With their third album, Brooklyn’s Vampire Weekend are on a roll. The clever indie-rockers have stripped back their sounds, jettisoned most of their Afro-pop leanings and come up with their most satisfying work to date.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
The Aotearoa metal scene has undergone something of a revival in the past few years, a statement backed up by the latest release by Black / Death / Thrash Metal band Exordium Mors. I understand some readers have difficulty understanding the beauty that is a well-crafted metal track, but let me assure you, this wee gem has beauty in abundance.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new E.P.
The world used to be silent, now it has too many voices…so begins the manifesto these four London-based musicians have printed on the cover of their debut album. Savages are determined to be heard above the roar of the crowd and their album, Silence Yourself, makes an excellent case for them to be heard, and listened to at high volume.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
I just did something I haven’t done in over thirty years…listen to a new Rod Stewart album. Back in the early 70s, Rod and I were inseparable. Every Picture Tells A Story, Never A Dull Moment, Gasoline Alley; those albums were constant fixtures on my turntable. But then we had a falling out. Rod sold out…at least in my mind. He made that disco-fied Blondes Have More Fun in 1978 and it was all downhill from there…slick, soulless 80s “product” and a string of cash-grabbing American Songbook atrocities. But now old Rod The Mod has released his first self-produced album of original songs in over 20 years and for some reason I thought I’d give him another chance.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
Looking back on The Flaming Lips’ 27-year recording career, it now seems that the band’s tenure as a somewhat mainstream act (1999’s The Soft Bulletin to 2006’s At War With The Mystics) was just a short detour on what is proving to be a fascinating musical journey.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
The members of Black Sabbath are in Auckland preparing for their two shows (Saturday, April 20th and Monday, April 22nd) at The Vector Arena. The good folks at Universal Records invited a select group of music fans to The Langham Hotel on Symonds Street to get a first listen to Sabbath’s upcoming album, 13. The bandmembers were also on hand for a brief Q&A after the roar of the music died down. Self-professed metal-head Tove Partington represented The 13th Floor at this esteemed event.
Click here to read Tove’s report and listen to a recording of the Q&A session with Black Sabbath.
After 2011’s world-weary I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (produced by T Bone Burnett, Steve Earle re-teams with long-time producer Ray Kennedy and reconvenes his Dukes (and Duchesses) for a (slightly) more upbeat look at America from the window of his ever-rolling tour bus.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
Well if you’re feeling a bit tired and jaded trying to stay up to date with the newest, hippest thing in music, may I suggest a good blast of 60s-style garage-rock to clear the head. Barring a spin of Nuggets, check out either or both of these new reissues.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to tracks from both reissues.
With Rodriguez’s visit to New Zealand still fresh in vintage soul fans’ minds, here is Charles Bradley who, in his mid-60s, has just released his second album of gritty rough-hewn soul. And yes, there is a documentary about Bradley’s incredible life making the rounds.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
A dozen years after The Strokes’ debut album, Is This It, made them an almost overnight sensation, the New York City band must wonder if critics were correct when they said the band had “nowhere to go but out of style”. Comedown Machine is the band’s final album for their current contract with RCA and one gets the feeling there are more or less limping to the finish line.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
It's All-Kiwi trivia night this Tuesday at BackBeat. Come on down!
The 13th Floor spoke to R&B legend Bobby Womack on the eve of his show at Auckland's Civic Theatre.
The Star Trek crew is back as J.J. Abrams plunges them Into Darkness.
Click here to read the 13th Floor review of Star Trek: Into Darkness.
 Killing Joke's Jaz Coleman hosts his own radio show exclusively on The 13th Floor |
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 Flying Nun's Roger Shepherd Plays His 30 Fave Nun-Songs L |
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 The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spins a few favourites. |
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 Caitlin Smith shares some of her most-loved tunes. |
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 Miriam Clancy spins a few tunes. |
Luke Thompson & Lydia Cole
May 1 – Nelson – The Free House
May 3 – Dunedin – The Church Café
May 4 – Christchurch – Wunderbar
The Gunslingers’ Ball
May 3 – Wellington – Bodega
May 4 – Wairarapa – Carterton Events Centre
LatinAotearoa Album Release Party
May 3 – Auckland – Goldfinch Lounge
Matt Langley
May 3 – Dunedin – Chicks Hotel
May 4 – Lyttelton – Naval Point Yacht Club
May 5 – Auckland – Kings Arms
May 9 – Wellington – Mighty Mighty
Midge Marsden & Chet O’Connell
May 3 – Christchurch – Pierside Cafe
Prowler, Neo Kalashnikovs & Filth Dog
May 4 – Auckland – Lucha Lounge
Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School Of Medicine
May 7 – Wellington – Bodega
May 8 – Auckland – Powerstation
Tool
May 8 & 9 – Auckland – Vector Arena
Afrika Bambaataa
May 9 – Auckland – The Studio
Norma Jean, Cold By Winter & Antagonist A.D.
May 10 – Auckland – Kings Arms
May 11 – Henderson – Zeal West
Dave Dobbyn
May 11 – Christchurch – The Bedford At CPSA
May 18 – Auckland – Paddington Live
May 25 – Wellington – Bodega
May 26 – Wairarapa – King Street Live
Beth Orton
May 17 – Wellington – Old St Paul’s
May 18 – Auckland – Holy Trinity Cathedral
They Might Be Giants
May 17 – Wellington – Bodega
May 18 – Auckland – The Studio
Tommy Ill
May 17 – Christchurch – Dux Live
May 18 – Auckland – Kings Arms
May 24 – Wellington - Puppies
Bobby Womack
May 18 – Auckland – The Civic Theatre
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 Charles Bradley Victim Of Love Soul survivor returns with 2nd album of Daptone-style r&b |
 The Strokes Comedown Machine Is this the last gasp for the once-mighty band? |
 Chelsea Light Moving Chelsea Light Moving Thurston Moore's first post-Sonic Youth effort. |
 Various Artists Sound City Dave Grohl rounds up a few friends...Paul McCartney, Josh Homme and Trent Reznor among them |
 Ducktails The Flower Lane Real Estate side project shows promise |
 Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Tweedy talks about producing Mavis Staples and concert etiquette. |
 Bonnie Raitt Veteran rocker discusses her latest album, Slipstream |
 Mavis StaplesMavis talks about her upcoming album and 60 years of musical highlights.  The Bads Dianne Swann gives up the stories behind the songs of their excellent new album.
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 Fleetwood Mac's Rumours 35th Anniversary Edition |
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 Marianne Faithfull Broken English Deluxe Edition |
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 Sassafras & Moonshine: The Songs Of Laura Nyro |
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 R.E.M.'s Document: 25th Anniversary Edition |
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