills was "Rolling Moon" and it is up there with their best. Possibly due to their lack of studio experience, which gave it that rawness. I know as they matured and Martin Phillips' songwriting became more sophisticated the recording process improved as well. But this was when the Flying Nun bands spent a day in the studio and two months producing their own cover art. Although I wasn't in Dunedin, I was so lucky to experience the peak of the 'Dunedin Sound' or 'Flying Nun scene' during that period in the 80's. Most of the bands toured nationally and played at Auckland's Windsor Castle, The Gluepot and a plenty of other venues that are long forgotten.

Los Campesinos! - "By Your Hand"

Los Campesinos! are an indie rock band from Cardiff.They formed in 2006 and have released four albums to date. The most recent album "Hello Sadness" features the single "By Your Hand" which has Gareth Campesinos agonizing over the trials and tribulations of a new relationship... including her vomiting on him. Life's complicated... but it sounds good here.



Lyrics
I was sitting on my hands at the top-deck of the 178, spitting cusses at my
Face reflected in the windscreen pane. Throwing insults and calling names.
Filthy SMSs that you sent through the day, by sundown become tame, so I set
It in motion again.

But fate's a cruel mistress, girl, the prettiest in the world. She dresses
Loosely in a bathrobe with her hair up in curls, 'cause we were kissing for
Hours with her hands in my trousers, she could not contain herself,
Suggests we go back to her house. But here it comes, this is the crux, she
Vomits down my rental tux.

I'm not sure if it's love anymore, but I've been thinking of you fondly for
Sure. Remember what your heart is for.

By your hand is the only end I foresee,
I have been dreaming you've been dreaming about me

By your hand is the only end I foresee,
I have been dreaming you've been dreaming about me
And it's a good night
For a fist fight, a fist fight
Because the dew will temper your fall
You'll sing me lullabies in form of your cat-calls

And I've been dangling in limbo, barely keeping my cool. It's like I'm
Snookered 'tween the back cushion and touching the 8 ball. Keep replaying
My turn, until your patience is shot, you peel your white gloves off
Seductively before you respot. Your fingertips leave marks and graze, I lay
You down atop the baize:
I'm not sure if it's love anymore, but I've been thinking of you fondly for
Sure. Remember what your heart is for.

Graceful, gracious companion with your eyes of doe and thighs of stallion
Graceful, gracious companion with your eyes of doe and thighs of stallion

By your hand is the only end I foresee,
I have been dreaming you've been dreaming about me
(Graceful, gracious companion with your eyes of doe and thighs of stallion)
By your hand is the only end I foresee,
I have been dreaming you've been dreaming about me
(Graceful, gracious companion with your eyes of doe and thighs of stallion)

Justin Townes Earle - "Mama's Eyes"

Justin Townes Earle released his third album 'Midnight at the Movies' in 2009 and that was my first taste of his music. At times he can be too 'traditional country' for me and at other times he is just downright brilliant... in no way disrespecting 'Townes Van Zandt' from whom he was named. 'Mama's Eyes" is a stark and honest song about his relationship with his father. Quite brave, considering his father is the outspoken rock n' roll outlaw Steve Earle. The lyrics give us an insight into the broken down relationship and his drug addiction from an early age (as young as 12 years old), which has similarities to his father's past drug addictions. I wonder how the next family Christmas or Thanks Giving dinner was after this was released.



Lyrics
I am my father's son
I've never known when to shut up
I ain't foolin' no one
I am my father's son

We don't see eye to eye
I'll be the first to admit I've never tried
And sure it hurts but it should hurt sometimes
We don't see eye to eye

I was a young man when
I first found the pleasure and the feel of a sin
And I went down the same road as my old man
But I was younger then

Now it's 3 am and I'm standing in the kitchen
Holding my last cigarette
I strike a match and I see my reflection in the mirror in the hall
And I say to myself:

I've got my mama's eyes
Her long thin frame and her smile
And I still see wrong from right
Cause I've got my mama's eyes

Yeah I've got my mama's eyes

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - "Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World"

I don't know anything about Israel Kamakawiwo'ole but after hearing this version of these two classics, or standards even, he is on to something here. It's not groundbreaking and it's a bit RSA-ish... but hear it out, you may be pleasantly surprised like I was. For any ukulele bands out there... your template is right here.

King Missile - "The Sandbox"

When children's playgrounds go bad.... the sort of thing that could make a kid hate everybody.

Princess Chelsea - "The Cigarette Duet"

Here is a Valentines day song. Perfect couple. He gave up - she didn't... big deal. That won't be an issue... their relationship is rock solid. Come on, it's just a cigarette.

Paul Westerberg - "Best Thing That Never Happened"

Paul Westerberg released his third album 'Suicaine Gratifaction' in 1999 and he was back in top form after the demise of 'The Replacements'. It was an album I couldn't stop playing and it even led me to a couple of earlier albums by The Replacements. His output as a solo artist has been erratic to say the least... but at his best he is untouchable. "Best Thing That Never Happened" is the ultimate song for the scorned and rejected. Don't get angry or depressed... just go home, open a beer, and put this on repeat.

GROUPLOVE - "Colours"

Los Angeles indie rock band 'Grouplove' released their debut album 'Never Trust a Happy Song' last year and the single "Colours" found its way to Bitter FM playlists. It is a modern indie anthem. The chorus is rollickingly good... but it's the verses that kick arse. Another 10 points for spelling the name of the song correctly.

Air France - "Windmill Wedding"

Air France, an electronica band from Sweden only have a couple of EPs and a single behind them but have still made enough of an impact on me and are getting plenty of airplay on Bitter FM regardless of the limited output thus far. "Windmill Wedding" is a mixture of subtle electronica instrumentation and samples, delicate piano, orgasm sounds, horse sounds and disco strings. The perfect soundtrack to the 'Picnic at hanging Rock' or retro soft porn themed video. Lush!

Screaming Trees - "Shadow Of The Season"

I went to the very first Big Day Out in Auckland in 1994 and 'Soundgarden' were the headlining act. They were great but my favourite acts that year were 'Smashing Pumpkins' and 'Straitjacket Fits.' It turns out that 2012 was the final Big Day Out to be held in New Zealand and the headline act was, yet again, Soundgarden. It was a bit of a surprise to me considering the lead singer of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell, had released a few duds when it came to solo albums and his supergroup 'Audioslave' became more popular with the mainstream rock station crowd than the alt-rock crowd. So the Soundgarden reformation, I thought, would not interest the alt-rock audience so much anymore.... I was wrong, although the ticket sales in 2012 were very low compared to all the years after it was established. The other reason Soundgarden may have been a headline act again was the fact that the Big Day Out was no longer the alternative rock festival it started out as. What the fuck has all this got to with Screaming Trees' you may ask... and that is a good question. So on that subject... all I've got to say is... why the hell are 'Screaming Trees' the forgotten grunge band? Especially while that genre or era is getting more attention with reformations and reissues etc. Injustice!!! It's just a thought I decided to share.

Sarah Brown - "Winter With You"

I know it is summer here in the Southern Hemisphere but this song is for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere. You have been facing a mid winter chill... so how about a fantastic song about spending the cold season with someone special. This could be winter in 1967 with Dusty Springfield in Marlborough.

Marilyn Monroe - "Happy Birthday Mr. President"

After seeing a report on a recently published book about John F. Kennedy and some intern on the news the other night... it got me thinking about a couple of things. Although he was popular, I don't think he would have survived long in this current environment. It took this former intern over forty years to write this book about his infidelities. If he was the president of the United States today... there would probably be a book a week and most of them would be a hoax. Anyway, the other thing the news story reminded me of was that great moment in history that brought American politics and Hollywood together. That was Marilyn Monroe singing happy birthday to him at a Madison Square Garden party in 1962 to celebrate his forthcoming 45th birthday. It's the only birthday song we play on Bitter FM. Oh, other than The Smiths' "Unhappy Birthday".
One company I worked for in Auckland had an intercom for paging staff. The receptionist, barely in her 20's, used to sing the Marilyn Monroe version of Happy Birthday over the intercom to each staff member when it was their day... possibly to remind everyone that there was going to be a morning tea shout. However, I was impressed that she was even aware of that little piece of history... maybe not an important piece of history but definitely a special one.

tUnE-yArDs - 'Bizness'

tUnE-yArDs is essentially a musical project for Merrill Garbus. The second album 'whokill' also featured bass player Nate Brenner who co-wrote some of the songs. When playing live Merrill Garbus records drum loops on stage and builds on them with vocals, other instrumentation including ukulele and bass from Nate. tUnE-yArDs have recently added a saxophone section to their live performances as well. The single "Bizness" is unique in so many ways... the looped harmonies, the singing style Merrill adopts and basically the song structure itself. Afro-Beat with a difference.



"Bizness" Live

FM Belfast - "Lotus (Killing In The Name Of)"

I know I've said it before but I really am impressed by the musical output from Iceland. With such a small population they somehow continue to produce interesting band after interesting band. This time it is Reykjavík electro-pop band 'FM Belfast' and their unrecognisable cover of "Killing In The Name Of" originally a hit by 'Rage Against the Machine'... in fact, an alt-rock anthem. You couldn't call FM Belfast's version a rock anthem but what they do with it is something else... literally.



Rage Against the Machine - "Killing In the Name Of"

John Wesley Harding - "There's A Starbucks (Where The Starbucks Used To Be)"

John Wesley Harding has recently released his 10th studio album 'The Sound of His Own Voice' and it could be his best. He is a brilliant lyricist, which is no surprise to fans of the novelist Wesley Stace, who just happens to be the same person... the novelist going by his real name. The new album features a perfect example of his great lyrical talent in "There's A Starbucks (Where The Starbucks Used To Be)". This song explains everything anyone needs to know about this world we live in. A world where everything around us is constantly changing... but some things just stay the same.

Leonard Cohen - "Suzanne"

Leonard Cohen released his debut album 'Songs of Leonard Cohen' in 1967 and that album had his greatest song, in my opinion, "Suzanne." Said to be about Suzanne Verdal, a dancer, who was the wife of Quebecois sculptor Armand Vaillancourt at the time. He visited her many times at her loft near the river where they shared tea and oranges. He has stated that he was attracted to her but her husband was a friend and they were such a well known and beautiful couple... often seen around Montreal. He respected their relationship. It didn't stop him fantasizing though. The line "I touched your perfect body with my mind" was confirmation of that. A fitting testament to a beautiful lady and a beautiful city, Montreal. Stunning!