The Pinheads – The Pinheads (Farmer & The Owl)
Despite being a garage-punk outfit, The Pinheads are not a Ramones tribute band, their name is derived from their love of bowling. Their sound, however, does draw from 70s punk along with 60s garage and surf.
Perfume Genius – No Shape (Matador)
In addition to adding his voice to Aldous Harding’s new album, Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, has just released his latest studio record. And, like Harding, he and producer Blake Mills offer up a raft of sonic surprises.
Nick Hakim – Green Twins (ATO)
Green Twins, Nick Hakim’s debut album, sets up an exciting soundscape to explore. Here he makes a personal stamp of unique vibrancy, backing up his style with soul.
Aldous Harding – Party (Flying Nun/4AD)
Almost three years after the release of her debut album, Aldous Harding sheds the guise of an 18th century English folk singer and, with the help of producer John Parish, begins to find her own, unique voice.
Robyn Hitchcock – Robyn Hitchcock (Yep Roc)
36 years after starting out on his solo career, Robyn Hitchcock has finally gotten around to releasing his self-titled album. Turns out it was well worth the wait.
The Afghan Whigs – In Spades (Sub Pop)
This is the second installation since the rebirth of Greg Dulli’s Afghan Whigs took place in 2012. With as many members of The Twilight Singers as original Afghans on board, it’s clearly Dulli’s project all the way. This time around, he’s re-tooled the band’s sound a bit, but not the overarching, and ever-present, dark themes.
The Wildbloods – All The Adversity (Wildblood)
Still pretty new to the Aussie rock scene, this four piece have just put out their first album. It’s a fairly solid affair, mainly your standard meat and potatoes rock. Good fare for those bars and clubs on the other side of the ditch but to Kiwi ears is it enough to really make us […]
Evan Dando- Baby I’m Bored: Reissue (Fire)
I largely tuned out of Evan Dando’s musical world as The Lemonheads career wound down and brought diminishing returns as the years passed by. As a result, I completely missed this album first time round when it was first released in 2003. I am excited to report that fourteen years on it sounds fresh, focused […]
Ali Barter – A Suitable Girl (Inertia)
Introducing Ali Barter, a Melbourne based singer-songwriter, best known for her 2016 single Girlie Bits. She’s sweet and angry; dark and light; deep and shallow. She’s a strong feminist activist and a naive teenager starting out. She’s all that and none of it.
Amy Shark – Night Thinker EP (Sony)
Amy Shark’s Night Thinker EP was released at the end of April this year, and already sits at number 1 on the Australian iTunes chart. The EP’s second track, Adore, is played everywhere at the moment- but Night Thinker features 5 other tracks perfectly maintaining the moody, grungy vibe that has given Adore it’s success […]
Anohni – Paradise EP (Rough Trade)
The new 6 track EP Paradise from the artist known as Anohni continues the path taken by last year’s Hopelessness. It starts with an ominous rumble and plea to imagine the world without war and ends with a spoken word piece that poses questions about How are we gonna make the world a better place […]
Luke Yeoward – Ghosts (Half Way)
For his first solo effort, former King Cannons frontman has made an album that will surprise and possibly frustrate fans but, ultimately, will be a hit in the Outback bars of Red Dust Australia.
The Chainsmokers – Memories Do Not Open (Columbia)
American DJ’s Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall have become big names on the mainstream charts in the last year. The turning point in The Chainsmokers’ career advanced with the release of ‘Roses’ in 2015. Although the hit was heavily influenced by future bass, the pair are true contributors to the EDM-pop field. Visions of teen […]
Ron Sexsmith – The Last Rider (Cooking Vinyl)
Canadian tunesmith Ron Sexsmith’s latest offering, The Last Rider, is a warm collection of bittersweet pop that retains a pastoral charm despite the polished production.
Lovely Creatures – The Best Of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (Mute/BMG)
If he wasn’t already legend enough, Lovely Creatures: The Best Of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds cements Nick Cave place in rock and roll history as the most exciting and most creative artist of the past thirty years.
Teeth – Teeth (Slow Boat)
Teeth, the new ‘supergroup’ comprised of former Phoenix Foundation members Lukasz Buda (guitars, vocals) and Thomas Callwood (bass), Muttonbirds’ guitarist David Long and legendary Wellington jazz drummer Anthony Donaldson launch themselves with a rapturous debut album that somehow perfectly defines them.
The Sadies – Northern Passages (Yep Roc)
Introducing The Sadies, a group you may have never heard of – at least in this part of the world. But for well over two decades, this Canadian foursome have been firing off a cannon of indie rock, tinged with psychedelia and the occasional nod to Americana.
Bob Dylan – Triplicate (Columbia)
If anybody has earned the right to do whatever he wants, it’s Bob Dylan. Thirty Eight albums in and a lifetime of songwriting he chooses to continue his exploration of the great American songbook with this overlong instalment. An edited single disc or maybe even a double but a triple?
Wire – Silver/Lead (Pinkflag)
As UK’s original post punk pioneers are about to enter their fifth decade they are still writing with a natural worn in style that still has the flair of their first albums, if not quite the immediacy. Despite many years of innovations and countless influence Wire’s best songs are still those that feature uncomplicated riffs, […]
The Jesus And Mary Chain – Damage & Joy (Artificial Plastic)
If at anytime in the last 30 years you liked the poppier end of the JAMC then there are plenty of good times to be had on their aptly named Damage & Joy. It plays to their strengths with controlled feedback, reverbed vocals and two note solos that sit in basic melodies, and straight ahead […]