Author Archive
December 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Harry Nilsson: Losst And Founnd
Harry Nilsson Losst And Founnd Omnivore Recordings Well, it’s here now – you can hear it – the final (posthumous) Harry Nilsson album. The record Harry was working on in the mid-90s. He laid down the vocal cuts on what was to be his comeback album. He hadn’t recorded a record since the late-1970s; the […]
December 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: Big Jobs
My life is measured in walks and work, not much of one makes for increases in the other column My life is many miles of footsteps, sometimes searching for a meaning, some meaning, any meaning – other times simply demeaning But that leads me on (leads me) and I lead the dog (or is he […]
December 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 202
Paul McCartney, Pipes of Peace (1983) Of all the Paul McCartney material to be reissued this is the one I hated the most hearing it the second time around – I had lost love for it, rather than gained any. And I say that as a fan of the title track purely because my intermediate […]
December 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Juliana Hatfield: Weird
Juliana Hatfield Weird American Laundromat Over 30 years since her debut album, and some two-dozen records featuring her name on the spine now – I’ve worried that Juliana Hatfield was in some sort of holding pattern for a while and now reduced to little more than a gimmick with first her Olivia Newton John covers […]
December 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Gerald Cleaver and Violet Hour: Live at Firehouse 12
Gerald Cleaver and Violet Hour Live at Firehouse 12 Sunnyside Drummer/composer Gerald Cleaver is on fire here leading his band Violet Hour through some post-bop future-classics. Ben Waltzer (piano) is an early delight on the opener, Pilgrim’s Progress, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt has a chance to rip here too. And Chris Lightcap (double bass) is urgent […]
December 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
San Fran’s Summer Sounds on the Balcony: DJ Set (28/12/19)
Between Christmas and New Year’s you’re looking for something to do – a place to chill after a couple of days with family and friends. San Fran in Wellington’s Cuba Street has you covered. Saturday, December 28, from 5pm there’ll be music to enjoy, the balcony to bask on and a BBQ where you can even […]
December 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: drawn to the hole
the conversation is buried deep the legacy sits somewhere underneath best to leave it where it is it’s there for many reasons touch on it but don’t touch it leave nothing but the trace of the smile from the attempt – that is all that is needed
December 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 203
Donald Byrd, Black Byrd / Slop Jar Blues [Single] (1973) The guy in the shop goes, “oh mean, you got some DJ sets coming up?” And I said, “Nah, I just want to play this at home”. Cool story, bro. Yeah, I know. But I can see how buying a single by Donald Byrd might […]
December 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Shit That’s Good! Crap Albums I Love # 18 – Mick Jagger, “Primitive Cool”
Mick Jagger, Primitive Cool, 1987 I’d argue this is the least crap of any of the Mick Jagger solo albums actually – but a lot of you didn’t think so. Including Jagger. I went with this – not only because I genuinely love it and it’s my favourite of his solo records (She’s The Boss […]
December 8, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poem: For Closure
Be careful when asking for closure. You might get it. It will never arrive in the way you want it – if you have to ask then there’s not going to be some movie-moment turnaround. It’s just going to be some version of the word ‘no’, with enough wiggle-room to leave you annoyed and the […]
December 8, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Jon Batiste: Chronology of a Dream – Live At The Village Vanguard
Jon Batiste Chronology of a Dream: Live At The Village Vanguard Verve The hardworking Jon Batiste has already released a previous live volume from last year’s residency at the Village Vanguard. Where that was all Monk-like (if not Monk-lite) this new one showcases Batiste’s compositional chops and the tunes are short-sharp statements in groove. His […]
December 8, 2019 by Simon Sweetman