Tom Robinson Band - "2 4 6 8 Motorway"

"2 4 6 8 Motorway" from 1977 was the biggest hit by the Tom Robinson Band and it is a bit of an anthem. It's the type of song that the rock format stations and the alternative stations can both play with the same enthusiasm. What sounds like a protest song is definitely not a protest song.

Lou Reed - "Sword Of Damocles"

I went away for the long weekend and it was probably the longest time without internet access I have endured for quite a while. Although it wasn't really a problem at all. As soon as I arrive home and connect to the net I find out about the passing of Lou Reed. I know he had a liver transplant recently but it still came as a great shock. Lou Reed was a true legend! I would say he was as influential as Dylan - I mean, look at the influence of The Velvet Underground. They didn't just inspire thousands of bands, from the 60's to the present time, they even inspired whole movements... if it wasn't for The Velvet Underground, the Flying Nun 'Dunedin Sound' would not have existed. Lou Reed's brilliant 1992 album 'Magic and Loss' was an album of death and mourning, which was inspired by the death of a couple of his friends. So his album of mourning is now our album of mourning.

Demetri Martin - New Cigarettes

If I run out of time to post a song on this blog - the go-to man is Demetri Martin... works every time.

Malcolm Mclaren - "Double Dutch"

Malcolm Mclaren was the man who gave us the Sex Pistols and we thank him for changing the world. He was always on the lookout for new and exciting developments in music and popular culture. In 1983 he found something. With "Double Dutch" he introduced us to the skipping game that was popularised in New York at the time. The interesting thing about the song is that the roots of the Double Dutch rope jumping game are, without doubt, New York but the music sounds nothing other than South African.

Delaney Davidson & Marlon Williams - "Get Down On Your Knees and Pray"

I've been a bit busy lately and I admit I haven't been true to my word - a daily song blog should be exactly that. I don't really have any excuses, well, except a bit of painting, a few beers in the spring sunshine and a concert in Rotorua 'The Grand Ole Hayride' featuring Delaney Davidson, Marlon Williams, Tami Neilson and Dave Khan.

Monica Zetterlund with Bill Evans Trio - "Waltz for Debby"

A while back I was told about an album by Swedish Jazz singer/actress Monica Zetterlund and legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans and I've only recently got around to downloading it. The album 'Waltz for Debby' was released in 1964 and should not be confused with his Trio's 1961 album of the same name. The story goes that Monica Zetterlund recorded a Swedish version of Bill Evans' "Waltz for Debby" and it was quite successful back in Sweden. The fact that she added vocals to his song interested him enough to make contact with her and before long they were recording an album together. The rest, I suppose, is history. The video added below has as much improvisation as jazz music itself does.... and it was at a time when smoking was as common as texting is today. This is just a taste - the album is the full buffet.

Sleigh Bells - "Bitter Rivals"

Sleigh Bells are back with a new album, which means the world is now a slightly better place. Don't be fooled by the intro to the title track "Bitter Rivals," the noise-pop sound of Sleigh Bells that we love, thankfully, is still there.
Bitter ....