Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Ready for the Weekend

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  • giovanni tiso,

    Awful people; that segment should be distributed to schools so that small children can be warned of the sort of people who influence their lives.

    Loved the part where they complained that in a country like New Zealand when somebody has an objection to an ad, they manage to be heard. Stupid country!

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    I like the shape of this argument from Mark Fisher

    Mostly the way I feel about reunions. I was thrilled when The Clash didn't bother, and The Jam won't I'm sure. I had trouble with the Jerry Dammers-less Specials and the PIL footage is horrendous.

    The AK79 2008 thing, given that I was heavily involved the first time around, was something that I was not that upset to mostly miss, aside from the friend aspect.

    That said I did do The Buzzcocks (here in Bangkok) and loved it on the night, but their greatest hits trip has made me love those three original albums, even if I know they're still the pop masterpieces they always were, just a little less. It's stripped away the artistic veneer a tiny bit. Especially when someone like Peter Shelley got really interesting after the band broke and and then really seemed to give up. Lydon too.

    I, absolutely illogically, kinda feel deep inside that those bands owe me something, after all I, and a generation, bought into the mythology, and the fact that so many of them burnt so brightly and then burnt out, was intrinsic to the myth.

    Then, of course, they don't owe me a bloody thing. However I'd rather leave most of them tucked away in that mental space I created for them (or they created all those years back), so, nah, mostly I won't do reunions.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    I was thrilled when The Clash didn't bother, and The Jam won't I'm sure. I had trouble with the Jerry Dammers-less Specials and the PIL footage is horrendous.

    The Jerry Dammers-less Specials were fantastic. Well, anybody I've spoken to thought so, and I would have to agree.

    Also went to see the 'From the Jam' show at Sky City a while back, and I was pleasantly surprised. Ok, so without Weller, it's not The Jam, but it was still a good night out.

    The Bunnymen at Laneways have been picked to pieces, but seeing them play All My Colours live is something I'll never forget. The Pixies was just The Business.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    The Jerry Dammers-less Specials were fantastic. Well, anybody I've spoken to thought so, and I would have to agree.

    Not saying they weren't but it kinda stood against everything they originally stood for, but then what they stood for was, I guess, largely defined by Dammers, and that second and third album was mostly all him (as were overwhelming slabs of the first).

    It's like when I went to the Pistols...fucking great but it was a covers band who just happened to be made up of guys who were in the original band, going through the same motions every night. At least they were honest about their mercenary motives though.

    I find myself in this odd place where I can't be bothered with nostalgia one day and loving it the next, but mostly the first. Like I said, I mostly enjoy nostalgia for the friends it drags in.

    Pixies...I likely wouldn't have gone anyway as I didn't get them the first time around. They existed in a timeframe when I was more immersed in that electronic stuff coming out of Detroit and Chicago; the quaintly named Golden Age of Hip Hip; and the stuff coming out of NZ & Europe that seemed to fit with those two genres. I bought and listened to few non-NZ rawk records in the late 1980s / early 1990s.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Now here's a bit of Friday night funness...
    I speshly like the Stayin' Alive in The Wall mashup.
    Enjoy.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    Now here's a bit of Friday night funness...

    Thanks Steve. What a brilliant site. Whole Lotta Sabbath is electric. It's incredible how good a ropey Black Sabbath song can be made to sound.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Just realised while clearing up a pile of books that it's Charlie Gillett who wrote The Sound of the City, the very in-depth book about American music, 1945-'71.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    I find myself in this odd place where I can't be bothered with nostalgia one day and loving it the next, but mostly the first.

    I wear my nostalgia like a comfortable old leather jacket, to coin a phrase. New music is something I also crave. Just got Hollie Smith, Nathan Haines, Salon Kingsadore and Gorillaz. Noticed Durrutti Column have a new album also, written for Tony Wilson. Sort of 'New Nostalgia', as it were. Always loved his spacious guitar thing.

    So much great music, so little time.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Just realised while clearing up a pile of books that it's Charlie Gillett who wrote The Sound of the City, the very in-depth book about American music, 1945-'71.

    Try and track down his Making Tracks, the history of Atlantic, if you've not read it..perhaps the best rekkid label book ever, since nobody has yet had the balls to do a proper nuts and bolts Motown one.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I haven't; I'll keep an eye out for it.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Recordari, interested in your impressions of the Nathan Haines and Hollie Smith albums

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Bruce Wurr,

    As someone who's been to quite a few of these "reunions" I've found it a mixed bag, but definitely more good than poor. Some I'm not sure you can even class as reunions - did they even split up in the first place? And how do you classify a solo singer coming back - certainly not a reunion!

    Gang of Four I've seen 3 times in the last two years - two shows superb, one a bit flat, but overall excellent. Killing Joke - one good show and two VERY mediocre shows which were in danger of tainting the enjoyment of their great albums. Dinosaur Jr - fantastic. Throbbing Gristle - really enjoyed it, as with Psychic TV. Devo - fantastic. Jesus Lizard - incredible. Pixies - great, but maybe not again. There's heaps of others but I have to say I feel privileged I've been able to see the majority of them - with the exception of Bad Brains, who unfortunately were dreadful, solely due to HR's flakiness and some bad sound.

    Grace Jones was simply astonishing. Sonic Youth - not a candidate but great as always, still going obviously - the other side of that coin is the Fall, who are also still going but do terrible shows quite often due to MES being incoherent most of the time.

    A common feature of a lot of the older punk bands is that they've got a rejuvenated rhythm section to add spice - the bass player and drummer are generally younger hired hands or new additions.

    It's worth mentioning I saw Bad Lieutenant last night - basically New Order minus Hooky and they were amazing too - they played Out of Control, Temptation, Ceremony, Crystal, Regret, Transmission and Love Will Tear Us Apart. It seriously brought a tear to the eye.

    While there is a risk it might devalue the original experiences from your past I would never turn down a chance to hear that list...ever.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 97 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    While there is a risk it might devalue the original experiences from your past I would never turn down a chance to hear that list...ever.

    Yep, agreed, but then, despite the names, JD / NO never really split

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Recordari, interested in your impressions of the Nathan Haines and Hollie Smith albums

    First impressions, both very good. Need a bit more time to get into them, but when I heard the first song off Hollie Smith's album on bFm, I pulled the car over to send in a text that went something like. 'Holy hell, that's effen fantastic!' Maybe a bit of a reactionary response, but I'm not down-grading it just yet.

    In related news, Paul Weller just received the NME gong for being a 'Godlike Genius'. While the title does seem a bit OTT, I agree he deserves at least equal status to Bobbie Gillespie. Possibly higher... The first video sound is about 30 secs off sync, which gets annoying, but he plays Start and Eton Rifles in the second, definitely for nostalgic purposes. Although Eton Rifles made the hair tingle a little. Have the 7" of that, along with about 5 others (out of town, so can't go and count them).

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Nice to hear sometime PAS poster Mark Cubey filling in for a sick Kim Hill this morning. He's usually her producer. Shows you really need the back room to support the front line.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Yes. I don't know why he had to suddenly cut to a series of Maisy cartoons though - that was a weird programming decision.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Hadyn is going to chime in with updates from the cricket, too. It's a PAS bonanza.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    ropey Black Sabbath song

    There are no ropey Black Sabbath songs. Fact.
    .
    .
    .
    .
    Except for the ones where Ronnie James Dio was the singer, of course...

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Ladies and gentlemen, should you be at risk of taking life too seriously on a Saturday, I heartily commend to you this slab of brilliant disco nonsense:

    http://soundcloud.com/lefreaks/le-freak

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    This could be inspiring, or sleep inducing depending on your bent.
    If you're in Auckland Thursday week check this out..
    LATE @ The Auckland Museum

    Smart Talk: Tim Hazeldine / Susan St John / Brian Gaynor
    Great Music: The Bellbirds (featuring Don McGlashan and Sean Donnelly of SJD) / Jan Hellriegel

    If there's one thing New Zealanders agree on, it's the need for some smart thinking about the future of our economy.

    A Good night out for $20 (plus booking $3, bastards, it used to be $15 before they got rid of Vanda Vitelli, I thought she was cool)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    it used to be $15 before they got rid of Vanda Vitelli, I thought she was cool

    You may have been misinformed

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    In related news, Paul Weller just received the NME gong for being a 'Godlike Genius'.

    For a mouldy old bastard, this 12" mix of his new single is well fab in a plastic Motown way.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    That Paul Weller remix is available as a legitimate free download.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    That Paul Weller remix is available as a legitimate free download.

    You mean I didn't have to duff around stripping the audio offa that..damn

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I thought she was cool

    You may have been misinformed

    Well, she was certainly "cool" the last time I spoke to her.
    I made the mistake of referring to her as the "Curator" of the Museum, she responded "I am not a Curator, I am a Museumologist"
    I asked her if she had just made that word up, her response was cool indeed.
    I actually found her delightful in spite of that and some of her ideas were not as "loony" as many have made out. As with all stories like this there is more to it than meets the eye and sometimes the closer to a situation you are, the less you see.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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