Natalie Merchant recently released her sixth solo album, Keep Your Courage. It’s a good opportunity to revisit her catalogue. On this countdown, I rank her albums as a solo artist and as the lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs. I only…
We’re sticking in Mother England and her colonies this week. Enjoy the urban narratives of Real Lies, the art-rock of These New Puritans, and Lorde’s intimate pop-poetry. Real Lies We Will Annihilate Our Enemies 2025, 8/10It’s always tough following a…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 8 I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles Topped the NZ chart for 4 weeks from 26 December 1963 The Beatles enjoyed 14 #1 singles in New Zealand between 1963 and 1970 –…
This week’s challenge is to sort historical events by which version of ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ they appeared in. It helps to remember that Billy Joel recorded his version in 1989, while Fall Out Boy’s is from 2023. …
Jimmy Webb enjoyed a sterling career as a songwriter in the 1960s – his website bills him as “America’s Songwriter”, and it’s not an unreasonable title given his rich catalogue of hits like ‘Wichita Lineman’ and ‘By The Time I…
Hopefully there’s something for everyone – the smooth pop/rock of California’s HAIM, Ezra Furman’s intense psychedelia, and The Mars Volta’s jazzy Latin rhythms. HAIM I Quit 2025, 7/10It’s been five years since HAIM’s last record. In the meantime, Alana Haim…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
I’m finally unleashed on the world again, consistently able to compete in these quizzes. Here’s one about the original versions of famous covers. I was surprised not to see Otis Redding with ‘Respect’, although he’s included with another song. …
James Marshall Hendrix was born in Seattle. After his discharge from the army he became a musician, spending years gigging with acts like Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and Ike & Tina Turner. Despite his immense talent, it wasn’t until he…
The Bangles’ work has two facets. There’s the 1960s garage rock sound of their early singles and reunion work. And there’s the mainstream pop/rock of ‘Manic Monday’ and ‘Eternal Flame’. Susanna Hoffs formed a band with lead guitarist Vicki Peterson…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 1 Mississippi by Pussycat Topped the NZ chart for 11 weeks from 19 March 1976 ‘Mississippi’ is a country song by the Dutch band Pussycat. It pushed Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ off the top of the…
There might be one final outtakes quiz, but we’ve reached the end of the alphabet. There aren’t many famous X,Y, and Z albums – even with all three, I think it’s one of the tougher quizzes in the series. …
Of the indie guitar bands proffered by Dunedin’s Flying Nun label in the 1980s, Straitjacket Fits were the most likely to break through to a mass audience. The Fits were based around two vocalists and songwriters who were an unlikely…
We have music from both sides of the pond this week. There’s folk from Richard Dawson and blackgaze from Deafheaven. The two acts don’t have much in common, but both vocalists are acquired tastes – Dawson’s warbling and George Clarke’s…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
This quiz is fun – it might be the only Sporcle quiz to feature Julie Andrews and Lou Bega together. Can you complete the titles of these 16 list songs. It’s not too tricky, so please record your time if…
Jessie Ware is the UK’s most likeable pop star. She’s charming where other mainstream acts leave me cold. Ware has a gorgeous voice, but she’s closer to Sade’s sophisticated poise than Celine Dion’s vocal histrionics. Ware’s dance-pop and blue-eyed soul…
Bread struck AM gold in the early 1970s, with a sentimental string of soft-rock hits written by David Gates. David Gates had contributed to the rich tapestry of 1960s music – he wrote The Murmaids’ #3 hit ‘Popsicles and Icicles’…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 9 Here Comes the Hotstepper by Ini Kamoze Topped the NZ chart for 5 non-consecutive weeks from 18 December 1994 Ini Kamoze recorded ‘Here Comes the Hotstepper’ in early 1992, but it wasn’t released until…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
We’re almost through the entire alphabet – X, Y, and Z will be together (although I haven’t started making that one yet). Can you tell The Wall from The Rooftops? The Wave from the Wet Leg? I’m not eligible…
Joni Mitchell peaked in the 1970s with a terrific sequence of albums, particularly from 1971’s Blue to 1976’s Hejira. But she also released six studio albums in the 1980s and 1990s. None of these compositions would force their way into…
All female and all American this week – Suzanne Vega plays folk (with some punk). while two non-country artists make a country album together. Suzanne Vega Flying With Angels 2025, 8/10New York singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega produced one of the 1980s’…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 3 Crawl by Atlas Topped the NZ chart for 7 weeks from 12 March 2007 ‘Crawl’ is another unexpected mega chart-topper from New Zealand. After nu-metal and alt-rock was largely extinct, ‘Crawl’ topped the NZ…
Let’s take another break from sorting albums this week and guess which half of the decade songs belong to. Remember that 1975 is in the decade’s second half. I scored 42/50 – solid, but mildly disappointing. Can you beat…
The late John Martyn never enjoyed the mass acclaim that his immense talent deserved. Nonetheless, he delivered a string of great records in the 1970s and early 1980s. He started as a folk artist, emerging in the late 1960s alongside…
Alt-rock and prog rock this week. Blondshell’s refined her angsty alt-rock, while Neal Morse recruits a veteran band and gives them a hokey name. Blondshell If You Asked For A Picture 2025, 8.5/10Sabrina Teitelbaum took a while to find her…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
We’re still sorting albums this week, and up to V. Can you tell the Violator from the Vulture Prince? I’m ineligible because I created the quiz. Congratulations to Tony, who scored 14/15 in last week’s quiz. Here’s ‘Ben Franklin’.…
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been covering The Beach Boys’ solo careers – albeit only two of them. Brian Wilson’s solo albums of new material, starting with 1988’s self-titled record, show flashes of brilliance, although they often suffer…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 5 The Twist by Chubby Checker Topped the NZ chart for 2 weeks from 25 January 1962 Chubby Checker was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, largely because of a handful…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
Sparks are the world’s longest-running cult band. The only constant members are siblings Ron and Russell Mael, who grew up in Pacific Palisades, California. They emerged with the glam movement of the 1970s. Their single ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough…
When people talk about wasted potential in rock and roll, it’s usually premature deaths like Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, or Kurt Cobain. Pink Floyd’s original leader Syd Barrett also belongs on the list. Although Barrett lived into his sixties, his musical…
We’re back sorting albums this week, and up to U. Can you tell the Ultraviolence from the Undertow? I’m ineligible because I created the quiz. Congratulations to EclecticMusicLover and UK #1s Blog, who tied on 35 Here I am…
Two rock records this week. The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn teams up with The War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel for his sixth solo album. Meanwhile, Ex-Vöid layer harmonies onto their punk roots. Craig Finn Always Been 2025, 8/10As much as…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
Let’s take another break from sorting albums this week and guess which half of the decade songs belong to. Remember that 1995 is in the decade’s second half. I scored 37/40 – I need to bone up on my…
Despite releasing their first album in 1968, Creedence Clearwater Revival weren’t hippies. Frontman John Fogerty represents blue-collar America, addressing working-class issues like the Vietnam War, while there’s a heartland warmth to their swampy rock. The band sounded like they came…
Duets keep popping up on the music I write about this year, and today’s batch is no exception. Marlon Williams teams up with Lorde, while Justin Vernon duets with several female vocalists. Meanwhile, with only two tracks, Steven Wilson doesn’t…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 10 Would I Lie To You? by Charles and Eddie Topped the NZ chart for 2 weeks from 6 December 1992 Four acts monopolised the NZ #1 number-one spot between 6 September 1992 and 4…
We’re still sorting albums this week, and up to T. Can you tell the real Trout Mask from its replica. I’m ineligible because I made it. There was a three-way tie last week, with Rich Kamerman, PowerPopMax, and UK…
It feels as though Taylor Swift has been around forever, but she released her seventh album, 2019’s Lover, while still in her twenties. Swift started young, releasing her 2006 debut at 16, and has used her marketing savvy to keep…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
When they formed The Police in London in 1977, Stewart Copeland, Sting, and Andy Summers were all veteran musicians. Copeland had drummed for progressive rock band Curved Air, Sting had played in the jazz fusion band Last Exit, while Summers’…
We’re back to sorting albums this week, and we’re up to S. Fortunately, many famous albums start with S. Can you tell your Sour from your Surrealistic Pillow? I’m ineligible, although embarrassingly, I muddled Superfly and Shaft when I…
Texas-born Miranda Lambert occupies her own zone between the current mainstream country and the more rootsy sounds of Americana. As she explains, being a major-label artist involves compromise. I love raw albums. I’d love to record an album in a…
Two new records from indie stalwarts. Lucy Dacus edges closer to the mainstream with the genteel Forever is a Feeling. Meanwhile, Dan Bejar continues his erstwhile path, mellower but unmistakably Destroyer. Lucy Dacus Forever is a Feeling 2025, 7/10 From…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 1 Yummy by Justin Bieber Topped the NZ chart for 2 weeks from 20 January 2020 Justin Bieber Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber was discovered via YouTube. His mother uploaded videos of Bieber singing onto…
Congratulations to Tony, who won last week’s R album challenge. Let’s take a break from sorting albums this week and guess which half of the decade songs belong to. Remember that 1985 is in the decade’s second half – more…
The Byrds were one of the most significant American bands of the 1960s. They emerged from the L.A. folk scene, featuring three singer-guitarists: James Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, and David Crosby. Their first single as The Byrds was their chart-topping…
Two female artists this week. Confusingly, Ichiko Aoba is Japanese, while Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner was born in South Korea. Both records are brief and mellow, but still substantial. Japanese Breakfast For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women) 2025, 8.5/10Zauner’s discography…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
There are 25 albums this week, but it’s much easier than that Q abomination. There are plenty of famous albums starting with R. I’m ineligible. Hopefully it’s not too tricky! Congratulations to Rich Kamerman, who scrabbled his way to…
General elections are held every three years in New Zealand, and they’re due soon. Our electoral system is known as MMP – Mixed Member Proportional. Everyone gets two votes – one for a party and one for an electorate MP…
Two new-ish records this week. The erotic pop of FKA Twigs and the power-pop of The Tubs. One is extremely solid, the other is probably the worst album I’ll cover in this column in 2025. Find out which is which!…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 8 Rain and Tears by The Hi-Revving Tongues Topped the NZ chart from 14 November 1969 for 1 week. Hi-Revving Tongues topped the New Zealand charts with a cover of Aphrodite’s Child’s ‘Rain and Tears’.…
Not gonna lie – sorting out 15 Q albums is a tricky business. There are probably some you’ve never heard of. It doesn’t help that two of the most famous Q albums in the classic rock canon are by The…
Genesis formed in the 1960s, when Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford met at Charterhouse School. By 1971, they’d found their classic quintet of vocalist Peter Gabriel, drummer Phil Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist Mike Rutherford, and guitarist Steve…
The Flight of the Conchords weren’t New Zealand’s first musical/theatrical duo. Auckland’s The Front Lawn were active from 1985 to 1990. Don McGlashan had already cemented his place in New Zealand music history, singing and drumming on Blam Blam Blam’s…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
There are a lot more albums to hide this week. Can you sort out the Plans from the Pirates? I’m ineligible. Hopefully it’s not too tricky! Congratulations to EclecticMusicLover, who scored the fastest 9/9 last week. I’ve been interested…
Some bands pool their talents to present a united front – they share writing credits, and there’s a designated lead singer. These bands often feature stable lineups and long tenures; examples include R.E.M. and Rush. Other bands are full of…
This week’s acts have toned down their idiosyncrasies as their careers have progressed. Nadia Reid has transitioned from a serious-minded singer-songwriter to warm pop songs. Squid’s music has become less edgy and experimental. Nadia Reid Enter Now Brightness 2025, 8/10Dunedin…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 7 Down Under by Luude featuring Colin Hay Topped the NZ chart from 17 January 2022 for 9 weeks. Christian Benson (Luude) is one half of the Australian electronic dance music duo Choomba. The other…
Let’s take a break from album sorting this week. This week’s challenge is to link nine artists to their song with “call” in the title. I scored 9/9 with 2:15 remaining. I wasn’t completely in control, but when there…
There are two prominent Sam Phillipses in popular music. This list isn’t about the Sun Records producer who worked with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Rather it’s about the idiosyncratic female singer-songwriter who launched her career in…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
When Martin Phillipps passed away in 2024, the world lost a terrific, yet overlooked, songwriter. Phillipps, the son of a Methodist minister, formed The Chills in 1980. They signed to the Flying Nun label but were more sophisticated than most…
Even more album sorting. Can you match the songs to the albums starting with O? Are you on the beach or out to lunch? I made this quiz, so I’m not eligible to enter. Can you score full marks…
To what extent was punk rock an expression of dissent?
Every New Zealand #1 single… 8 Faith by George Michael Topped the NZ chart: from 6 December 1987 for 7 weeks. Wham! evolved from a partnership to a vehicle for George Michael. So it wasn’t surprising when Wham! disbanded and…
If you’re an old man, shouting at the clouds about how modern music isn’t the same as it was in your heyday, you’ll probably enjoy the Americana of Jason Isbell. Isbell’s music could have been made any time in the…
Even more album sorting. Can you match the songs to the albums starting with N? Can you tell your Nilsson from your Schmilsson? I made this quiz, so I’m not eligible to enter. Can you score full marks this…
Ten worst pop stinkers ever I wrote this in response to a list published in a major New Zealand weekly magazine (The NZ Listener). It was published, despite its unusual format, in February 2002: Even though the enjoyment of a…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die describes Gram Parsons as “Keith Richards’ citrus-heir drug-buddy”. Parsons blended rock and country into “Cosmic American Music”. I was initially taken aback by Parsons’ music. It’s not the commercially oriented country offered by…
More album sorting. Can you match the songs to the albums starting with M? Can you tell smoke on the water and madmen across the water apart? I made this quiz, so I’m not eligible to enter. Can you…
It’s another eclectic week of new reviews with: All three records are highly recommended. Read on for details. Fievel is Glauque Rong Weicknes 2024, 8/10I’ve never ventured into the world of Zach Phillips before. The San Diego-born musician is prolific.…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 2 Locomotion by Ritz Topped the NZ chart: from 20 July 1980 for 7 non-consecutive weeks. Sometimes it’s embarrassing to be a New Zealander. We’ve held the world record for the lowest test cricket score…
We’re back into album sorting this week. Can you match the songs to the albums starting with L? I made this quiz, so I’m not eligible to enter. Can you score full marks this week? Congratulations to Tony and…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001.…
The Jam formed in 1972 in Woking, a satellite town 20 miles from London. Leader Paul Weller formed a three-piece band with bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler. The trio were indebted to the 1960s. Weller played a Rickenbacker,…
Welcome back for another week of quizzing. I thought we’d take a break from album sorting. Your challenge this week is to name the albums, musical terms, artists, and other ephemera starting with D. I scored 16/20, although I…
As a music reviewer, 2025 started quickly. Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny dropped a wide-reaching album in 2025’s first week. Canadian sophisti-pop act The Weather Station released Humanhood in mid-January. Meanwhile, I’m still catching up with 2024, hence the smooth…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 8 Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis Topped the NZ chart: from 17 December 2007 for 5 non-consecutive weeks Leona Lewis was born in London. She attended BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, the same…
Can you identify the albums starting with K? As before I had to make this one myself. There aren’t as many albums beginning with K, so there are fewer questions than usual. I’m ineligible to enter this week. Congratulations…
Robyn Hitchcock started his recording career as the frontman for the Cambridge band The Soft Boys. Kimberley Rew joined on lead guitar. Rew wrote ‘Walking on Sunshine’ for his next band, Katrina and the Waves – one of the biggest hits…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The first volume was US-based, so the sequel covers the rest of the world. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 was released in 2001. It…
It’s Waitangi Day, our national public holiday, here in New Zealand. It’s particularly fraught this year, as the far right question our nation’s founding document. Unfortunately, today’s quiz is completely unrelated to such happenings. Can you identify the albums starting…
I’m assuming that nobody cares about 2024 releases in February 2025. But there are still records in my pile that I didn’t get to last year. It’s not a reflection on their quality – these records were all released toward…
Miraculously, two of the most talented vocalists and songwriters in the history of popular music ended up in the same band. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met in 1957 when McCartney joined Lennon’s skiffle band The Quarrymen. They enlisted lead…
Welcome back for another thrilling quizzing session. Can you identify the albums starting with I? Unfortunately, the person who made the original series stopped at G, so again I had to make this one myself. Apologies if some of the…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 9 Travelin’ Man by Ricky Nelson Topped the NZ chart: from 31 July 1961 for 2 weeks (non-consecutive) Ricky Nelson was born in the township of Teaneck, New Jersey. He started his entertainment career young.…
The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The first volume solely focused on the USA, so the sequel covered the rest of the world. Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 was released…
Welcome back for another week of quizzing. Can you identify the albums starting with H? Unfortunately the person who made the original series stopped at G, so I had to make this one myself. Apologies if some of the choices…