The role of a music producer can be difficult to define as it can vary widely. Some are limited to the technical aspects of production – recording. mixing, and mastering. Other producers take on broader roles, including writing material, arranging…
This week we have missives from New Jersey, the Isle of Man, and the Scottish highlands. Read on for details… Bruce Springsteen Faithless 2025, 7/10If you’re keeping track at home, we’re up to the third disc in Springsteen’s Tracks II…
Every New Zealand #1 single… 4 Easy on Me by Adele Topped the NZ chart for 6 (non-consecutive) weeks from 25 October 2021 ‘Easy On Me’ is the lead single from Adele’s fourth album, 30. A gentle piano ballad, it…
It’s another speed test this week. You have just 30 seconds to complete 10 hybrid song titles with a link word. Can you pick the correct word that ends one song title and begins another song title to complete the…
Unless you’re Leonard Cohen or Gil-Scott Heron, lyrics in popular music are a secondary concern. Normally I’m happy to bop along to the music and don’t mind if the lyrics aren’t profound. But sometimes the words are too jarring to…
A couple of bands are in tough spots in this week’s column. Black Country, New Road lost their lead singer four days before they released their previous album. Arcade Fire dealt with allegations against leader Win Butler. Both albums struggle,…
CBS released Folkways: A Vision Shared—A Tribute to Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly in 1988. It accompanied a documentary of the same name, with famous musicians paying tribute to the two pioneers. The two artists are integral to the American musical…
Not asking for much of your time this week – you have just 45 seconds to link six bands to an image on their Wikipedia page. It took me 16 seconds – can you beat me? Congratulations to Tony,…
I spent my teenage years enamoured by the pop tunes of Billy Joel. Joel has a touch of show-tune about his work, and his work has never been as critically acclaimed as his more celebrated contemporaries like Bruce Springsteen or…
This week, it’s the boss, the complainant, and the defendant. Bruce Springsteen recently dropped seven albums at once – let’s start with 1983’s LA Garage Sessions. Little Simz’ Lotus is often preoccupied with her former producer and friend Inflo, who…
