Dark road

Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge (2007) **

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: When I'm Looking For Someone To Love Me 

Prediction: Kevy will give this a genuine 5-stars, but, as with Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave, I have to file Richard Hawley away in the 'moody crooners who are widely regarded but I just don't get' category.

I have tried with Richard before - the UK press love him and the writers in The Guardian and Mojo Magazine rave about him, so I've given him a shot. But... I still can't see the appeal. Hopefully GK and KS will clue me in.

As I've pointed out before, I prefer sunny music for the most part - stuff that makes me feel good, and Richard's songs are all drenched in sadness. A regret for what could have been, for an old life, black sails, dead men, long dark roads, ghosts, dead trees, wistful ballads, the sun refusing to shine...it's not my cup o tea boyo.

Musically, all the fifties lushness is also hard for me to swallow.

The songs I thought were better than others is a very short list, I'm afraid. Each time When I'm Looking For Someone To Love Me started, it made me jump up to check it was still the same album! Upbeat and toe tappingly infectious after all that dour stuff - it's a bright spot. Even so there's an underlying sense of self-pity to the song. Poor Richard.

Then it's back to the darkness. Sigh.

I know I've tried, but just as with Marlon Williams - I've struggled to appreciate the appeal of Richard Hawley (at least I'm consistent).

Anyway - ignore me - I'll be reading Kevy's rave review for what I'm missing.

It'll be fine

Our Girl - The Good Kind (2024) ****

Nominated by: Tom  

Music club: MNAC

MNAC playlist addition: Something About Me Being A Woman 

I can well understand the appeal for Tom. This is most definitely a sound that he (and I) love. Dreamy female pop vocals and catchy languid beats with the occasional guitar wig out your thing? This alternative rock trio is for you!

Strengths can sometimes also be weaknesses depending on your point of view. Our Girl have a great sound and the album has eleven tracks that showcase that great sound. Because it's so signature/samey, some might say it's hard to differentiate songs and/or listeners might be looking for some variety in the grooves.

I am not of that persuasion - instead I see the uniformity and coherency as a strength. I could relax, knowing it will all be fine.

Go you good thing!

Heart to ride

Nadia Reid - Out Of My Province   (2020) *****

Nominated by: Kev

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Oh Canada

Nadia Reid just keeps getting better and better and she started out with two outstanding albums. Out Of My Province is her third, and best so far (she has a new one coming, reports KS).

The full band setting hasn't eclipsed her at all - instead the added electric guitars, orchestra, brass and drums create an excellent foundation for her glorious voice. Oh Canada is a great example - the layers are carefully and skillfully created to serve the song.

There are plenty of echoes of other singers but I find it hard to put my finger on exact ones, so, in the end, Nadia emerges as someone with her own vibe.

Certainly no skippers among the set, my only slight criticism would be positioning Get The Devil Out as the last track. I'd plump for Other Side Of The Wheel instead with its final thought hanging in the air: 

Life has given me just what I needed/ Time is cruel, but time is a healer.

I bought her first two albums and will be looking for a physical copy of this one as well. Great choice Kevy!

Bedsitter images

Al Stewart with Dave Nachmanoff  - Uncorked (2009) *****

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Last Days of the Century 

Right from the first few strums this album made me sit back in my seat and go - Woooah!!

I've liked Al Stewart for a long time, but I haven't necessarily been a big fan - i.e. someone who purposefully collected his records. That changes with this live recording. It's that good.

That first track, Last Days of the Century, is out-of-the-park brilliant. Each time I heard it, it reminded me of Long Strange Golden Road - The Waterboys. Must be the kindred Celtic spirit. I'm sure Mike Scott has been influenced by Al.

Al's got a lot going for him - the lovely voice, the off-beat exotic subject matter of his lyrics (hard to be original with love songs but he manages it consistently well) and his ability with a guitar.

Dave Nachmanoff is superb as a co-guitarist. He gets a lot of justifiable acclaim during the set for his playing and he's an excellent harmony presence as well.

The material is uniformly excellent (he avoids his signature tunes which is a smart move I think) and keeping the stage chatter to a couple of shaggy dog stories is a good strategy as well. The one bit where they crack each other up is a nice moment and fine as a one-off.

Nothing much else to add really - apart from the stray thought that it's wonderful how a minimalist approach (two guys with two acoustic guitars) can captivate and hold attention throughout a live set so thoroughly. No need for a band to swamp Al's vocals and their deft playing - just two guys going at it in sympatico.

Great choice GK!

Square wave

The Voidz - Like All Before You (2024) ****

Nominated by: Al

Music club: MNAC

MNAC playlist addition: Prophecy of the Dragon

I was joking with Al that I'd lie about liking this even if I hated it and guess what? I don't have to lie. At all.

This is great! I was a little worried when I saw the album had an Overture and an Outro (could have been very pretentious) but in the context of this album it's very fitting.

This Overture works a bit like Funeral For A Friend before Love Lies Bleeding - i.e. perfectly!

Then it's all on with a mash up of The Killers, Cher (yes Cher), New Order and The Darkness. And it has real songs! And it's hilarious! And it doesn't run out of oomph - in fact the last couple of songs before the Outro are great.

The humour is important to my enjoyment of Like All Before You. I may have this entirely wrong, but it sounds like they are totally having fun and not taking themselves too seriously on these songs. I laughed out loud a few times, in a good way.

Favourite tracks: Square Wave; Prophecy of the Dragon; 7 Horses; All The Same; When Will the Time of These Bastards End.

Even though it's not perfect (not every song is a masterpiece), there's not one song I didn't like or felt the need to skip on repeat listens (and I listened to it a lot this week). I didn't mind the vocal manipulations at all - for me they added some variety and fun to the mix.

I'll have to go back and listen to Virtue now - the album I've previously dissed, and re-examine it (it was an album chosen by Al before I started this blog).

Genuinely loved this record!

Don't ask me twice

Sin City - Another Round (2024) *** 

Nominated by: KS

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Mama, Please Let Me In

This is a Kiwi duo/band who appear to have relocated to Aussie to ply their trade. They play a sort of rollicking country rock'n'roll hybrid in a deliberately sloppy old timey way.

Let's get something clear: they aren't Faces. There is no Rod Stewart type handling vocals, nor is there an Ian McLagan directing traffic or Ron Wood on strutting guitar.  

Instead, this Sin City album eventually settles into some pleasant Americana inspired roots rock. But it is inconsistent in its approach. 

Sidewalk Sale is effective because it avoids the strident and has a nice country feel. I'm Your Man is probably the best of the attempts at an early Beatle rockabilly sound (their attempts at Carl Perkins songs spring to mind). She's Got No Heart is the best Graham Parker moment.

Mama, Let Me In is a highlight with its Commander Cody country (I love Commander Cody) and best sloppy rock moment is Candy.

The wonky moments - like Loving Arms don't work for me because they are deliberately aiming for an American vibe with an American voice.

As things go, if I want some rock infused country blues with a Kiwi inflection, I'd prefer to listen to The Desotos. Paul Gurney has a more dominant, realistic voice for this kind of material, and, as a band, they don't sound forced. 

Obvs. this is purely my personal preference, and I realise I'm being a bit critical of Sin City. I don't really mean to. They are a good time band and criticising them seems a bit mean.

Good luck to them in the Aussie bars!

Running in the family

Level 42 - Running In The Family (1987) ***

Nominated by: GK

Music club: Wander to Wozza's

Playlist addition: Running in the Family

Greg quite rightly signed off his Album of the Week choice with 'not expecting five stars but don’t care'. He loves this album (this was not news to me!) and that's great.

Sure enough, although 42 is the answer to "the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything", it's a three star album for me - pretty fine.

In the eighties I admired and liked the big hit singles well enough, principally Lessons in Love and Running in the Family. They have only grown in stature since then, becoming standouts on eighties compilations. Although, they are very much of their time (1987).

Three other songs were released as singles from this album (To Be with You Again, It's Over, and Children Say) but I don't remember them being too successful in NZ. Nor do I remember them being on the radio.

So, I didn't buy any of them then, nor did I buy any Level 42 albums. Why not?

Well, at the time, their mainstream commercial sound wasn't appealing to me beyond those two singles. Plus, I was knee deep in nappies (Adam's) and trying to keep our family of four afloat at the time, so my eye wasn't on the ball.

Listening to the album now reveals that I didn't miss an awful lot. There are other catchy songs here for sure, but nothing of the class of Lessons in Love and Running In The Family. Next best is Children Say, and those are the first three songs on the album! So, from there on in the album is a mixed bag for me.

Weak tracks: the gloopy ballad It's Over and the ADHDish Fashion Fever are the only two I skipped on repeat listens.

None of this will matter a jot to GK, and nor should it. Mark King remains one of his heroes, and the band is still in existence without me noticing, and even touring next year I see, so...who cares. 

Just my two cents worth.