Author Archive
August 15, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
John Carpenter: Anthology – Movie Themes 1974-1998
John Carpenter Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998 Scared Bones Records John Carpenter – like John Waters – finds himself at 70 years of age and with one of the sideline aspects of his filmmaking career now being the new main revenue stream. For Waters it’s writing and delivering his one-man-show, for Carpenter it’s music. They’re both […]
August 14, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Wellington Film Society: Preview – Baden Baden (August 20)
The Wellington Film Society’s program is back after an amazing run of Film Festival movies to keep everyone busy – and (for the most part) happy. Now we’re back to regular weekly Film Society offerings. And first up after the winter break is Baden Baden by Rachel Lang. A coming-of-age comedy about a ditzy French […]
August 14, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: John Prine Showed Me His Pussy On Instagram
I love John Prine, he’s a songwriter’s songwriter, a hero to many – though not as well known as he should be. He’s going to have even more of a following if he keeps behaving the way he is right now on Instagram. He started following me – and I didn’t even tweet about it […]
August 13, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 81: The Cramps – “Songs The Lord Taught Us”
I just have no idea what albums I’ve heard by The Cramps – but I do know I’d never heard this until the book told me to try it. I don’t even know when or how I first heard The Cramps – the sort of band that feels like it always existed and was also […]
August 12, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Peter Perrett: How The West Was Won
Peter Perrett How The West Was Won Domino Recording Co Ltd. My favourite album of 2017 – and I forgot to mention it until just now – was easily Peter Perrett’s How The West Was Won. Remarkable for many reasons, not least because it was the debut solo albums, arriving some 30 years after he […]
August 12, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 382
Bob Dylan, Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964) I’ve recently decided I am going to try to own everything by Bob Dylan on vinyl – I have a few already, so I’m not starting from zero. But I will be re-buying some of the 80s albums I guess – I had them, gave them away, […]
August 12, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Two Badges
Two badges on my bag, The Ultimate Warrior and Joni Mitchell. Perhaps I can boil my influences down to just those two – (all else somewhere in-between). The Ultimate Warrior sent me a Christmas card once. He’d changed his name to – simply – Warrior. He didn’t wish me well, instead offering me an affirmation. […]
August 10, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Shannon Shaw: Shannon in Nashville
Shannon Shaw Shannon in Nashville Nonesuch The obvious aim here is to reference Dusty in Memphis and though this can’t quite hold a candle – its got lighter-in-the-air attitude and if just some of the fans of that sublime Dusty Springfield gave Shannon Shaw a chance it might be a better world. Shannon in Nashville has […]
August 10, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: Suzanne Vega (August 8, Wgtn)
Suzanne Vega Opera House, Wellington Wednesday, August 8 For her New Zealand shows it was just Suzanne Vega and long-serving bassist Mike Visceglia. I say just because it was the full band that performed in Australia, at wonderful shows celebrating the respective 30th and 25th anniversaries of the Solitude Standing and 99.9F Degrees albums.
August 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 128 – Chris Familton
Welcome to episode 128 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat. Chris Familton is a Sydney-based, Kiwi-born writer, DJ and musician. He has the music sites Doubtful Sounds and Post to Wire where he reviews, interviews, blogs, makes suggestions and recommendations, creates playlists – you know, all the things…
August 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Nikka Costa: Nikka & Strings – Underneath and in Between
Nikka Costa Nikka & Strings: Underneath and in Between Go Funk Yourself Records Inc/Metropolis Recordings The soul, blues and pop sound of Nikka Costa has been sorely missed across the last half-decade. Here with not quite a new album but new renditions of old favourites (from her pen as well as some standards) we have […]
August 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman