Free Digital Sheet Music - cd reviews

Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and the soul of R & B

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:54:11 +0000

For some reason, when an Australian artist lacks inspiration or sufficient incoming revenue (I don’t need to name the guilty parties do I?) they release an album of soul covers. In a remarkably perceptive review of Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed and the True Loves CD Roll With You, Bernard Zuel wrote: … R&B, it comes down to sex. [...]

Jeff Lang - Half Seas Over

Sat, 31 May 2008 14:08:23 +0000

Track by track Southern Highlands Daughter A song of regret. Lovely fingerpicking. A lilting track that will last a long time in the live set. Copper Mine A good example of Jeff’s ability to get into someone’s worldview and create a story. The industrial percussion adds to the feel of working in a copper mine. The Savannah Way Jeff can do [...]

Abbe May a howlin’ and a moanin’

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:24:55 +0000

Once night, watching Rockwiz there was this: It was one of those “Who the hell is this? I must hear more.” I couldn’t find more until recently as the artist in question, Abbe May just released her first album titled Howl and Moan. And a fine debut it is. Abby’s blues influence is obvious through [...]

And we call upon the author to explain

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:34:39 +0000

AbattoirBlues/Lyre of Orpheus was is the most exhilarating and rewarding album released by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Because of that it would be a hard one to follow up. Not that Nick and the Seeds were in any hurry. To fill the gap, Grinderman was released that allowed Nick to give reign [...]

The thematic eMusic downloads for February

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:41:02 +0000

Joy of joys, my eMu account ticked over and a download I went. For some reason, the downloaded albums revolved around a theme. You work it out. First there was Melbourne band Damnzal with a self titled album of great melodic metal. Then CJ Sleez with Back from the Brink. Another treasure trove of full tilt [...]

Some honking great rock’n'roll

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:27:28 +0000

A few weeks ago, Adam Spencer spun an awesome 1950’s rock’n'roll tune called Wiggle Tail by Googie Rene. The track came from Rarities from the Bob Hite Vault. Bob Hite was a member of Canned Heat and apparently had an incredible collection of of 78s. I found the rarities collection on eMusic and promptly added [...]

Not quite so bitchin’

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:10:40 +0000

For many artists, the quest each new album is to explore new musical terrains. To expand their sonic palette and not get stuck into rut with an identifiable sound and style. On the other hand you have a bands like The Donnas that realize their strengths lie in what they have always done and [...]

Feeling Minnesota Pt 1 - Hüsker Dü

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:37:28 +0000

Back in the early 90s commonly I associated with a bunch of ne’er do wells, scoundrels, scalliwags and other people generally on the run. Yes, I was running with the ex-pat English teaching crowd in Japan. And a fine mob they were too down south in Kokura. There was a tendency towards very long nights [...]

Airbourne are running wild but need direction

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:13:43 +0000

It is no secret that Aussie lads Airbourne take their musical queues from classic Oz pub rawk trinity of Rose Tattoo, The Angels and AC/DC. Thrown in a dash of Priest and Maiden and you pretty much have their sound. And there is nothing wrong with that. It is a mighty template for rock [...]

Torrents of Lang

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:40:46 +0000

There is no denying that Jeff Lang is one of Australia’s musical treasures. A superb singer/songwriter and of course, guitarist. He’s even appeared on Spicks and Specks. It was 6 years ago this Easter that I first saw Jeff in one of the tents at Byron. Maybe it was just beers but at the end of [...]

Love Junk

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:32:59 +0000

Now if you are Candian the power pop of The Pursuit of Happiness may not be that unfamiliar. And if you are an Aussie with a good memory you may remember the 1988 song I’m An Adult Now that got some airplay. But apart from that one brief flutter, TPOH has never resurfaced in [...]

Led Zep: Lean and Mean on DVD

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 13:03:12 +0000

Most weekends see The Beloved and myself engaged in titanic battles of vocabulary over the Scrabble board. Usually I like to have the footy in background but as the season is over (apart from tomorrow’s NRL grand final) music DVD’s have been playing in the background. The other day I picked up Led Zep’s live 2003 [...]

Oakley Hall

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 12:10:15 +0000

I was given Oakley Hall’s Gypsum Strings to review. They were unknown to me prior last week but I’ve done the review and can confidently now say that Oakley Hall are my favourite new band. Echoes are heard of Neil Young, Zeppelin, Pentangle, The Stones etc without being overtly derivative. At Oakley Hall’s website you [...]

Thommo’s 1000 Years of Popular Music

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 04:57:11 +0000

Via the anti-Dylan in today’s SMH, it is worth nothing that Richard Thompson has released a 2 CD and DVD set of his popular 1000 Years of Popular Music project. The genesis for the project was as follows: Thompson is a little too honest. He just doesn’t play the games the industry expects. So, when Playboy magazine [...]

Latest Halo-17 Reviews

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 09:16:48 +0000

I’ve got three more reviews up at Halo-17. An interesting mix of sounds. Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways Magyar Posse - Randmon Avenger Midnight Juggernauts - Secrets of the Universe I have plans to review Peaches and the Howling Bells real soon.