turntables...

So being a self confessed audiophile and recently having bought
a Rega RP3 (the red one below), i thought i'd show you readers
the shear beauty and simplicity of one of the world's greatest
creations. Vinyl is here to stay...

Big Mama Thornton live...

Tindersticks, The Something Rain...album review

Thank God for the Tindersticks! A band that you can honestly
say conform to no persons ideas but their own, and after reforming
a few years back have finally released an album that lives up
to their almost spiritual first. The Tindersticks have their 
drive back, they still make beautiful music and no one can
deny their musical chops but there is an intensity to 'The 
Something Rain' that hasn't been present in their previous few
outings. Stuart A. Staples is singing with the darkness in 
his soul and i think the new band members have finally 
understood what makes him tick! Few bands achieve the melancholic
dread that appears in this mini masterpiece, it kind of reminds
me of Nick Cave's Let Love In and that's a huge pat on the back.
What more can i say than to compare them to the great man's 
seminal masterpiece... Sit back, turn it up loud, pour yourself
a nice red and be swept away in the joyous darkness that is the
Tindersticks returning to fine form. 

James Vincent McMorrow...

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...

so i've decided to declare today the first ever Nick Cave
and the Bad Seeds public holiday, if the Queen gets one 
then Australia's rock royalty should by rights get their 
own national holiday also. I mean come on the man has 
written movie scores and scripts, he's in the Aria hall 
of fame and then there's the novels, not to mention being 
the frontman for one of the greatest bands(special mention 
to The Birthday Party and Grinderman) of our time. 
The guy's a rock and roll saint, and the world would 
be somewhat more boring without you. 
We at monkmenagerie think you deserve that holiday...

do you love me?

Shearwater, animal joy...album review

i can proudly say that there are two bands that i have
followed over the course of my lifetime that with each
album release have constantly evolved and improved, one
being The National and the second Shearwater.
This is Shearwater's first offering on their new label 
sub-pop and it seems that they have a new lease on life,
gone are the mystical strings and airy almost folk-lore
song structures, this album rocks. Driving drums make the 
backbone to each song with frontman Jonathan Meiburg's 
soaring Tim Buckely vocal stylings floating over angry
guitar riffs, but don't let me misguide you this is still
a beautiful album, there are still hints of old that make
Shearwater the band that i fell in love with, it's just
that well Meiburg who is the driving force behind the band 
seems happy for lack of a better word.
Best listened to loud armed with a scotch in hand from start
to finish like all worthwhile albums, Animal Joy is not the 
masterpiece that i know Shearwater have in them but they are
getting closer with each and every album and i guess that's 
all we can ask from any band.

John Martyn, solid air...classic album review

Even though at the tender age of 25, Solid Air was
John Martyn's fifth studio album. It was his defining
moment as a musician because this was to be the time
that he found his instantly recognizable sound.
It was as if the musical gods whispered in his ears
and gently guided his fingers! 
It is hard to pigeonhole this album, drifting from
Nick Drake inspired folk to dirty rock which make
for the perfect backbone to his whisky soaked vocal
delivery.
Solid Air is a classic without flaw and has become
a favourite amongst smokers, chillers and music
lovers the world over. Everyone should own a copy
for those late night music escapades.

ahhh the harmonies...

the fleet foxes...

After seeing those beautiful harmonies live for a second

time on Tuesday night at the Tivoli in Brisbane i was once

again awe struck and reduced to a blubbering mess. The 

fleet foxes are a gift from the musical heavens, please

don't leave us any time soon. My ears personally thankyou

for the tingling they received...

Jonathan Wilson, gentle spirit...album review

Gentle Spirit by Jonathan Wilson captures a moment
in time. Minimal production value makes this little
gem instantly recognizable, taking the listener back
to the golden age of hazey folk rock that made
Laurel Canyon famous. Sunday evening music at its 
finest, each song containing lengthly jams that never
become overbearing, not surprising then that Wilson has
been a session musician for most of his adult life.
sit back pour a scotch, thoughts of mary-jane and
drift into a higher state. Let the journey begin... 

Bill Withers, "justments...classic album review

'Justments, Bill Withers' third studio album is

stunning! Undeniably masculine in his vocal

delivery yet Mr. Withers is still able to evoke 

an emotional connection in his listeners that 

is oh so very rare in the soul genre.

There is more studio polish on this album than

his previous two efforts but that in no way 

detracts from his songwriting chops, the man is

a bona fide genius along with being one of the

coolest cats to ever grace the vinyl era.

Recorded in 1974 it was refreshing to see an

artist not riding the coat-tails of the monster

that was the disco explosion. 

Funky, a little bit dirty, yet intimate and 

strangely profound, this sums up Mr. Bill Withers.

We at monkmenagerie salute you, the world shines

a tiny bit less brightly without your music!  

Dan Mangan, oh fortune...album review

Dan Mangan the young Canadian troubadour who
has a voice that sounds like he's already
traversed through three life times drinking
and smoking the entire way has almost released
a masterpiece with his third album 'Oh Fortune'.
'How Darwinian'(try saying that three times fast!)
the albums centre-piece is a contender for song 
of the year and even after the tenth listen it
still sends shivers up the spinal chord.
Dan has obviously been given a larger budget
this time round with horns, strings and an army
of musicians at his disposal and therein lies
the "almost" in front of masterpiece. His first 
and second albums connected with the listener on
a personal level like he was in your living room
playing you a private set, but this time round with 
all the musicians and studio polish some tiny part
of Dan Mangan is missing, that personal touch.
But this is a miniscule gripe in what is a 
beautiful and heartfelt album that demands listening
to the entire way through from start to finish. 

plain gold ring...

Nina Simone would be proud that her song
has been handled this way... and from a 
young white New Zealander. Aaaahh music
works in cryptic ways.

Peter Gabriel, new blood...album review

Like Peter Gabriel's last effort 'Scratch My Back',
'New Blood' gets the same treatment, except this time
he takes to his back catalogue instead of re-working
songs from his favourite artists (Elbow, Bon Iver, 
Arcade Fire). This Album is not for everyone, the 
emotional impact alone will see to that. No synth's
or guitars and not a rhythm section in sight, strings
swell and drone. Kettle drums thump at the least 
expected moment all the while Gabriel's world wearied
voice soars above it all (amazing seeing he's now 61).
Listen to his daughter Melanie's duet in 'Upside Down'
and Ane Brun's guest vocals on 'Don't Give Up' and 
I'm sure you'll fall in love (she does a great job 
filling the shoes of Kate Bush).
Oh yeah if you have a good set of headphones, do 
yourself a favour pour a wine and listen to this little
gem...you won't be disappointed.

Nick Drake, bryter layter...classic album review

Recorded in 1970, "Bryter Layter" was the second 
album from troubled troubadour Nick Drake. One 
of the most beautiful and melancholic albums ever
created, it is such a shame that he was taken
from this world just four short years after
the release of this little gem.
Get up on a lazy Sunday morning and let Mr. 
Drake take you on a journey back to the golden
age of music.

a new voice has arrived!

In the swamp of throw-away pop trash that

crowds our modern music industry it's 

refreshing to see that talent still manages

to find a way to be seen by the masses.

Music connoisseur's it's time to clean out

those ear canals. Thankyou Marques for this

spine tingling performance.

http://www.myspace.com/marquestoliver

the gospel according to...

Clip taken from the documentary "The gospel 
according to Al Green".
Well worth a watch, he definitely marches
to the sound of his own drum. Funny and
insightful if anyone is willing to jump 
into the mind of Al Green.

Feist, metals...album review

The third album from Canada's songstress is probably
her finest to date and hopefully it doesn't end up as
background music for friday night dinner parties or on 
Grey's Anatomy. Dark, deeply personal and gutsier than
she has ever been before, Feist is definitely on the
path to greatness. Please don't fade away like so many
before you...  
See her next at St. Jerome's Laneway Festival 2012.

ladies and gentlemen, the Queen...