Posts Tagged Essay
Archive
March 14, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
In Praise of Hobbies Where You Kinda Suck: The Wonderful Experience of Being Quite Shit
I was never the greatest drummer. But I made a living from it. For a while. I made more money playing the drums in bands around the country than I have ever made from writing. I’d pack the car for a weekend and play songs I didn’t love to audiences there for beer and I […]Archive
December 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Back To The Excellent: Wings’ Much Maligned But Brilliant Back To The Egg Album at 40
At some stage in the coming weeks or months or next year there will be a new reissue by Sir Paul of Macca – his often shat-on final Wings album, Back To The Egg is rumoured to be part of the next round in the ongoing reissue/reappraisal reviewing of the McCartney/Wings canon. It’s possibly my […]Archive
October 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Emily Nussbaum: I Like To Watch
I Like To Watch: Arguing My Way Through The TV Revolution Emily Nussbaum Random House [This Review Originally Appeared At The Spinoff] What Emily Nussbaum knows is that dressing up to eat a burger and pay double is fine sometimes, if it makes you happy. But what a lot of us love is a glorified […]Archive
July 28, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Alan Duff: A Conversation With My Country
A Conversation With My Country Alan Duff Penguin Alan Duff wrote one of New Zealand’s most important books – Once Were Warriors. It’s not a particularly well written book. But its timing was crucial. It meant something. Since then he repeated the formula until no one cared, perfected the Old Man Yells At Cloud-persona of the truly entitled, right-wing newspaper columnist […]Archive
September 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
No Holiday: On The Decision Around Having “Another”
This piece first appeared on The Spinoff and is also included as one of the pieces in the book “Is It Bedtime Yet?” by Emily Writes & Friends I always wanted a daughter named Billie. Simple really. As soon as I heard Billie Holiday’s voice I was sold. Her voice, that sound, and the idea of her […]Archive
February 26, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Teju Cole: Blind Spot
Blind Spot Teju Cole Random House Award-winning novelist, essayist and journalist Teju Cole here provides an innovative, masterful meditation on the way we see things; the relationship/s between words and images. Blind Spot is all at once a set of micro-essays, a photography book, a travel diary and yet it transcends all – stands on […]Archive
January 14, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
PressPatron on Off The Tracks: Click to Donate and Support
As of today you’ll notice PressPatron on Off The Tracks, a banner button asking you to donate (if you wish) and a button in the side bar which tells you more specifically:Archive
December 3, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Songwriter Profile: Chris Knox
From his time with The Enemy and Toy Love through to Tall Dwarfs and his solo career, Chris Knox has been a hero to many, domestically and abroad, for his passionate performances, his writing and his ethos: a DIY song-craftsman. The image of Knox as the man in the stubbies and jandals is a crucial […]Archive
November 9, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 89 – Kirsten McDougall
Welcome to episode 89 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and Le Petite Chocolat. Here I had a chat with Kirsten McDougall. She is a writer, publicist and literary manager. We discuss her various roles and talk about her two books, The Invisible Rider and Tess. The Invisible Rider is a 2012 release, […]Archive
May 2, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
NZ Music Month: Back From The Dead Again
There’s probably a whole lot of stuff planned, as usual. There’ll be “showcases” and there’ll be token mentions in blog posts and newspaper articles, the usual names will be named. Ultimately the same backs will be patted. The same few – the chosen few, with just a small hint of new and therefore (allegedly) exciting being added […]Archive
April 5, 2017 by Simon Sweetman