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Posts Tagged Australian

Archive

November 18, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

Remembering The Time I Asked Rowland S. Howard If He Had Any Plans To Tour And He Said He Doubted It Since He Was Dying – A Month Later He Wasn’t Even Close To Wrong

In another lifetime (his!) I spoke to Rowland S. Howard. I didn’t know it at the time – neither did he, though he had far more of an idea than I did – he’d be dead in less than two months. He was dying when he made his last album, the brilliant Pop Crimes. I’ve […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Australia, Australian, Blog, Boys Next Door, Chat, Conversation, Dead, Dying, Interview, Nick Cave, Pop Crimes, Remembering The Time I Asked Rowland S. Howard If He Had Any Plans To Tour And He Said He Doubted It Since He Was Dying – A Month Later He Wasn’t Even Close To Wrong, Rowland Howard, Rowland S. Howard, Teenage Snuff Film, The Birthday Party, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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April 14, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 134

Hoodoo Gurus, Mars Needs Guitars! (1985) I don’t know a whole lot about Hoodoo Gurus – but I guess all you really need to know is that they knocked it out of the park with their first two albums – and had some highlights after as well. I bought the first two albums on vinyl […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1985, 80s, Aussie, Australian, Death Defying, Hoodoo Gurus, LP, Mars Needs Guitars, Record, The Gurus, The Vinyl Countdown # 134, Vinyl ·

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September 22, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 247

Gerald Murnane, Words in Order (2018) I reviewed the album right here just recently – but now I’m celebrating its glory and existence on vinyl as is the way with this blog-series. Gerald Murnane, the great – and reclusive Australian writer – saw fit to play along with the folly of recording some of his […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 2018), Aussie, Australian, Gerald Murnane, Limited, LP, Lyrics, Numbered, Palindrome, Poetry, Record, Signed, Spoken, Spoken Word, The Vinyl Countdown # 247, Vinyl, Words In Order, Writer, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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September 22, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 248

Peter Fonda, Peter Fonda (2018) I have a very kind friend based in Australia who has hooked me up with some interesting vinyl from talented, if lesser known players. His philosophy is simple: connecting people with music, sharing his tastes, helping out his mates – his mates in bands and his mates that like music. […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged Art, Artwork, Aussie, Australia, Australian, Band, Fonda, Friend, Indie, Inner Sleever, LP, Ltd Ed, Painting, Peter, Peter Fonda, Record, The Vinyl Countdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 248, Vinyl, You'd Know Best ·

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September 19, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 249

Darren Cross, Peacer (2018) I had best intentions about reviewing this – I really like it – but time has gathered up around me and surged everything forward. Darren Cross already has another new album – all instrumental too – so I’ll review that. And soon. But meanwhile I’ll give it a wee plug here. […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 2018), Australia, Australian, Blank Sabbath, Darren Cross, Gerling, Jep And Dep, Jessica Cassar, LP, Peacer, Record, the E.L.F., The Vinyl Countdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 249, Vinyl ·

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February 18, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sam Newton: Stare Into The Dark

Sam Newton  Stare Into The Dark  Sam Newton/Independent  Sometimes exactly what you want is a songwriter that is dialing it right back. Across three albums Australian singer/songwriter Sam Newton has been exploring that concept. Here with his latest it is almost entirely about ‘the song’.  Sure he has a pleasant voice – he summons the requisite vulnerability, heartbreak, and in fact a range of emotions. He’s […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Australia, Australian, Sam Newton, Sam Newton: Stare Into The Dark, Singer/Songwriter, Stare Into The Dark ·

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January 11, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 342

V/A, Rikky and Pete [OST] (1988) I was chuffed to find this – something I knew about for a while…it’s the soundtrack to a film of the same name (obviously). Have yet to see the film, just this trailer. But I’ll hunt it out. The songs here (mostly) come from Phil Judd, many under the […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged [OST], 1988, Australian, Crowded House, Eddie Rayner, Film, Fingers Crossed, LP, Noel Crombie, Noel's Cowards, Phil Judd, Record, Recurring Dream, Rikky & Pete, Rikky and Pete, Schnell-Fenster, Score, Songs, Soundtrack, The Vinyl Countdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 342, V/A, Various Artists, Vinyl, Wendy Matthews ·

Archive

December 17, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

The 1001 Albums Challenge # 112: The Triffids – “Calenture”

I so love the album Born Sandy Devotional that even if The Triffids did nothing else of value at all I’d still tell you they’re one of my favourite bands. Turns out they made a small handful of perfectly imperfect albums and I’m still getting to them. I hadn’t heard Calenture – which has changed […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged # 112, 1001, 1001 Albums, 1001 Albums Challenge, 1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, 1980s, 1987, 80s, Australia, Australian, Born Sandy Devotional, Calenture, David McComb, Eighties, OZ, Pop, The 1001 Albums Challenge, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 112:, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 112: The Triffids, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 112: The Triffids – “Calenture”, The Triffids, The Triffids – “Calenture”, Triffids ·

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September 4, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

Lo Carmen: Lovers Dreamers Fighters

Lo Carmen Lovers Dreamers Fighters Chiquita Records The breathy, smoky voice of Australian country-rock songstress Lo Carmen should set your world alight – or at the very least let you know whether you’re in or not – almost instantly with the opening, title track of this, her seventh album. But if you want the safest […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Americana, Australia, Australian, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Chiquita Records, Lo Carmen, Lo Carmen: Lovers Dreamers Fighters, Loene Carmen, Lovers Dreamers Fighters, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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August 22, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

R.I.P. Spencer P. Jones

Spencer P. Jones has died. I loved so much of the music Spencer P. Jones created and assisted. For he was behind so many bands and various guises, sometimes a sideman, often out front – his songs…someone else’s songs…killer player! The Australian guitarist – best known for his involvement in The Johnnys and Beasts of […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged Aussie, Australia, Australian, Beasts of Bourbon, Death, Eulogy, Highlights Of A Dangerous Life, Kiwi, Liver Cancer, NZ, Paul Kelly, R.I.P., R.I.P. Spencer P. Jones, Spencer Jones, Spencer P. Jones, Te Awamutu, The Johnnys, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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August 5, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

Midnight Oil – 1984: Film

Midnight Oil: 1984 Director: Rob Argall Piccolo Films Pty Ltd./Madman In 1985 Tears For Fears sang that “Everybody” wanted “to rule the world” from their hit of the same name. In 1980s pop – certainly by the mid-80s – musicians were either aiming to be world-beaters or world-savers. The political climate was fraught, the threat […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged 1980s, 1984, Aussie, Australia, Australian, Concert, Concert Film, Doco, Documentary, DVD, Film, Gig, Jim Moginie, Live, Midnight, Midnight Oil, Midnight Oil - 1984: Film, Midnight Oil: 1984, Movie, Movie Review, Oil, Oils, Peter Garrett, Politics, Rob Argall, Rob Hirst, The Oils, Tour, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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July 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 391

Rockmelons, Tales of the City (1988) Rockmelons – or “The Rockies” in that Australian parlance of the day (and now). Fairly ordinary band, possibly dreadful. Listening to it now – well it only seems absurd. Why did I want this? I have no fuckin idea. Rockpile… Now there’s a fucking band!
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1988, Australia, Australian, LP, New Groove, Record, Records, Rockmelons, Rockpile, Tales Of The City, The Rockies, The Vinyl Countdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 391, Vinyl ·
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