Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: You're all fabulous

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  • Peter Ashby,

    @Ross Mason

    We played Goons tapes while my wife was in labour with our eldest back in '86 (Just). It was deemed ideal for taking the mind off things . . .

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Saw Roger Shepherd tonight, and confirmed that it is indeed a 100% acquisition of Flying Nun, with Warner distribution in New Zealand as part of the deal.

    That is thoroughly wonderful news....

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

  • recordari,

    Kirstin Hersh and Michael Stipe Your Ghost. Gold Sting!!!
    One of my favourite duets ever. And this one. Takes a while to start, but worth the wait, IMhO;

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    I think the only music I've bought recently is a Wiggles CD (yes, a CD - I am dreadfully old-fashioned).

    My kids have a bad case of Wigglesmania, and the Christmas DVD is on constantly at home.

    I can't get the damn tunes out of my head. But some of the music suggestions in this thread will hopefully help...

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    @ScottY : the only concert I went to last year was the Wiggles.

    And funnily enough I kind of don't mind. To everything there is a season, and all that...

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    And funnily enough I kind of don't mind. To everything there is a season, and all that...

    Quite. Although my kids are more punk-oriented, therefore into Fatcat and Fishface as opposed to the Wiggles. The Wreck of the Diddley is the current top of the pops.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Matt Crawford,

    My guess is that it's going to take a while to get up to speed with rights to recordings -- the anniversary box set was quite a mission to clear. But it goes without saying that there will be intelligent re-releases.

    Stuff world peace, the world needs vinyl re-issues - with orignal liner notes/comics etc

    Slugbucket needs Chris's comics to convey the pathos of singles like Crush.

    Wellington • Since Dec 2006 • 58 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Stuff world peace, the world needs vinyl re-issues - with orignal liner notes/comics etc

    For vinyl, Roger may be best to let the Europeans handle it under license. They do these things pretty bloody well..or a label like Sundazed in the US.

    New Zealand mostly has a very bad track record when it comes to reissuing it's past. There are exceptions...EMI for example has done sterling job with their 60's catalogue, although that's ground to a halt (as has EMI more or less), and I'm quite proud of my Ak79, Bigger Than Both of Us and Give It A Whirl comps, and the deleted one I did for Th'Dudes (apols. for the gratuitous plugs), but aside from the FN catalogue, where are the remastered Hello Sailor albums, or the Car Crash Set album, Exponents albums, or all the early DeepGrooves bits? The Enz albums were remastered but packaged in half baked versions of their sleeves with no information and bugger all in out-takes or extra bits, no recording info etc. The Mockers package was shite, there are no remastered Supergroove albums, aside from a hits, and the original Zodiac La De Das and Underdogs albums, all NZ landmarks, have been unavailable since the 1970s.

    Only Rob Mayes, bless him (it is Xmas after all) has put any real effort into a careful revisiting of the lost past. His label is like our Sundazed.

    It's a shitty situation.

    Myself I'd love to see Roger pick half a dozen people straight off, and get them to do a FN Back To MIne type album each, just to get the flavours back into the market place, at least.

    Oh, and one more gratuitous plug to go, there is now a remastered Screaming Meemees album, with bonus tracks (digital only so far) at Amplifier and iTunes ;-)

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

  • philipmatthews,

    Only Rob Mayes, bless him (it is Xmas after all) has put any real effort into a careful revisiting of the lost past.

    His Children's Hour live CD was a good one, especially considering that F Nun never managed to get off their arses in the 90s or this decade and reissue any of that stuff. Also his compilations of non-FN post-punk bands like YFC and Beat Rhythm Fashion. If there is to be a FN reissue programme it would be good to see it go beyond what the consensus of NZ rock history has identified as the important acts from that label -- ie the (yawn) "Dunedin sound" -- and cover some of the more left field acts. This Kind of Punishment. Scorched Earth Policy. The Pin Group. Marie and the Atom.

    Yes, I'm sure everyone and their dog is boring Roger with their wishlists ...

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Myself I'd love to see Roger pick half a dozen people straight off, and get them to do a FN Back To MIne type album each, just to get the flavours back into the market place, at least.

    Snap. I had a similar thought. The quickest and easiest way to do it would be as Amplifier digital bundles, but full releases would be nice.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Siu,

    @Caleb D'Anvers

    Ooh, thanks!

    And can someone delete my post that I made easier in the year regarding Snow Leopard as a service pack? Now that I'm, um, running the OS. I'm in awe with the multiple-CPU core management when I did a sample run with R in 64-bit mode. The speed of this Mac screams.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 82 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    The speed of this Mac screams.

    Unless you're trying to run an Adobe CS4 hog, which slooowwwws it down dreadfully over time, which a reboot only seems to fix.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    His Children's Hour live CD was a good one, especially considering that F Nun never managed to get off their arses in the 90s or this decade and reissue any of that stuff.

    And FMR, who controlled the FN catalogue at the time, were quite hostile about it, despite the fact that they had no rights to the live recordings. The care Rob puts into archive releases is remarkable.

    But Rob's sales are very low. He doesn't do any marketing, and he's alienated quite a few people, me included.

    A Flying Nun archive release strategy would want to be generous and engaging, even for the relatively obscure releases. Simon's celebrity back-to-mine idea is one way. I'm sure John Campbell would jump at it.

    For Marie and the Atom, it'd be nice to find a way of having Gill Civil in New Zealand, to play and talk about what she does now.

    I'd also be looking at what Bandcamp could do for me. Those people really get it right.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Snap. I had a similar thought. The quickest and easiest way to do it would be as Amplifier digital bundles, but full releases would be nice.

    I think full releases is essential, if only to justify the liner notes that these things demand. The box set was notable mostly for it's special essays and the good bits in the booklet (let's forget the awful box artwork, the broken CD cases, and the price), plus the track-list, which I though was wonderful. I played it to death.

    Of course, when it went up on iTunes it was without the box, the essays or anything else, and still $150 or so (it's still there but just as individual tracks now..still $150). I guess that's all on Roger's things that need fixing list, but way down.

    Gill Civil in New Zealand

    Can I put my hand up and say that her first releases were on Propeller ;))

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

  • Alan Perrott,

    what the bloody blues blazes? you look the other way for a few days and some geezer from Glen Eden or wherever tries to steal your name...

    look matey, there's only room in this 'burb for one whirled famous AlanP, and I've already had the cards made - for reel and everything.

    oh, and merry christmas.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Sorry to jump in on all the Flying Nun love. Yes, fabulous and looking forward to new oldness, or is that old newness?

    Dragging up the Wiggles mentioned earlier (must you?), can I recommend the Juno soundtrack as an alternative. Our three (all under 7) can sing just about every song on the album, and Tree Hugger is now our top family singalong song.

    It makes a pleasant change from the Thomas CD we once had, the High 5 nausea, and their all time favourite, Mamma Mia, which I tried, unsuccessfully, to get banned from the neighbourhood.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Howe,

    Thanks for the kind words Sam... was there from the outset until a few weeks ago, though it's a side to the story the new set up will be keen to minimise.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2009 • 12 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Still haven't decided on that Christmas present? here is a last minute idea.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Merry Christmas All.

    Haven't been able to think of anything better to say for a few days, and I doubt the next few weeks will be any better.
    -Stay upbeat
    -Drive safe


    Love
    Ben

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Haven't been able to think of anything better to say for a few days.

    Same here. I'm going to try out arohanui.
    Arohanui, everyone.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Quite surprised Tiki Taane's 'Flux' isn't on anyone's top ten of 2009. Got a lot of airplay round at my gaff.

    Also getting a lot of airplay was Rodrigo y Gabriela's 11:11. Can't go wrong with a bit of Mexican metal-influenced flamenco acoustic duelling guitars. Especially when they cover Metallica's "Orion", and also list Megadeth and Slayer as influences.

    And they're playing at The Edge on Jan 11th. Wheee!

    I'll also be getting the latest offering from Rammstein* when I have the pennies. But I'll probably not bother with the deluxe special edition (link NSFW). Not really, um, up my alley, as it were.

    Hope every one had a good Crimbo, and happy new year to one and all.

    *Yes, I'm a fan. Wanna make something of it?

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

  • JackElder,

    the only concert I went to last year was the Wiggles.

    They're touring again here next year. Book through the usual outlets; I've got my (well, our) tickets already. Excellent gig, I must say.

    My picks for the year: Gogol Bordello's excellent "Live from Axis Mundi", King Midas Sound, large swathes of the Tiger Lillies back catalog, the debut from the Benka Borodovsky Bordello Band, the Mamaku Project, the Juan Maclean, and the second Herbaliser Band album.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

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