Dead Stars are a band from New York with a 90's alt rock sound. "Crawl" comes from their 2014 album 'Slumber'.
"Crawl" starts off with a Sonic Youth fuzzy intro and quickly turns into Nirvana heaven or Nirvana nirvana.
You could call them a 90's alt rock tribute band but that wouldn't do them justice.
Just good old rock n' roll with a 90's influence.
Lake Taupo
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Monday, September 3, 2018
Alela Diane - "Ether & Wood"
Alela Diane released her fifth album 'Cusp' earlier this year and it quickly became a favourite. I still play it constantly. It is undoubtedly my album of the year, so far.
A broken thumb nail apparently moved her away from the guitar and to the piano for most of the songs on Cusp. A move that was inspiring and at the same time it changed the way she approached her songwriting... maybe in a similar way to what Conor Oberst did with his 'Ruminations' album.
She came close to dying during the birth of her second child and the album title comes from that experience, "Life and death meet in a cusp" as she commented.
She even admits that writing songs about motherhood is a musical taboo, however, she doesn't apologise here. And she has no reason to apologise. The emotions are deep, but assured, and there are no hints of saccharine slipping in. Nothing short of stunning from start to finish.
"Ether & Wood", which was released as a single prior to the album coming out, is about the different lives that are lived within a lifetime.
Treat yourself and check out 'Cusp' now.
A broken thumb nail apparently moved her away from the guitar and to the piano for most of the songs on Cusp. A move that was inspiring and at the same time it changed the way she approached her songwriting... maybe in a similar way to what Conor Oberst did with his 'Ruminations' album.
She came close to dying during the birth of her second child and the album title comes from that experience, "Life and death meet in a cusp" as she commented.
She even admits that writing songs about motherhood is a musical taboo, however, she doesn't apologise here. And she has no reason to apologise. The emotions are deep, but assured, and there are no hints of saccharine slipping in. Nothing short of stunning from start to finish.
"Ether & Wood", which was released as a single prior to the album coming out, is about the different lives that are lived within a lifetime.
Treat yourself and check out 'Cusp' now.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Nine Inch Nails - "God Break Down The Door"
Nine Inch Nails' final instalment of the EP trilogy has come to light with the release of 'Bad Witch'.
Over the six songs we get a bit of a snapshot of Trent Reznor's full musical repertoire - going back to his industrial beginnings. It's the experimental jazz that kind of brings it all together on parts of this release. Particularly on "God Break Down The Door" with the sax as a bed of minor chaos and combined with the vocals it has David Bowie's BlackStar written all over it.
As we well know the influence Bowie's music has had on artists through most of his career - it's nice to know that even his last album may have been inspirational to another of the musical heavyweights.
Over the six songs we get a bit of a snapshot of Trent Reznor's full musical repertoire - going back to his industrial beginnings. It's the experimental jazz that kind of brings it all together on parts of this release. Particularly on "God Break Down The Door" with the sax as a bed of minor chaos and combined with the vocals it has David Bowie's BlackStar written all over it.
As we well know the influence Bowie's music has had on artists through most of his career - it's nice to know that even his last album may have been inspirational to another of the musical heavyweights.
Monday, May 21, 2018
BERNIE GRIFFEN and the Thin Men 'MY BRAIN EXPLODED'
"My Brain Exploded" is the first taste of what's to come when Bernie Griffen's third album 'Doors Wide Open' is released shortly. His self deprecating lyrics about his ADHD with lines like “I’ve given up the H, now just struggling with the ADD, it drives me crazy!”... and his long time life partner and musical partner on this album, Kirsten Warner, would probably agree with all that he is saying, affectionately, of course.
Bernie's voice can't hide the signs of his emphysema - but just like Dylan, the songs are for that voice and that's what we expect.
The Gothic Country/Folk artist is on top of his game and from what I've heard from the album so far (from live sessions), I think it will be one of the year's best.
A great contribution from Kirsten and the band 'The Thin Men' needs to be acknowledged as well.
Bernie's voice can't hide the signs of his emphysema - but just like Dylan, the songs are for that voice and that's what we expect.
The Gothic Country/Folk artist is on top of his game and from what I've heard from the album so far (from live sessions), I think it will be one of the year's best.
A great contribution from Kirsten and the band 'The Thin Men' needs to be acknowledged as well.
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Hookworms - "Negative Space"
Hookworms are a Northern English indie band named after a parasite that you don't really want to know about. Their third album Microshift is a stunner. The opening track "Negative Space" is an example of their shift in direction... more than a microshift anyway.
It starts off like an old school krautrock classic and ends up being an indie rock anthem. The change is seamless enough to go along for the ride all the way.
There is also an underlying LCD Soundsystem influence throughout.
It may be about depression but the outcome is pretty positive to the listener.
It starts off like an old school krautrock classic and ends up being an indie rock anthem. The change is seamless enough to go along for the ride all the way.
There is also an underlying LCD Soundsystem influence throughout.
It may be about depression but the outcome is pretty positive to the listener.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Happy Talk/Dream Trilogy
Part 1, "Happy Talk" - Muriel Smith
"Happy Talk" is a song from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. The song was sung by the character Bloody Mary in the musical. In the 1958 film version it was Muriel Smith who was the voice for actress Juanita Hall. I have to admit that I am no fan of musicals at all - so what the hell is this song doing on this blog and why would Bitter FM even play this? Good question... but the answer is in the next two parts of this trilogy.
Part 2, "Happy Talk" - Captain Sensible
In 1982 Captain Sensible, of English punk band The Damned, released a solo single - a cover of the Rodgers and Hammerstein song "Happy Talk" and it went to number 1 in the UK. It was a surprise choice of a song to cover for a member of a pioneering punk band - but he kind of made it his own. The appeal was obvious and the popularity was well deserved.
Part 3, "Dream" - Dizzee Rascal
English hip hop artist and grime pioneer, Dizzee Rascal, also released a cover of "Happy Talk", which was re-named "Dream". The song was released as a single from his Showtime album in 2004. It contains a sample from the Captain Sensible song and while some may say it's less a cover and more a song featuring a prominent sample, to me it is a great reinvention of a great cover.
"Happy Talk" is a song from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. The song was sung by the character Bloody Mary in the musical. In the 1958 film version it was Muriel Smith who was the voice for actress Juanita Hall. I have to admit that I am no fan of musicals at all - so what the hell is this song doing on this blog and why would Bitter FM even play this? Good question... but the answer is in the next two parts of this trilogy.
Part 2, "Happy Talk" - Captain Sensible
In 1982 Captain Sensible, of English punk band The Damned, released a solo single - a cover of the Rodgers and Hammerstein song "Happy Talk" and it went to number 1 in the UK. It was a surprise choice of a song to cover for a member of a pioneering punk band - but he kind of made it his own. The appeal was obvious and the popularity was well deserved.
Part 3, "Dream" - Dizzee Rascal
English hip hop artist and grime pioneer, Dizzee Rascal, also released a cover of "Happy Talk", which was re-named "Dream". The song was released as a single from his Showtime album in 2004. It contains a sample from the Captain Sensible song and while some may say it's less a cover and more a song featuring a prominent sample, to me it is a great reinvention of a great cover.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Bap Kennedy - "The Ghosts of Belfast"
It was sad news when I belatedly heard about this great singer-songwriter's death in 2016. Bap Kennedy's 1998 album 'Domestic Blues' was unavoidable during any visit to Real Groovy Records, in Auckland, at the time. I usually trusted them with their recommendations and they were on the money with this one. The album was produced by Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy in Nashville and released on Steve Earle's E-Squared label.
The album is a perfect blend of Bap's Northern Irish/Celtic roots and the Americana of the Earle/Nashville camp. Steve Earle's presence is strong throughout and for me that's a real plus. In saying that though, this is still considered an actual Bap Kennedy album over a collaboration album.
The album is full of gems and the one that got most of my attention would have to be "The Ghosts of Belfast". The ultimate Roots/Americana song.... with one of my favourite lines "My glass is half full - but it's cracked on the side".
The album is a perfect blend of Bap's Northern Irish/Celtic roots and the Americana of the Earle/Nashville camp. Steve Earle's presence is strong throughout and for me that's a real plus. In saying that though, this is still considered an actual Bap Kennedy album over a collaboration album.
The album is full of gems and the one that got most of my attention would have to be "The Ghosts of Belfast". The ultimate Roots/Americana song.... with one of my favourite lines "My glass is half full - but it's cracked on the side".
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