Karen O - "Body" - Live

The charismatic lead singer for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O, finally released her debut solo album 'Crush Songs' in 2014. It is generally an acoustic album comprising of songs she recorded over a five year period from 2006. For some it's no more than a collection of demos - but to others, including myself, it is another side of Karen O that was cherished. On 'Body' she adds a touch of the Karen O we know from Yeah Yeah Yeahs near the end. A perfect live rendition - or just a case of "don't let the intimate surroundings change a thing".

Bob Dylan - "License to Kill"

With the latest release from the Bob Dylan archives 'Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985)' I had mixed feelings until I actually played it. The mixed feelings was that it was a period of Dylan's music that I haven't revisited much at all over the last decade or so. The releases that this volume covers is 1981’s Shot of Love, 1983’s Infidels, and 1985’s Empire Burlesque. 'Infidels' was easily my favourite of the three but 'Empire Burlesque' was an album I thought may have sounded a bit dated now but hearing the outtakes was actually enjoyable and worth revisiting it. But back to 'Infidels', which was released in 1983 and was his first secular release since the christian trilogy of 'Slow Train Coming', 'Saved' and 'Shot of Love'. It was produced by Mark Knopfler and featured his guitar skills, guitarist Mick Taylor (yes, the former Rolling Stones one), keyboardist Alan Clark, bassist Robbie Shakespeare, and drummer Sly Dunbar (Sly and Robbie). As you can see from that line up of guests - the chances of something great was very high and it delivered. Surprisingly, an outtake of "License to Kill" wasn't on the 'Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985)' album, although a live version from the David Letterman Show was included on the 5th disc of the deluxe 5-CD version. But Bob Dylan recently released this video from the 'Infidels' sessions at The Power Station studio in New York to make up for the loss.