Who you jiving with that cosmic debris? Zappa’s Apostrophe (’) at 50
Frank Zappa’s most popular album gets a chunky six-disc elaboration. GARY STEEL wonders whether it warrants the attention.
World’s Worst Records – Alison Gold’s Chinese Food
Our expert on the worst of the worst, the honourable MATT KELLY, gets stuck into a very dubious release that verges on culturally insensitive.
Stuck between rock and a hi-fi space
GARY STEEL loves the world of music he’s discovered in hi-fi appreciation but hates what its sonic refinement does to many of his favourite
World’s Worst Records: Liverpool FC’s Anfield Rap
MATT KELLY could write a book about the thoroughly awful phenomenon of English football club singles, but wisely chooses to stick to an especially
Guilty Pleasures: Electric Light Orchestra’s Eldorado
ELO’s grandiose 1974 monstrosity is an over-the-top masterpiece, according to long-time appreciator GARY STEEL.
World’s worst records: Ladbaby
MATT KELLY was going to review Journey until he heard Ladbaby's appropriation of a really shit song. We feel really sorry for him.
The long-delayed release of a legendary 1968 performance by Zappa/The Mothers
Frank Zappa and his Mothers would never be hotter than they were the week in 1968 when this gig was recorded. GARY STEEL takes
World’s Worst Records: Janelle Monae
MATT KELLY absolutely loved her previous album but Janelle Monae's latest sucks so bad that he can't help feel let down.
Jayrem – The ‘not Flying Nun’ 1980s Kiwi record label
To celebrate NZ Music Month GARY STEEL digs up a rare 1986 interview with Wellington record label owner Jim Moss.
World’s Worst Records – The Portsmouth Sinfonia
MATT KELLY writes about a record that is both diabolically awful and amazingly great and which everyone should get out there and hear.
Mike Oldfield with bells on
Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells is over 50 years old but still sounds fresh. GARY STEEL chats with the man behind the upcoming Auckland performance
Aldous Harding: The lost interview
Especially for New Zealand Music Month GARY STEEL disinters a 10-year-old interview with Aldous Harding conducted at the time of her debut album.
Icehouse, 40 years ago
It’s not often you get to interview Iva Davies (Icehouse) and Jo Camilleri (Jo Jo Zep) at the same time. GARY STEEL did way
Hi-Fi Show Report: AXPONA
OWEN HARRIS moseyed along to the largest hi-fi show in the USA and instead of just taking in endless rooms of product took time
Random Vinyl Play: This 1969 debut is an unheralded classic
In a new column, GARY STEEL dips into his vinyl racks. Today it’s the tasty debut by UK psychedelic band Caravan.
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear #100: Metallica with Lou Reed – Lulu
MATT KELLY somehow manages to listen to 90 minutes of possibly the worst collaborative album by major rock figures ever made.
Rick Wakeman’s horrific Beatles ‘Tribute’
MATT KELLY finds a blotch in the prog-rock keyboard maestro's catalogue that's even more risible than King Arthur On Ice.
NZ music’s battle to be heard – 40 years ago, that is
NZ music acts whining about how hard it is to make a mark in 2024 might find this piece about the struggle to make
1001 Albums You Must Die Before You Hear: Wing
MATT KELLY's tribute to one of the best/worst singers ever to grace NZ stages and Southpark, a true classic of awful. RIP Wing.
Graham Nash’s 60 Years Of Songs & Stories
GARY STEEL chats with GRAHAM NASH about his halcyon 60 years in rock and his first-ever solo dates in New Zealand.
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