Plumplechook

This:

The Small Faces - Tin Soldier http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcKZoFRpZCI

The Dwight Twilly Band - I'm On Fire

Seriously - how damn good is 'Halycon Digest'? It just pipped The National's 'High Violet' as my album of the year so far. Covers lots of bases from ethereal soundscapes to a couple of out-and-out pop gems. It really is quite a beautiful album and certainly moves the band up to a whole new level. Highlights for me are the final track 'He Would Have Laughed' - a slowly unfolding seven minute gem, and 'Desire Lines' - the epic three minute guitar coda at the end of that song is totally hypnotic.

Hey PopTodd - nice call. Roddy Frame is a wonderful songwriter - and Oblivious is one of his best. I remember reading an interview with Elvis Costello from the early '80s where he said Roddy Frame was one of the few songwriters he was actually scared of. I also love his voice and guitar playing. Here's a great acoustic version of Oblivious from a UK TV series from the 90s called 'Songwriters Circle':

Phil Spector has his day in court :

Thanks for the link to the better quality clip on Consequences of Sound site. I'd checked out the version someone had video-camed off their TV ( ) and was a bit underwhelmed. But I've just listened three times in a row to the quality version - and Mavis, Jeff, and the band knock it out of the park.

Best Rock n Roll movie I've ever seen is 'Oil City Confidential', Julian Temple's recent documentary about UK R'n'B/proto-punk band Dr Feelgood. Wonderful film - both funny and moving. Saw it a couple of months ago as part of the Sydney Film Festival and was blown away.

I Want You

I'm a New Zealander - but living in Sydney. Just spoke to some friends in Christchurch who were woken at 4.30am by the big quake. Lots of structural damage, power blackouts etc, but remarkably few injuries given the scale of the quake. NZ has one of the strictist earthquake-proofing building codes in the world - which fortunately does seem to have saved lives in this case.

Just came across this clip of Rod Stewart singing Gasoline Alley and had to post it. Unplugged, accapella, and in his prime. In in his heyday this guy really did have one of the finest voices around - as well as genuine star quality.

Best ever cover version of Slade's 'Gudbuy T'Jane': http://vimeo.com/13876207

Intriguer is a great album. A real grower. Contains a bunch of songs including 'Falling Dove', 'Twice if Your Lucky', and 'Inside Out' that are up there with the best of Neil Finn's career. Nice Jim Scott production - recorded in the same studio where Wilco recorded most of WTA. Gig should be a treat. They played the last of a three night stand at the Bowery Ballroom in NY tonight and were joined on stage by David Byrne for a couple of Talking Heads numbers (Road to Nowhere and Once in a Lifetime). A friend who was at the gig sent me this (rough) youtube vid:

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses The Smiths - The Queen is Dead The Feelies - Good Earth Little Feat - Dixie Chicken Ryan Adams - Love is Hell Steely Dan - Aja, Countdown to Ecstasy The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall The Go-Betweens - Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express, Oceans Apart Dylan - Highway 61, Blood on the Tracks Crowded House - Temple of Low Men Allman Brother - Live at Fillmore East Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers The Beat - Just Can't Stop It The National - High Violet REM - Automatic for the People The Pixies - Doolittle The J Geils Band - Live Full House Led Zeppelin

Isn't it obvious? New Zealand to beat Australia in the final.

A great cover of the Bowie's 'Moonage Daydream' performed last week in Manchester by Crowded House featuring Johnny Marr and Conan Mockasin: http://www.crowdedhouse.com/video/moonage-daydream-johnny-marr

Thanks for the facebook link. That is indeed a superior version of Impossible Germany. Jeff has commented somewhere about Spanish audiences having a particular affinity to this song. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=124040604273611#!/video/video.php?v=392678878229&oid=124040604273611

Are there any Wilco songs shorter than two minutes? Just asking..

The Southern Alps, South Island, New Zealand. Thread closed.

Hanging chad alert! The poll is rigged because Impossible Germany is not on the list of songs to vote for. I demand a re-count, this time with all candidates on the ballot. (For the record, You Are My Face gets my vote).

Andy Powell and Ted Turner from Wishbone Ash. One of the all time great twin lead guitar teams. I've always thought there is a touch of Wishbone Ash in Impossible Germany.

This performance looks like it was recorded some time ago - possibly at the same time the band recorded One Wing for the same show last year. The giveaway is the facial hair that both Pat and Glen are sporting. Both were clean-shaven when I saw them live in Sydney last week. Nice performance though!

Hey Yalnikim - just found your website. http://www.yeastieboys.co.nz/pot-kettle-black/ Sounds delicious. Will have to check this out next time I'm back in NZ. Anywhere you can get it in Aus?

Great reportage Monster! I take back everything negative I ever said about Aucklanders.

Kudos to Mahinty and Californiastar for the reviews and setlist. Knew you guys would come through. Has whetted my appetite for this weekend's double-header here in Sydney. What was the reference to Magazine Called Sunset being for the 'airport guy' all about?